Limerick champions Ballybrown ease past Ballyduff Upper to reach Munster Junior B hurling semi-final

“YOU'RE never sure of what to expect with winter hurling but we got the performance we wanted today,” was the satisfied reaction of manager Dave Flaherty as Ballybrown scored an emphatic 2-19 to 0-6 victory over Waterford champions Ballyduff Upper in Saturday's quarter-final of the Munster Junior 'B' hurling competition run by Killeedy GAA in Raheenagh.

Although Ballybrown were given as much as they got in the early stages, the Limerick champions were far more economical with the chances coming their way and had built up a lead of substance before the Decies side finally picked off their opening score after a fruitless first quarter.

By that stage, however, the die had been cast and, when Rob O'Brien drilled a free to the net seven minutes before the break, Ballybrown were already on their quest to emulate City Division rivals Monaleen and Kildimo-Pallaskenry who went all the way to All-Ireland glory in the previous two seasons.

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Not only did they play with increasing assurance all the way to the line but the five subs introduced after the break in no way weakened Ballybrown's strength or the balance of the line-up as they booked a semi-final meeeting with Clare's Inagh-Kilnamona next weekend.

After both side's missed early chances, Ballybrown's Barry O'Connor finally got the scoreboard moving with the opening point.

Further points from Ethan Keyes and O'Connor then added some meat to the Clarina club's advantage as Ballyduff's woes from the placed ball continued. Coming up to the quarter mark, quickfire scores from O'Connor, from play and from a free, and Keyes's follow-up score stretched the gap out to five points, 0-5 to 0-0.

Brian Bourke's solo up the centre from halfway opened the space for him to get the Waterford side off the mark but, after they failed to follow up off their next few chances, Ballybrown moved up therough the gears again with pointss from Peter O'Rourke and O'Brien.

The Limerick side then set clear blue daylight between the sides when they then intercepted the resulting puck-out to feed Paul O'Neill. His shot low into the near corner eveaded Adrian Power's outstretched hurley to end up in the net.

Trailing now by ten points, Waterford representatives Ballyduff finally found some reward off their sixth free which Cathal Murphy converted.

However, their opponenents continued to drive on with points from O'Brien, O'Rourke off a quick '65'and O'Connor which left them leading 1-13 to 0-2 at the change of ends.

The Waterford champions tore into the game after the restart, reducing the gap with Murphy's long range pointed free.

However, after Oisín Hannigan's point under pressure, the momentum was sucked from their fightback when O'Neill pointed at the other end and, after Power came up from his posts, his 20-metre free skimmed over the crossbar.

Subsequent points from Seán Healy and Keyes dimmed Ballyduff's faint hopes even further and, with just 12 minutes gone into the second period, they were extinguished completely when O'Brien drilled his 20 metre free through the packed red wall on the goal line.

As the subs piled on for their game time, Mark Doolan goal attempt from a tight angle flew just wide of the far upright before Jamie Behan and Keyes stretched the Ballybrown advantage even further.

Murphy interrupted the sequence with a free at the other end only to met by points from Behan and O'Brien before Ballyduff's last chance of achieving scoreboard respectability perished when Bourke's goalbound shot was blocked on the line.

Putting their hands up for selection for the next outing, Ballybrown's replacements Niall Quane and James Smith closed off the scoring.

SCORERS: BALLYBROWN: Rob O'Brien 1-3 (1-0 free), Paul O'Neill 1-1, Barry O'Connor (1 free), Ethan Keyes 0-4 each, Peter O'Rourke, Jamie Behan 0-2 each, Seán Healy, Niall Quane, James Smith 0-1 each: BALLYDUFF UPPER: Cathal Murphy 0-3 (3 frees), Brian Bourke, Oisín Hannigan, Adrian Power (free) 0-1 ech.

BALLYBROWN: Conor O'Neill; Mark Sheehan, Luke Doran, Peter Kiely; Jamie Behan, Luke Foster, Leo O'Reilly; Ben Adams, Peter O'Rourke; Barry O'Connor, Seán Healy, Ethan Keyes; Paul O'Neill, Rob O' Brien, Mark Doolan. SUBS: James Smith for Ben Adams (46 mins), Rob Kearney for Mark Doolan (49 mins), Rory Murphy for Mark Sheehan (51 mins), Niall Quane for Ethan Keyes (injured, 53 mins), Cillian Cliffe for Paul O'Neill (54 mins).

BALLYDUFF UPPER: Adrian Power; Cathal Kenny, Maurice McNamara, Sam Kingston; Jack Barry, Colm Horgan, Florence Flynn; Oisín Harrington, Brian Bourke; Patrick McCarthy, Cárthach Hickey, Conor Hickey; Ty Keating Corcoran, Shane Cunningham, Cathal Murphy. SUBS: Ethan Joyce for Jack Barry (injured, 11 minutes), Darragh Sheehy for Cárthach Hickey (half-time), Michael McCormack for Shane Cunningham (half-time), Aidan O'Brien for Ty Keating Corcoran, 49 mins).

REFEREE: Ciarán Murphy (Cork).