Éire Óg beat Ballina by twenty-six points

Nenagh Éire Óg won a one-sided contest with Ballina by twenty-six points at Newport on Sunday evening.

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Nenagh Éire Óg 1-30 Ballina 0-7

Playing with the wind in the opening half Ballina started well and led 0-2 to 0-1 after three minutes. Tommy Heffernan had presented Nenagh Éire Óg with an early lead, but Ballina hit back through Kevin Cosgrove and Michael Breen (free). The Blues, however, responded with three Donnacha Quinn efforts (two frees) and led 0-4 to 0-2 when David Hickey scored a third Ballina point in the eighth minute.

Éire Óg struck for the only goal of the game in the ninth minute when Shane Maher created an opportunity for team captain Paddy Murphy and the full-forward made no mistake from close range. Donnacha Quinn (two frees) and Paddy Murphy added to the Blues’ tally before David Hickey (free) managed a response for Ballina in the 22nd minute (1-7 to 0-4).

Tommy Heffernan and Terry O’Halloran then traded points, but Éire Óg surged into a 1-12 to 0-5 lead thanks to points from Paddy Murphy, Donnacha Quinn (free), Shane Maher and Andrew Coffey. Converted frees in first half injury time left ten between them at the break (1-13 to 0-6).

Éire Óg added four points to their tally during the opening seven minutes of the second half thanks to Andrew Coffey, Billy Heffernan and Donnacha Quinn (two frees). The Blues looked certain to goal for the second time in the 38th minute when Tommy Heffernan sent Philip Hickey through on goal, but Ballina ‘keeper Adrian Power advanced expertly to avert the danger.

The Blues proceeded to add seven points to their tally and led 1-24 to 0-6 by the 47th minute. Killian Gleeson, Donnacha Quinn (four, three frees), Hugh Maloney and Andrew Coffey were responsible for these efforts.

Ballina were struggling, but played with great spirit and almost had a goal to cheer in the 50th minute when Steven O’Brien raced through only for a combination of John Brennan, Hugh Maloney and Michael McNamara to expertly turnover the inter-county football star.

A Pearse Morris point opened a 22-point gap between the sides before Andrew Coffey’s rasping effort found the Ballina crossbar. Donnacha Quinn was on hand to gather the rebound, but Adrian Power pulled off a terrific reaction save to deny Éire Óg once more. Donnacha Quinn converted the resultant ’65 before points from Paddy Murphy, Pearse Morris and Billy Heffernan (two, one free) completed the scoring from an Éire Óg point of view.

If any player encapsulates the spirit of the Ballina men it is veteran centre-back Tom Collins and in the first minute of injury time Collins notched a fine point, his side’s sole score of the second half.

Please note that the Blues’ final group game against Clonoulty-Rossmore is scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 10th in The Ragg at 6.30pm. Entering the final round of games Clonoulty-Rossmore lead the group on four points (+21), Templederry are second on two points (+1), Nenagh Éire Óg are third on two points (+24) and Ballina are fourth on zero (-46).

Nenagh Éire Óg: Michael McNamara, Mark Flannery, John Brennan, Conor Ryan, Dáire Quinn, Hugh Maloney (0-1), Barry Heffernan, Billy Heffernan (0-3, 0-1 frees), Andrew Coffey (0-3), Donnacha Quinn (0-14, 0-10 frees, 0-1 ‘65), Shane Maher (0-1), Tommy Heffernan (0-2), Philip Hickey, Paddy Murphy (1-3), Killian Gleeson (0-1). Subs: (37th) Pearse Morris (0-2) for Shane Maher, (52nd) James Mackey for Philip Hickey.

Ballina: Adrian Power, Dónal Kent, Jerry O’Brien, Rody Kennedy, Michael Breen (0-1, 0-1 frees), Tom Collins (0-1), Brian O’Connor, Terry O’Halloran (0-1), Steven O’Brien, Kevin Cosgrove (0-1), Pat Cosgrove, Diarmaid Healy, Ronan Bourke, David Hickey (0-3, 0-2 frees), Brian McKeogh. Subs: (46th) Eoin Kent for Ronan Bourke, (49th) Brian Connolly for Diarmaid Healy.

Referee: Johnny McDonnell (Roscrea).

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