Ballinascarthy 0-22

Diarmuid Ó Mathúnas 0-18

TOM LYONS REPORTS

JC O’Flynn hopes the best is yet to come for Ballinascarthy hurlers.

After dethroning the reigning RCM Tarmacadam junior A hurling champions Diarmuid Ó Mathúnas – in a repeat of last year’s final that went to a replay – the delighted Bal manager turned his attention to the final against Kilbree.

‘We seem to be improving with every game and if we can get 50 minutes like the second half today, we’ll give it a good rattle,’ said O’Flynn, who saw his team produce the goods when it mattered most.

Ballinascarthy hit the two opening points in this thrilling semi-final in Enniskeane on Sunday, but from there to the 50th minute they trailed to the reigning champions on the scoreboard.

With the aid of a slight breeze, Mathúnas led by four points at half time and were still two to the good at the end of the third quarter. But the Ballinscarthy rally was gathering momentum and in the last quarter they struck for home. They outscored the Castletown side by 0-9 to 0-3 to emerge impressive winners of a real championship clash that kept the spectators on their toes right to the closing minutes.

‘One thing for sure, there’s nothing wrong with my heart after that test,’ JC O’Flynn added.

‘I have to hand it to these lads, they just don’t know when they’re beaten, they never give up, never stop trying.

‘The wind was a factor, we thought it was going to die away but it got stronger towards the end.

‘We asked the players to stand up and man to man they did just that. I’m just delighted. It was a super second half. We have to really knuckle down now for the final. We have three lads to come back into the team who didn’t make it today. Hopefully, we’ll be even stronger for the final.

‘Unfortunately, the footballers are gone but that gives us more time to prepare now. Our touch, everything should be getting better.’

Ballinascarthy's Brian O'Donovan goes past Diarmuid Ó Mathúna's Seán Crowley.

Against the breeze, which died as the half progressed, Bal started well with the first two points from the Cullinanes, Timmy and Connall, but Mathúnas soon found their feet and were level with points from top scorer Caolan O’Donovan and the hard-working Kevin O’Donovan.

When Kevin O’Donovan repeated his score in the seventh minute, Mathúnas were in front and there to stay for the next 45 minutes.

With Jeremiah Hurley and Conor O’Sullivan defending superbly, Kevin and Gearóid  O’Donovan and James Fleming dominating in attack, Mathúnas went in search of scores. Michael O’Sullivan and Fleming found the target as they led by 0-5 to 0-3 at the end of the first quarter. Brian O’Donovan, again Bal’s leading light in attack, replied for his side.

Caolan O’Donovan and Jamie Lucey were to the fore as Mathúnas again looked the more eager side in the second quarter. The scores flowed from Lucey (3), O’Donovan (2), and Ted Lordan to bring their tally to 0-11 by half time.

For their part, Bal were battling hard to stay in touch mainly through the efforts of Daniel Nyhan, Jeremy Ryan, Ciarán Nyhan and goalkeeper, Darragh Hennessy in defence. Ryan pointed two long-distance frees, with Ciarán O’Neill and Cillian Cullinane adding two from play. It was Mathúna’s in front by 0-11 to 0-7 at half time. It would have been more if they hadn’t hit seven wides in the first half.

Ballinascarthy's Seán Ryan in control against Diarmuid Ó Mathúna's Robbie Lucey.

The third quarter saw Bal beginning to get a strong foothold in the game with the Cullinanes, Timmy, Cillian and Connall, figuring prominently. Brian O’Donovan was again proving to be the main threat in attack with Seán Ryan and Ciarán O’Neill getting on top at midfield.

Three points from O’Donovan frees, two from Jeremy Ryan, and one from Connall Cullinane had Bal within two points of their opponents by the end of the third quarter, 0-15 to 0-13, with Caolan O’Donovan, a 65 and a free, Gearóid O’Donovan and Jamie Lucey replying for Mathúnas.

The game was up for grabs in the last quarter and it was Bal who were looking the stronger finishers. Brian O’Donovan (free) and Timmy Cullinane swapped points with Michael O’Sullivan and Jamie Lucey. When Jeremy Ryan (65) and Connall Cullinane pointed the sides were level, 0-17 each, with five minutes left.

The momentum was with Bal now and after Brian O’Donovan and Caolan O’Donovan (free) had swapped points, Daniel Nyhan surged forward from full back to hit a mighty lead point for Bal in the 58th minute.

There was no stopping the winners now and roared on by their supporters, they made the result safe with three points in a row from Brian O’Donovan (2) and Timmy Cullinane.

Mathúnas did their best to snatch a goal in injury time but when Jeremy Ryan cleared the sliotar off the Bal goal line, their best chance was gone.

So, the champions are out of the race and Bal march into their seventh final in the past nine years, a great record of consistency. Bal will meet Kilbree in the final on Sunday, October 19th, the special centenary final, a repeat of the 2018 and 2019 finals.

OUR STAR: Once again it was the scoring exploits, eight points, and the overall contribution of Brian O’Donovan in attack for Ballinascarthy that carried his side to victory.

Scorers

Ballinascarthy: Brian O’Donovan 0-8 (6f); Jeremy Ryan 0-5 (3f, 1 65); Timmy Cullinane, Connall Cullinane 0-3 each; Cillian Cullinane, Ciarán O’Neill, Daniel Nyhan 0-1 each.

Diarmuid Ó Mathúna: Caolan O’Donovan 0-6 (2f, 2 65s); Jamie Lucey 0-5; Michael O’Sullivan, Kevin O’Donovan 0-2 each; Ted Lordan, Gearóid O’Donovan, James Fleming 0-1 each.

Ballinascarthy: Darragh Hennessy; James O’Brien, Daniel Nyhan, Gearóid O’Leary; Jeremy Ryan, Ciarán O’Neill, Ciarán Nyhan; Luke Murray, Seán Ryan; Timmy Cullinane, Cian Ryan, Cillian Cullinane; Connall Cullinane, Brian O’Donovan, Colm O’Brien.

Subs: Eoin O’Driscoll for C O’Brien (45), Tristan Walsh for C Nyhan (blood, 52), Ben Murray for C Ryan (55).

Diarmuid Ó Mathúnas: Michael O’Driscoll; Ronan McCarthy, Seán Crowley, Jeremiah Hurley; Conor O’Sullivan, Jack O’Callaghan, Michael O’Sullivan; Ted Lordan, Robbie Lucey; Gearóid O’Donovan, Kevin O’Donovan, James Fleming; Jamie Lucey, Caolan O’Donovan, Patrick Crowley.

Sub: Shane Corcoran for P Crowley (50).

Referee: Oisín Doyle (Bandon).