Ballinameela’s Brian Phelan and Bonmahon’s Eoin Firzgerald tangle duruing last Wednesday’s IFC Final replay at Fraher Field.
Three games in a week took its toll on Intermediate champions Ballinameela on Sunday afternoon last as they went down to Limerick’s Oola by four points in their Munster Club IFC Quarter-Final at Fraher Field.
Playing against a very strong wind, Ballinameela got off to a good start in this game as Tom Curran edged them in front with less than 60 seconds played.
But within two minutes of Curran’s opener, Oola took the lead as Ian Burke fisted the ball beyond James McGrath and into the Meela net.
Over 13 minutes, the impressive Brendan Phelan landed three frees while the equally impressive Josh Ryan landed one to level matters with twenty minutes played.
Josh Ryan and Daniel Quirke landed points for the visitors before Ballinameela lost Lorcan Looby on the half hour mark with an injury.
But they soon when in front as Brendan Quirke found Tom Curran and he made no mistake in beating Kevin Nolan to give Ballinameela the lead once more.
However, the sides went in all square after wing-back John Bourke, with the last attack of the half, broke forward and kicked a point.
Thomas Hayes replaced Conor Ryan at the break for Oola and made a major impact as the visitors proved to be the superior side in the third quarter.
John Ryan and Ian Bourke (two points each), Darragh O’Donovan and Pakie Bourke all landed points to give their side a 1-10 to 1-4 lead with 48 minutes played.
Josh Ryan was ordered off a minute later after he collected a second yellow card and while Ballinameela finished the game the stronger of the two sides thanks to a brace from Shane Flavin, the men from Limerick went home victorious.
Ballinameela: James McGrath; Stephen McGrath, Colin Walsh, Kaelan Looby; Jason McGrath, Kevin Phelan, John Harrington; Brian Phelan, Lorcan Looby; Shane Flavin, Tom Curran, Michael Shine; Jim Curran, Brendan Phelan, Micheál Culloo.
Scorers: Tom Curran (1-1), Brendan Phelan (0-3f) and Shane Flavin (0-2).
Substitutes: Mikey Phelan for Lorcan Looby (30 mins), Rob Shine for Micheál Culloo (40) and Jason Morrissey for Mickey Phelan (57).
Oola: Kevin Nolan; Shane Whelan, Eoin Heuston, Fiachra O’Grady; John Bourke, Denis Moloney, Stephen Ryan; Josh Ryan, Conor Ryan; Keith Quirke, Ian Bourke, Darragh O’Donovan; Daniel Quirke, Richie English, Pakie Bourke.
Substitutes: Thomas Hayes for Conor Ryan (HT) and Darragh Stapleton for Ian Bourke (59).
Scorers: Ian Bourke (1-2), Josh Ryan (0-4f), John Bourke, Daniel Quirke, Pakie Bourke and Darragh O’Donovan (0-1 each).
Referee: Sean Lonergan (Tipperary)
