Ballinameela take on Oola for Munster Semi Final Spot against Carrigaline

Less than 100 hours after winning a fourth County Intermediate Football Championship in the clubs history, Ballinameela are in Munster Club Championship action on Sunday afternoon next when they take on Limerick Champions Oola at Fraher Field on Sunday afternoon with the game having a 2pm throw in.

Ballinameela on Wednesday evening won the right to contest this game when they over came the challenge of Bunmahon at the second time of asking at Fraher Field, winning 1-12 to 2-7 after drawing 1-7 to 0-10 last Saturday evening at the same venue, where they required a point from Jim Curran very late in stoppage time to secure the second chance.

The Limerick side know a little longer that they will be involved in Sunday’s game having beaten Claughaun 2-11 to 0-14 in the Limerick Intermediate Football Final recently at Caherconlish.

In that game was goals from Pakie Bourne and under 21 Limerick hurler Richie English in the first half that helped secure the win for the East Limerick side as they turned around at the break with a 2-7 to 0-7 advantage.

While it was Claughaun that opened the scoring in the Limerick final through Evan Shine, Oola wasted not time in replying as both sides went score for score with Ian Bourke with a brace and John and Pakie Bourke hitting one each to level matters midway through the half.

Under 21 player of the Year Richie English hit his sides first goal of the game when he fisted to the net and shortly afterwards Pakie Bourke followed up with a second goal to give Oola a good advantage on the scoreboard.

The remainder of the opening half proved to be an evenly balanced affair with both sides landing three points each, with the winners scores coming from Keith Bourke, Conor Ryan and Richie English.

Claughaun started the second half the better of the two sides and kicked three unanswered points before Josh Ryan kicked Oola’s first score of the second half from a free midway through the half from a free.

Claughaun however came back again with two points before Oola hit the score of the game when Pakie Bourke found his brother Ian with an excellent pass and he put over a fine point to stem the flow of Claughaun. Pakie Bourke followed up with a point of his own with five minutes remaining to give Oola a 2-10 to 0-13 lead.

Claughaun did manage to cut the Oola lead to two in the time that remained but the winners ensured that the win was going to be their’s when 17 year old Josh Ryan landed a free following a foul on Darragh O’Donovan.

Ballinameela on Wednesday evening last had a much better start to the game than they had in the drawn game as they hit the first three scores of the game, both points from Jim Curran, Brian Phelan and Tom Curran.

Michael Harney hit Bunmahon’s first score of the half on 19 minutes and Ballinameela hit their all important score three minutes later as Michael Culloo finished to the net to give his side a 1-3 to 0-1 lead.

The remainder of what was in all effects a very dour first half proved to be an evenly balanced affair as both sides hit two further scores each, Brendan Phelan kicking a brace of points for the eventual winners, in the middle of efforts from Ciaran Buckley on 23 minutes and Shane Dwan just before the break.

The second half proved however to be a much more enjoyable affair.

Ballinameela leading 1-5 to 0-3 at the break opened the half as they did with the first with Jim Curran and Man of the Match Brendan Phelan hitting points for their side. However, Bonmahon who were the better side in the drawn game and who were within seconds of winning a third Intermediate Football County Final for the club would not lie down without a fight, and they hit back with points from Richie Walsh and Jonathan Fenton before they hit a brace a goals within thirty seconds of each other, the first from Jeff Hally who came in as a sub at the break following a movement that started in their own goal mouth and the second from Jonathan Fenton after Bonmahon won the restart after their first goal.

Ballinameela however were to show their hunger as they hit the next four scores in a row through Jim Curran with a brace and one each from Shane Flavin and Tom Curran.

Bonmahon however still refused to throw in the towel as Richie Walsh hit a brace of frees before Shane Dwan saw an effort for a goal in stoppage time go just wide of the base of the upright, which had it gone in would have given his side a two point lead, but they would end up loosing by two as Brendan Phelan put over a late point to record a 1-12 to 2-7 victory.

Both sides on Sunday are unlikely to show many changes to the sides that won county finals in their respective counties.

That should mean that Kevin Nolan will start between the posts for Oola with Shane Whelan, Jamie Heuston and Stephen Ryan forming the full back line, and John Bourke, Eoin Fitzgibbon and Denny Moloney playing directly in front of them.

Josh Ryan and Conor Ryan could well form a good centre field pairing but in the Limerick County Final the latter retired early and was replaced by Darragh Stapleton who will be hoping for a start this time around if Conor Ryan is not selected.

In attach Oola could well cause Ballinameela some problems. Ian Bourke scored three points from centre forward in the Limerick County Final while alongside him Keith Bourke hit 0-1 while Daniel Quirke in the right half forward position was one of two of their six starting forwards not to score and was replaced by Thomas Hayes.

The full forward line could is where much of Oola’s strength is as Pakie Bourke and Richie English their goal scores in the county final look set to start in the corners with Darragh O’Donovan in the middle.

Ballinameela could well give a vote of confidence to the side which beat Bunmahon on Wednesday evening meaning James McGrath will start between the posts with Stephen McGrath, Colin Walsh and Kaelan Looby in front of him, while Jason McGrath, Kevin Phelan and Michael Shine could start in the half back line.

Brian Phelan and Lorcan Looby should continue in the middle of the field, while John Harrington, Tom Curran and Shane Flavin should fill the number 10 to 12 positions with Jim Curran, Brendan Phelan and Michael Culloo playing closest to the Oola goal. Mickey Phelan and Rob Shine played parts in the drawn game with Bunmahon and could receive a call up again for this game as for players to play three games in a week at this time of the year is asking a lot, but needs must at times.

Oola will go into this game with an advantage of a good break following their county final win. Members of their club may also have taken the trip at least once in the last week to Dungarvan to see their opponents in action.

A third game in a week as already pointed out is going to be a big ask for Ballinameela, but often adrenalin will see you past the post. Playing on a field that they are very familiar with should also be a help as Fraher Field is often a difficult field for sides not used to playing their on a regular basis to get a result.

With this in mind, Ballinameela get the nod, but it might be too close for most for comfort.