REPORTS: Brilliant day of bank holiday action as U13 finals produce three fantastic games

North Tipp U13B Football Final

Ballinahinch/Templederry 2-10 

Newport B 2-4

Scoring 2-2 either side of half time, plus three unanswered points in the final minutes, helped Ballinahinch/Templederry claim a popular victory over neighbours Newport in an entertaining game. 

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That rally was needed very much as the Combination found it difficult to shake off the Purple and Gold as two sides produced value for money in the glaring hot sunshine at noon. 

With two points from Jake Lenihan, Ballinahinch/Templederry had the upper hand and led 0-3 to 0-1 after seven minutes. The next ten minutes saw both defences on top while both goalkeepers, James McLoughney (B/T) and Jack Noonan, kept their lines intact. Then in the 19th minute, Newport took over the lead 1-1 to 0-3 following a well-taken goal by Michael O’Coffey.

However, Ballinahinch/Templederry responded, and four minutes later, they regained the lead thanks to a brilliant goal by Jack Ryan. Ryan was the Combination top scorer with 2-4, and he scored his second goal on the stroke of half-time, Ballinahinch/Templederry 2-4 Newport 1-1. 

After the restart, it was Ryan who increased the Combination’s lead with an early score. 

However, Newport refused to let the lead stretch too far, and a second goal by Michael Og Coffey, followed by a two-pointer by Calvin Mooney, saw the margin down to two, 2-5 to 2-,3 and seventeen minutes remaining.

That was as close as it got as James Ryan stretched his team’s lead to five with the help of a second two-pointer followed by another two-pointer from the boot of the excellent Benji Browne. Ballinahinch/Templederry were deserving winners in the end. 

Ballinahinch/Templederry: James McLoughney; Aidan Lynch, Jack McLoughney; Eanna Murray, Danny Crosse, Ben Healy (0-1); Jack Ryan, Benji Browne (0-3); Jake Lenihan (0-2), James Ryan (2-4), Killian Browne; Odhran O’Kelly, Dara Cronin. 

Subs used: John O’Gorman, Conor Ryan, Tom Ryan. 

Newport: Jack Noonan; Ollie Maher, Bobby Ryan; Ethan Daly, Matthew O’Leary, Olly Maloney; Josh O’Mahony, Cathal O’Meara; Rory Coleman, Andy Ryan, Sammy Whelan; Calvin Mooney, Michael Og Coffey. 

Subs used: Evan O’Donnell, Tomas O’Donoghue, Patrick Murnane. 

Referee: Pat O’Mahoney (Kiladangan)