Ballinderreen back in top flight after narrow victory

Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry 2-18

By DARREN KELLY AT DUGGAN PARK

AFTER a two-year absence, Ballinderreen are back in senior hurling as they saved their best performances for the business end of this year’s intermediate championship culminating in this three-point victory over Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry last Saturday.

Beneficiaries of the new system that allowed three group qualifiers, Keith Connolly’s team backed up their 11-point semi-final beating of Sylane to start this final with a Niall Coen goal before further green flags for David O’Connor and Roy Lane pushed them over the finish line.

Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry will leave this game with regrets. Mattie Kenny’s side overcame a poor start to lead by two points before the break but conceded that advantage.

And they also left two goal chances behind them before a defensive mix-up under pressure with eight minutes left resulted in the concession of the second green flag that acted as a catalyst for Ballinderreen’s final drive.

Ballinderreen laid down a marker in the second minute. David Mannion batted the ball towards the full forward line and Coen acted quickly to catch the ball and strike low past Brendan Lynch for the goal.

Both teams were well supported and the main stand in Ballinasloe was full before throw-in. Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry didn’t panic and two minutes later, Shane Moloney got off the mark with a sideline cut. He added another point 60 seconds later.

Ballinderreen replied with Kevin Lane profiting from Kieran Meehan’s ball. And Shane Larkin split the posts on six minutes, making it 1-2 to 0-2.

Shane Moloney got his third point straight afterwards and Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry had the deficit to one on eight minutes when Johnny Conroy’s ball from the left saw Padraig Breheny find the target.

Pictured: Ballinderreen's Matthew O'Connor is chased by Ben Moran and Johnny Conroy of Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry during Saturday's County Intermediate Hurling Final at Duggan Park. Photos: David Cunniffe.