Ballyfin secure semi-final place with victory over Clonaslee St Manman's

Ballyfin are straight through to the semi-final stage of the Premier IHC after overcoming Clonaslee St Manman’s in their delayed Round 1 fixture in the Centre of Excellence on Thursday evening. 

As both sides won their opening two group games this was a winner takes all showdown for a spot in the semi-final, with the losers taking on Rathdowney-Errill in a quarter-final next weekend. 

Ballyfin 0-18 

Clonaslee St Manman’s 1-13 

Clonaslee St Manman’s had perhaps been looking the stronger of the two so far in the competition but Ballyfin flew off the blocks in this one and led for the majority. Neither side left anything on the field in what was an entertaining and tough contest in which both teams were made to work hard for their scores. 

James Finn was a colossus at half back for Ballyfin as he cleared ball after ball in both halves and set up numerous dangerous attacks when he did gain possession. Eanna Lyons was a constant threat up front for Ballyfin with his ability in the air and he popped over four points in the first half and set up a couple in the second. 

Clonaslee St Manman’s weren’t firing on all cylinders in the first half but they began to ramp things up in the second, with Liam Senior and Niall Corbett at the fore as they combined for five second half points from play. Paddy Hyland struck Clonaslee St Manman’s into the lead on five minutes from a free. 

It was a slow start to the game with a couple of early collisions that resulted in players needing treatment but Ballyfin eventually got going and went on to hit the next six scores in a row. 

Eamonn Duff opened the scoring for them with a free from his own 65 and quickly followed with two nice efforts from play. Eann Lyons hit the fourth and fifth, the latter an excellent score after plucking the ball from the clouds. Gary Hoffmeister added the sixth. 

Niall Corbett and Garreth Dunphy traded lovely scores as the game began to take fire, but unfortunately for Ballyfin Dunphy was forced off with an injury just minutes later. 

After a sluggish start to the game Clonaslee St Manman’s were given a lease of life when Rory Conroy played a long ball down on top of Cian Callaghan and he guided the ball past Sean Lowry for a goal. DJ Callaghan added a point but not before Eanna Lyons responded with a monster score. Lyons was on hand again to point for Ballyfin and assist another for Duff to put Ballyfin six ahead on 25 minutes. 

Clonaslee St Manman’s rallied before the half time whistle with three points on the trot, a sideline from Cian Conroy and two Hyland frees but they still trailed by one. Darragh Lyons got the second half opener after gliding down the left wing and striking wonderfully off the hurl between the posts. 

Clonaslee St Manman’s were looking more potent in the second half and Niall Corbett kicked off a run of four scores in a row with a fantastic effort from inside his own half. Liam Senior went one better moments later from his own 45, and Corbett landed another from way out the field. DJ Callaghan completed the quartet with a fine effort at an angle and Clonaslee St Manman’s now led by two. 

After 10 minutes without a flag Ballyfin now had to go chasing and they drew level thanks to two frees from Duff. 

Senior fired Clonaslee St Manman’s back into the lead with an outrageous attempt from the sideline in midfield after picking off a Ballyfin puck out, but Jack Heffernan and Darragh Connolly hit back immediately to put Ballyfin in front. 

Cian Callaghan levelled the game again and it was proving to be a very tense finish with Ballyfin needing a win, but a draw would suffice for Clonaslee St Manman’s. Duff and Senior traded scores as we approached the final three minutes but all the pressure was on Ballyfin to find a winner. 

When they needed one David Connolly stepped up to gather the ball on the sideline and fire over under intense pressure and the Ballyfin supporters roared it over the bar. 

It was still all to play for deep in injury time but a final fast break for Ballyfin finished off by a Duff point sealed the win for Paul Cuddy’s side and confirmed their semi-final berth.