Cian Ryan’s early second-half goal is spark Bal needed

Ballinascarthy 1-17

Randal Óg 0-17

TOM LYONS REPORTS

THIS RCM Tarmacadam junior A hurling quarter-final in Newcestown on Sunday was a thriller that went right down to the wire – but was decided in a three-minute spell after half-time.

With the breeze, Randals hit nine unanswered points in the second quarter to lead by six at the break. But Bal roared back straight after the restart, striking 1-2 in three minutes – Cian Ryan’s goal proving the difference as they edged home by a single score.

‘I think we stopped playing the way we should be playing, which is fast ball into the corners, after the great start and they scored nine in a row,’ said Ballinascarthy manager JC O’Flynn.

‘Credit to Randals, they’re a super outfit, they threw the kitchen sink at us. It was a super test for our lads and we’re delighted to have come away with the win. We knew it was all about getting our bearings again in the second half, sticking to the plan and we did that.’

Randal Óg's Padraig O'Sullivan coming out past Ballinascarthy's Timmy Cullinane.

Randals started with the breeze to their backs and when they hit the opening two scores, from Seán Daly and Eoin O’Donovan, it seemed they would put up a good lead in the first half.

However, Bal answered with six of the next seven points. Showing lovely skill and first touches, the dangerous Brian O’Donovan (3), the lively Colm O’Brien, Jeremy Ryan (free), and Cillian Cullinane raised white flags. Randal’s only response was a Séadhna Crowley free, leaving Bal 0-6 to 0-3 ahead entering the second quarter.

The second quarter saw a remarkable switch in momentum as Randals grabbed control. Points flowed from Peter Collins, Seán Daly (2), Séadhna Crowley (2), Donnacha Collins (2), Padraig O’Sullivan and Conor O’Connell. By half-time, Randals were six points to the good, 0-12 to 0-6.

‘At half-time, we had a good chat with the lads,’ said O’Flynn. ‘We asked them all to stand up in the second half. We told them our year was on the line. To a man, they responded.’

Ballinascarthy manager JC O'Flynn.

Within a minute of the restart, Cillian Cullinane had the white flag waving. One minute later Brian O’Donovan’s shot for goal was stopped by goalkeeper Barry O’Sullivan, but Cian Ryan was on hand to usher the rebound to the net. Impressive sub Timmy Cullinane pointed from the puckout. Suddenly, the six-point gap was down to one.

Séadhna Crowley halted the blitz with a pointed free but back came Bal with three in a row from Colm O’Brien and Brian O’Donovan (two frees) to take the lead in the 40th minute.

Once again Randals showed their resilience and came back with points from Crowley (free) and Donnacha Collins to regain the lead. It was Bal in front again at the three-quarter stage with three points from Brian O’Donovan (2) and Timmy Cullinane to lead by 1-14 to 0-15. Crowley cut the lead to one from another free but Bal responded with points from Colm O’Brien and Brian O’Donovan.

Into injury time and desperate efforts from Randals to find an equalising goal, but all they could manage was a Crowley pointed free, which was answered by Brian O’Donovan, as Bal survived. There were late red cards for Chris Ryan (Bal) and Jimmy O’Sullivan (Randals).

OUR STAR: The stand-out figure in play and free-taking was Bal corner forward Brian O’Donovan, who raised nine white flags, six from play, in an outstanding display of attacking skill.

Scorers

Ballinascarthy: Brian O’Donovan 0-9 (3f); Cian Ryan 1-0; Colm O’Brien 0-3; Timmy Cullinane, Cillian Cullinane 0-2 each; Jeremy Ryan 0-1 (f).

Randal Óg: Séadhna Crowley 0-7 (f); Seán Daly, Donnacha Collins 0-3 each; Eoin O’Donovan, Peter Collins, Conor O’Connell, Padraig O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

Ballinascarthy: Darragh Hennessy; Séamus O’Brien, Chris Ryan, Gearóid O’Leary; Jeremy Ryan, Ciarán Nyhan, Aidan O’Donovan; Ciarán O’Neill, Luke Murray; Seán Ryan, Cian Ryan, Cillian Cullinane; Brian O’Donovan, Cathal Nyhan, Colm O’Brien.

Subs: Timmy Cullinane for J Ryan (ht), Connall Cullinane for C Nyhan (ht), Daniel Nyhan for C Ryan (49), Eoin O’Driscoll for C Cullinane (60).

Randal Óg: Barry O’Sullivan; Oisín Daly, Conor O’Neill, Padraig Duggan; Padraig O’Sullivan, Conor O’Connell, Thomas Kingston; Peter Collins, Séamus Crowley; Donnacha Collins, Seán Daly, Séadhna Crowley; Eoin O’Donovan, Cathal Duggan, Padraig Collins.

Subs: Cal Nyhan for O Daly (35), Jimmy O’Sullivan for C Duggan (39), Alan Brickley for P Collins (55).

Referee: Alan Long (Argideen Rangers).