Ballon ease into IFC semi-finals with 100% group stage record
Ballon's Donncha Murphy takes on Naomh Eoin's Peter Abbey
Ballon ensured they went through the qualifying stages of the intermediate championship with a 100% record when, with a bit to spare, they won this Group 2 game at Netwatch Cullen Park on Friday.
Last year’s Junior A Champions got off to a great start when they attacked up the middle. It looked as if the move was going to come to nothing but when the ball ran loose, Jimmie Carroll pulled first time. It was the perfect strike as the ball flew just inside the left-hand post at the O’Hanrahan end with the diving Kyle Foley just failing to get his hands to the ball.
Peter Abbey replied with a Naomh Eoin point and while the Myshall side played well at times, they came up against a group who have all the momentum at the moment.
Dan O’Connor and Myles Hutton registered Ballon points with Adam Kenny and Scott Tracey replying for Naomh Eoin. Alex Kelliher was a man in form with two points and he knew it was his night when his shot took a wicked deflection and ended up in the back of the net. At the interval the eventual winners led 2-6 to 0-3.
To their credit, Naomh Eoin came out and attacked right from the throw-in. Scott Tracey converted a free and Adam Kenny’s low shot was saved by Ballon keeper, Colm Barry. It would not be the only goal chance of the second half. On 40 minutes, Kyle Foley, made two saves in quick succession with Alex Kelliher denied a three-pointer. The same player was also unlucky to see his shot thunder off the left-hand upright. A Kyle Foley two-point free acted as a lift for Naomh Eoin and in their best period of the match Adam Kenny and Eamon Lalor raised white flags. With eight minutes to go, Naomh Eoin only trailed by five points. It wasn’t to be for them. Ballon lifted their game confirming their superiority as the Myshall side lived dangerously. Eventually two points in a row from Carroll quenched the attempted Naomh Eoin comeback. As their opponents faded Callum Crawford and Johnny Maher added a point each to confirm an easy victory.
A Kelliher 1-3, J Carroll 1-2, F McCaffrey (1f), C Crawford, M Hutton 0-2 each, D O’Connor, C Kelliher, J Maher 0-1 each Naomh Eoin: P Abbey, S Tracey (fs), J Smithers, K Foley (2pf) 0-2 each, A Kenny, E Lalor 0-1 each.
Colm Barry; Josh Fernandez, Conor Kearney, Donncha Murphy; Lorcan Doyle, Conor Kelly, Dan O’Connor; Jimmie Carroll, Conor Bolger; Myles Hutton, Brendan Fanning, Fionn McCaffrey; Alex Kelliher, Corey Kelliher, Jim Nolan. Subs: Johnny Maher for Kelly (12), Evan Corr for Bolger (blood 27), Callum Crawford for Bolger (38), Peter Zerafa for B Fanning (37), Michael O’Leary for A Kelliher (47), Paddy Byrne for Hutton (47).
Kyle Foley; Jamie Behan, Diarmaid Deacon, Ger Kavanagh; Diego Dunne, Peter Abbey, Declan Nolan; Paddy Doyle, Colm Beck; Eamon Lalor, Adam Kenny, Scott Tracey; Cian Quirke, Ben Nolan, James Smithers. Subs: Cathal Tracey for Dunne (10), Tadgh Daly for D Nolan (h/t).
Jonathan Murphy (St Mullins).
