Ballina continue to impress at senior level with easy win over Moycarkey Borris

FBD Insurance County Senior Football Championship - Group 2 - Round 2

Ballina 0-15

Moycarkey Borris 1-3

By Ronan Loughnane

Ballina are certainly enjoying life at the Senior football top table in Tipperary as they easily disposed of a very disappointing Moycarkey Borris challenge in Templemore on Saturday evening. With both sides buoyed by the excellent opening-round victories, there was a huge carrot on offer at a well-prepared Pairc Shileain.

But as soon as the excellent Michael Breen opened the scoring in the 5th minute there was only going to be one outcome. Moycarkey had plenty of possession, however, but long laborious build-ups were frequently overturned by the Ballina defence who then attacked with great gusto.

Michael Breen opened the scoring in the 4th minute with a fine point from play. David Kelly was once again a constant menace and a well-won ball in the 9th minute set up the equally impressive Eoghan Power for a point.

Charlie King’s long solo run landed number three a minute later before Power (12th) and Bernard King (13th) had Ballina five up. Rhys Shelley finally opened Moycarkey’s account with a good point from play in the 17th minute and had midfielder Eoghan Hayes taken an excellent goal chance two minutes later it would have given the game a much-needed lift.

An excellent mark from Cathal O’Donnell led to Ballina’s sixth point in the 23rd minute while at the other end, goalkeeper Jerry O’Brien got down well to smother the ball as Rhys Shelly sniffed a major. Power completed the first half scoring when he converted a free that he won himself to leave Ballina 0-7 to 0-1 ahead at the short whistle.

Moycarkey needed something to ignite a second-half revival and an excellent Kyle Shelly shot from wide on the right got a white flag to get them up and running. It was to prove a false dawn however as Rhys Shelly’s 12th-minute point from a free was to prove their last of the night.

Charlie King, Michael Breen, and Bernard King all added their second, Power his fourth, and the excellent David Kelly his first, to leave Ballina 0-12 to 0-3 ahead entering the final quarter. The game petered out to its inevitable conclusion with Power, Bernard King and substitute Dara King all adding points. Rhys Shelly had proved troublesome for Moycarkey anytime he got the ball, and he grabbed a late consolation goal in injury time.

Ballina will be delighted with their win and will relish the chance of taking on Loughmore Castleiney in a game that should decide who tops the group. Their defence was generally solid with their half-back line of Paddy O’Donovan, Teddy Doyle, and Conor Power in good form although they have a tendency to cough up goal chances.

Michael Breen and Tom Lee provided great power in the middle third, but it was up front where they really shone. Their neat build-up play is easy on the eye with all their forward units capable of scoring. David Kelly ran all night creating space and chances for the Kings, Eoghan Power and Cathal O’Donnell.

The return of Steven O’Brien in the 50th minute was a huge boost to them and will add serious firepower in the coming weeks. Although missing a number of starters from the Loughmore victory Moycarkey will be disappointed with their display.

They lacked nothing in effort but were bereft of ideas in attack. They still have plenty to play for as they take on Ardfinnan in their final game where victory could catapult them into the last eight.

Ballina: Jerry O’Brien; Sam Loughran, James Hanley, Terry O’Halloran; Paddy O’Donovan, Teddy Doyle, Conor Power; Michael Breen (0-2), Matthew Power; Charlie King (0-2), Tom Lee, Eoghan Power (0-5, 0-2f); Bernard King (0-3), David Kelly (0-1), Cathal O’Donnell (0-1).

Subs used: Harry Byrne for Matthew Power; Steven O’Brien for Lee; Kian Donnelly for Breen; Dara King (0-1) for Charlie King; David Coughlan for Hanley.

Moycarkey Borris: Paul Dempsey; Kevin Moran, Chris McCullagh, Liam Hayes; Kevin O’Regan, Peter Melbourne, Conor Hayes; Eoghan Hayes, Kieran Cummins; Brendan Looby, Kyle Shelly (0-1), Jack Fallon; Diarmuid Maher, Rhys Shelly (1-2, 0-2f), Darren Flood.

Subs used: Bill Maher for Liam Hayes; Tom Hayes for Looby; Pat Ralph for Maher; Paudie Blake for Flood; David O’Donnell for Fallon.

Referee: Donie Horan (Eire Og Annacarty/Donohill)