Semi-final bound Effin edge past Granagh-Ballingarry in Limerick premier intermediate hurling championship

SEMI-FINAL bound Effin recorded their fifth win in the round robin phase of the Lyons of Limerick premier intermediate hurling championship after recording a hard-earned 0-21 to 0-19 victory over Granagh-Ballingarry at Ballyagran on Saturday.

Effin, who lost just one of their seven round robin fixtures, had already secured their place in the semi-finals of the championship prior to throw-in. They led Saturday's game by a single point, 0-10 to 0-9, at half-time. 

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The round robin table toppers Effin will now face Blackrock in the premier intermediate hurling championship semi-finals, while the second semi-final will see Garryspillane take on Croagh-Kilfinny. 

Granagh-Ballingarry narrowly missed out on a place in the semi-finals following three wins from their group games. 

Freetakers Patrick O’Donovan and Luke Flynn were both called upon within the opening few seconds of play before Fergal O’Connor notched the first score from open play for Effin inside two minutes.

Flynn then slotted over his second placed ball before Michael Russell struck while on the run to put Granagh-Ballingarry back ahead after four minutes, 0-3 to 0-2.

Brian Clifford then pounced on a breaking ball to level proceedings while Sean O’Connor replied for Granagh-Ballingarry with a nice effort from the right hand side. O’Donovan was quick to punish a breakdown in communication from the opposition before a back and forth trade-off of frees with  Flynn.

Timmy McGrath stretched his hands to signal a penalty to Granagh-Ballingarry in the 15th minute. The West side called for goalkeeper Denis Connor’s expertise. However his opposite number Ryan O’Neill produced a brilliant save to deny him.

A lovely unorthodox catch and lay-off from Ewan Dillon sent O’Connor powering through the middle to score his second point before Pierse O’Kelly extended Effin’s lead to two points after 21 minutes.

Flynn and O’Connor both struck from play before a brace of placed balls from the Granagh-Ballingary centre-forward tied the scoreline again, 0-9 each.

However, a well-worked move which culminated in Frankie Herr slotting over granted Effin a slim one-point lead at the half, Effin 0-10, Granagh-Ballingarrry 0-9.

A point from Eoin Lynch opened the second half before Herr capitalised on being afforded hectares of space by the Granagh-Ballingarry defence.

A hat-trick of points from Luke Flynn in a five minute period placed his side in control of the lead. Needing a victory to certify their position in the top four, Granagh-Ballingarry peppered the Effin goal which called for brilliant blocks from O’Neill and full-back Alan Byrne.

O’Connor and Flynn combined to extend the lead even further after 42 minutes with Herr responding from a free two minutes later. Effin gifted possession to an advancing Jack Cagney who reinstated a three point lead for Granagh-Ballingarry in the 47th minute.

A pair of Herr frees and an inspiring effort from Nickie Quaid helped Effin make inroads on the lead with less than five to play.

Brian Sheedy helped stem the momentum slightly, but Cillian O’Riordan and Conor Kearney picked off nice scores to give Effin the advantage.

Fergal O’Connor then carved out a pair of excellent individual scores to seal the victory for Effin, 0-21 to Granagh-Ballingarry's 0-19.

SCORERS: Effin: Fergal O’Connor, Frankie Herr (0-4 frees) 0-5 each, Patrick O’Donovan 0-4 (0-3 frees), Nickie Quaid, Cillian O’Riordan, Brian Clifford, Ewan Dillon, Pierse O’Kelly, Clive Doherty, Conor Kearney 0-1 each. Granagh-Ballingarry: Luke Flynn 0-11 (0-10 frees), Sean O’Connor 0-3, Brian Sheedy 0-2, Michael Russell, Eoin Lynch, Jack Cagney 0-1 each.

EFFIN: Ryan O’Neill, Robert Cagney, Alan Byrne, Mark Mullins, Aaron Moffat, Nickie Quaid, Sean Canning, Cillian O’Riordan, Fergal O’Connor, Brian Clifford, Patrick O’Donovan, Ewan Dillon, Pierse O’Kelly, Conor Kearney, Frankie Herr. SUBS: Enda Kelly for Patrick O’Donovan (half-time, injured), Clive Doherty for Pierse O’Kelly (48 mins), Mike Rea for Aaron Moffat (56 mins).

GRANAGH-BALLINGARRY: Denis Connor, Eoghan Casey, John Kealy, Mark O’Shea, Eoin Horgan, Jack Cagney, Ronan Mullane, Darragh Casey, Brian Sheedy, Michael Russell, Luke Flynn, Sean O’Connor, Josh Mulcaire, David Condron, Eoin Lynch. SUBS: Paudie Murphy for David Condron (40 mins), Tom Horgan for Eoin Lynch (53 mins).

REFEREE: Timmy McGrath