Shinrone the big winners as Ballinamere edge out Belmont for semi-final berth

ON an afternoon of high tension, Ballinamere held on for a very good win over Belmont to book their place in the semi-finals of the Offaly Senior Hurling Championship but the really big winners were Shinrone who needed them to win – Shinrone got away in the second half for an easy win over Lusmagh and Ballinamere's win got them through at the expense of Tullamore who are unlucky to bow out on scoring difference.

Molloy Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship Group 2 Round 5

Ballinamere 0-23

Belmont 1-18

It means thet Belmont play Birr and Shinrone meet St Rynagh's in the two quarter-finals but it could so easily have been Tullamore sneaking in.

Watching Tullamore manager Shane Hand had his heart in his mouth as Belmont almost rescued a draw or a late win that would have saved their bacon, however, once again, the very resilient west Offaly club spurned a golden opportunity.

Ballinamere were holding onto a point lead, 0-22 to 1-18 in injury time, when Brian Carroll raced in on goal. It was a great chance but Mark Troy pulled off a fantastic save – it really should have been a goal from a few metres and to compound Belmont's misery, David Nally was wide from a '65' to draw it.

It was the type of free that the deadly accurate Nally normally converts with his eyes closed and at the other end Brian Duignan converted a tap over 61st minute free to put two in it. Belmont now had to get a goal and Nally went for it from a 64th minute 21 metre free, awarded for a push on Brian Carroll, but it was scrambled clear by Ballinamere, who held on for the win.

A few minutes earlier Troy had also saved very well from David Nally but again, Nally was a bit far out and should have either tapped over the bar or carried a bit further – either way, his shot was perfect for a goalkeeper and it was a bread and butter save for Troy.

There was huge interest in this game with the fate of both Shinrone and Tullamore utterly dependant on the result here – Shinrone had to beat Lusmagh but also required a Ballinamere win to survive while Tullamore, who had completed their four group games, needed a Belmont win or draw for progress.

Both those clubs were on tenderhooks but Ballinamere and Belmont had no shortage of incentive to win as a semi-final berth was on stake for the victors – avoiding Kilcormac-Killoughey in the semi-finals was a big carrot and while this couldn't have the cut and thrust of all or nothing knockout hurling, it was contested with complete honesty and neither side left anything in the tank.

It was a somewhat scrappy game with both sides having a high error count but every ball was fiercely contested and it made gripping viewing. It was an important win for Ballinamere who have been playing well this year and they performed in the second half after a very sluggish first with the wind on their back.

Belmont were the better team in the first half and were level at 1-9 to 0-12 at the break. With the wind to come, it was set up for Belmont to win but they have a tendency to do their best hurling in the first half. It happened in their loss to Shinrone in their last game and manifested itself once again here. Twice is not a co-incidence and their failure to win games that are there for the taking is a problem for a club who have been knocking on the door for several years, and have been so close to reaching the final.

It is not a failure of heart or desire as they chased this game to the final whistle and did well to get back into it when Ballinamere looked like they might pull clear in the second half but the bottom line is another game lost that they could have won.

Belmont did most of the hurling in the first half as they targeted the Ballinamere full back line. They moved David Nally and Paddy Clancy into the edge of the square and they made things decidedly uncomfortable for Ballinamere. They were three points up after six minutes and Colin Egan's point should have been a goal – it wasn't Egan's fault as Belmont overplayed their hand in the build up with Paddy Clancy and Oisin Kelly passing instead of shooting. Mark Troy saved very well from Egan, who pointed when the rebound went back to him.

Ballinamere were on level terms when David Nally got an 11th minute goal after Troy had made a super save from Paddy Clancy. Belmont were 1-6 to 0-5 ahead after 18 minutes and Ballinamere were unable to play with any fluency. It was 1-8 to 0-8 after 26 minutes and Ballinamere finally clicked coming up to half time. Brian Duignan got two frees and Sam Bourke a good point from play to level it up after 30 minutes.

David Kelly and Duignan (free) exchanged points to leave it all square at half time. Ballinamere were much improved in the second half as Belmont wilted. The losers got the first two points from David Kelly, having his best game of the season, but once again, they failed to drive on.

