Ballyea too strong for Corofin

Ballyea 2-14 Corofin 2-10

DISPLAYING the greater hunger for victory, Ballyea proved too strong for Corofin in their senior hurling championship tie at Cusack Park on Sunday. It was a disappointing game with little free-flowing hurling but Ballyea looked the livelier outfit throughout.
That said, Corofin will wonder what the outcome might have been had they had a full complement of players for the full game. They were reduced to 14 men four minutes before the break when Kieran Carkill picked up a second yellow card.
The winners got off to a great start when Cathal Doohan finished a Gearóid O’Connell cross to the net in the third minute and they quickly followed with points from Francie O’Reilly and Tony Griffin before Killian Neylon got through for a Corofin goal in the seventh minute.
A Stephen Heagney pointed free was the only score in the next 10 minutes before Gary Brennan struck for the winners’ second goal seven minutes from the break. It helped them to lead at half-time on a score of 2-4 to 1-2.
Each side added three points in the opening 10 minutes of the second half but by the start of the final quarter, Ballyea had stretched their advantage to eight points with the score at 2-11 to 1-6.
To their credit, Corofin battled to the finish and when Kevin Heagney got their second goal two minutes from the end, their supporters still held out hope that they might rally and get away from the relegation battle.
It wasn’t to be and Ballyea held on for a merited win, helped by impressive performances from Niall Keane, Paddy O’Connell, Francie O’Reilly and Gearóid O’Connell.
Corofin’s best were Neil Killeen, Dara Clancy and Luke O’Loughlin.

Ballyea: Shane O’Neill; David Sheehan, Brian Carigg, Eamonn Griffin; Cathal O’Connor, Paddy O’Connell, Niall Keane; Francie O’Reilly, Gearóid O’Connell; Paul Flanagan, Cormac Murphy, Cathal Doohan; Tony Griffin, Gary Brennan, Brian Murphy.
Subs: Alan Carigg for Sheehan (19 minutes), Francie Nealon for Doohan (47 minutes) and James Murphy for Brian Murphy (60 minutes).
Scorers: Tony Griffin (0-6, 4f), Francie O’Reilly (0-3), Shane O’Neill (0-3f), Cathal Doohan and Gary Brennan (1-0) each and Cormac Murphy and Francie Neylon (0-1) each.
Frees for: 11; Wides: 10
Bookings: Gearóid O’Connell (20 minutes), Paddy O’Connell (26 minutes) and Tony Griffin (60 minutes).
“We wanted to avoid relegation at all costs today. We had a productive year so far in that we got competitive for the first time in a while. We knew coming into today’s game that it was all down to making sure we didn’t get caught up in the other side of the championship. We are looking forward now to having a look at how we can go in the senior B.” Michael Hehir, Ballyea.

Corofin: Kevin Raftery; Shane Neylon, Dara Clancy, Ollie O’Loughlin; Luke O’Loughlin, Gerry Quinn, Darragh Shannon; Neil Killeen, Martin Tierney; Stephen Heagney, Paudie Barry, Kieran Carkill; Pat Ryan, Kevin Heagney, Killian Neylon.
Subs: Donnacda Kelleher for P Ryan (half-time), Diarmuid Daly for Barry (36 minutes), Damian Ryan for S Heagney (50 minutes) and Owen Malone for Tierney (56 minutes).
Scorers: Stephen Heagney (0-5f), Killian Neylon and Kevin Heagney (1-0) each, Neil Killeen and Gerry Quinn (0-2) each and Damian Ryan (0-1).
Frees for: 16; Wides: 9
Bookings: Kieran Carkill (23 and 26 minutes).
Sent off: Kieran Carkill (26 minutes).
“We have a football match next weekend which will be the priority now and we will see what will happen after that. We will be fighting to retain senior status and we will battle to the end.” Jimmy Neylon, Corofin.

Referee: Fergie McDonagh, St Joseph’s.