Battle-weary Ballinasloe fail to handle a tough schedule

Ballygar 2-16

Ballinasloe 0-10

A slow start from Ballinasloe proved too difficult to recover from as Ballygar ran out comfortable winners of the County Junior 1 hurling title on a cold Thursday night in Loughgeorge to book their place in the Connacht final less than 48 hours later

Playing a second game in three days, the men in black and amber knew that they would need to start quick if they were to make any sort of impact, but Ballinasloe would fall five points behind after just six minutes while a fortuitous goal late in the half helped Ballygar build a nine point lead at half time, an advantage they never looked like losing.

Coming in fresh having played their semi-final over a week ago, Ballygar came out of the blocks strong, Eric Walsh sprinting from midfield and into the corner to win a free which Pierce McDonagh duly tapped over. Subsequently, Diarmuid O’Brien would intercept the resulting puck out before setting up Adrian Gavin to slot home a goal and open a four point lead inside four minutes.

O’Brien’s interception was a sign of things to come as his side would make seven throughout the first half, making it hard for Michael Fogarty’s side to get the ball into scorable positions, instead having to endure attack after attack putting even more pressure on what must have been already tired legs.

When getting away from their markers Ballinasloe were causing problems early on, impressive angled runs from Craig Keighery and Jack Dillon leading to Keighery opening his side’s account after seven minutes, while Dillon would win a close range free for Cormac Casey to tap over.

In defence, Ballinasloe were working extremely hard to keep Ballygar at bay, in particular Joseph Dervan was getting in blocks and hooks in the corner in an area their opponents had targeted.

Four more scores in quick succession from Oisin McConn, Conal Greally and two McDonagh frees put further daylight between the sides, before Ballygar took a commanding lead on 25 minutes courtesy of a fortuitous goal as a long range effort from McConn dropped into the back of the net to leave Brian Hanley’s side 10 points up.

Ballinasloe were left to feed on scraps but did manage to grab two more points late on from frees courtesy of Casey, but were left with a mountain to climb in the second half, trailing by 2-8 to 0-5 at half time.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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