Ballinamere's defence got completely on top for a crucial spell with corner backs Eoin Boland and Cian Kinnarney improving. Belmont held a 1-13 to 0-13 lead after 38 minutes but Ballinamere played their best hurling in the next few minutes. Brian Duignan got three points, two frees, sub John Murphy, in his first game of the season after returning home, Dan Bourke and Aaron Maher all pointed as they led by three, 0-19 to 1-13 after 49 minutes.

The closing ten minutes plus five of injury time was filled with tension as the stakes for the non participants became very clear. Belmont to their credit dug deep and almost rescued it. Nally got two frees to bring it back to a point but they couldn't find an equaliser. They also had the gap back to a point in the 56th, 57th and 59th minutes but each time, Ballinamere found the next point, courtesy of Brian Duignan (free), Joe Maher and Dan Bourke.

Belmont had ample chances to snatch a draw or win it but once again contrived to lose a game that they played well enough in to get a result and that is a hard pill for them to swallow.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Ross Ravenhill (Ballinamere): There were some excellent individual performances on both sides. David Nally and Paddy Clancy ate Ballinamere alive in the first half, Ronan Flynn put in a great shift at midfield and Leon Fox did a mountain of work at centre back. Despite being heavily bandaged, the veteran David Kelly also put his body on the line for Belmont and three points was a big return from him.

The choice is between Ross Ravevnhill and Dan Bourke and Ravenhill just edges it. Bourke was a delight at times, scoring four points and oozing class but had spells where he was peripheral. Ross Ravenhill gave a real tour-de-force at centre half back on a day when Belmont asked serious questions. He was immense when they were on the back foot in the first half and made several crucial blocks and interceptions in the second half. Jack Fogarty also cleared a lot of good ball for Ballinamere but despite their win and good form, questions do remain about their ability to win a first ever championship and they certainly have improving to do.

Mark Troy was also a man of the match consideration as he made some great saves and found a man most of the time with his clearances, apart from one misplaced one in the second half.

THE SCORERS

Ballinamere: Brian Duignan 0-11 (10f), Dan Bourke 0-4, Joe Maher 0-3, Aaron Maher 0-2, Dan Ravenhill (f), Sam Bourke and John Murphy 0-1 each.

Belmont: David Nally 1-10 (8f), David Kelly 0-3, Colin Egan 0-2, Leon Fox, Brian Carroll and Ronan McEvoy 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

BALLINAMERE: Mark Troy; Eoin Boland, Ciaran Burke, Cian Kinnarney; David Magner, Ross Ravenhill, Jack Fogarty; Dan Bourke, Sam Bourke; Dan Ravenhill, Joe Maher, Mike O'Brien; Luke Wyer, Brian Duignan, Aaron Maher. Subs – John Murphy for Wyer (38m),

BELMONT: Damien Egan; Arron McCabe, Ciaran Cahill, Darragh Flynn; Patrick Taaffe, Leon Fox, Jack Clancy;Shane Nally, Ronan Flynn; Paddy Clancy, David Nally, David Kelly; Colin Egan, Oisin Kelly, Brian Carroll. Subs – Conor Grennan for Paddy Clancy (45m), Ronan McEvoy for Shane Nally (50m), Adam Nugent for Colin Egan (50m),

Referee – Kieran Dooley, Drumcullen.

REFEREE WATCH

Kieran Dooley watched everything closely. He penalised Ciaran Burke for an off the ball foul on David Nally in the 14th minute and kept a close eye out for this type of stuff. The Drumcullen man was tuned in and got all the big calls right. The Belmont support protested furiously when a 53rd minute shot from David Nally was waved wide – it looked a point from the stand but linesman Shane Guinan confirmed the umpire's call and Dooley had no option but to go with that.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

The save Mark Troy made from Brian Carroll in the 60th minute was the defining moment in this game and the reason why Shinrone and not Tullamore advance.

VENUE WATCH

Top marks to St Rynnagh's Hurling Club who hosted a big crowd at Kilcormac-Killoughey and Birr on Saturday and had their facilities spotless for this game. They managed the large crowd well and had their usual complement of excellent stewards on duty.

WHAT'S NEXT

Ballinamere go into the semi-finals with Belmont facing Birr in the quarter-finals.

STATISTICS

Wides: Belmont – (3 in first half); Ballinamere - (9 in first half).

Yellow cards: Ballinamere – 2 (Dan Ravenhill, Brian Duignan); Belmont – 0.

Red cards: 0.