2024 AIB GAA Hurling All-Ireland Junior Club Championship Semi-Final – Russell Rovers (Cork) 2-22 Ballinascreen (Derry) 1-9

Russell Rovers (Cork) defeated Ballinascreen (Derry) by 2-22 to 1-9 in the AIB GAA Hurling All-Ireland Junior Club Championship Semi-Final on Saturday December 14th at The Downs Westmeath.

Early red card cripples Ballinascreen challenge as Russell Rovers secure Croke Park spot https://t.co/poEZ54D4y6

— Irish Examiner Sport (@ExaminerSport) December 14, 2024

Early red card cripples Ballinascreen challenge as Russell Rovers secure Croke Park spot

Report by Maurice Brosnan courtesy of the Irish Examiner newspaper

All-Ireland Club JHC semi-final: Russell Rovers (Cork) 2-22 Ballinacreen (Derry) 1-9

Russell Rovers cruised to the All-Ireland junior club final in Croke Park with a comfortable 16-point triumph over a 14-man Ballinascreen at The Downs GAA ground.

The Ulster champions, who swept past East Cavan Gaels four weeks ago, were hit by a body blow from the off. Worse was the fact that it was entirely self-inflicted. Luke Duggan Murray scored directly from the throw-in and a minute later, goalkeeper Aodhan McCallion was sent off after a clash with Brian Harnett.

The former Midleton hurler fouled the number one while chasing a long delivery, but McCallion wasn’t content with the free. He collided with Harnett in protest and referee Caymon Flynn flashed a straight red after consulting with his umpires.

Duggan Murray added his second subsequently and a gorgeous over-the-shoulder effort by Ciarán Sheehan left Ballinascreen in an extraordinary hole. They wouldn’t come close to escaping it.

Two missed frees only worsened their prospects, although a fine sideline from Cormac Gough did eventually get them off the mark with 11 minutes played.

With a backup goalkeeper on, the Dónal Óg Cusack coached side elected to withdraw a forward out on Ballinascreen’s puckout. The Derry club did not go short and were cleaned out in the middle. Duggan Murray’s goal came directly from a stolen restart, a move he started by winning possession near the sideline and ended with a top-corner finish.

It was 1-15 to 1-3 at half-time. Just before the break, a super save stopped Josh Beausang at one end and Eoin McCallion batted home the rebound from an Eamon Conway free at the other.

To their credit, Ballinascreen battled hard after the turnaround. They responded to a Harnett point with four consecutive scores. McCallion scored the pick of them when Reece McSorley, who was brought back on having made way for the goalkeeper substitution, sent him away with a terrific cross field ball. A string of missed frees executed any chance of a stunning comeback.

The superb Duggan Murray settled Russell Rovers before Beasang made the most of a close-range free by blasting it into the net. Mark O’Dwyer came off the bench to bring more of the same and tap over a score. They march on to a decider against St Lachtains or Easkey in January.

Scorers for Russell Rovers: J. Beausang 1-5 (1-3 frees); L. Duggan Murray 1-3; B. Harnett 0-5 (2 free); D. Ruddy 0-3; C. Sheehan, R. Cummins, F. Murray, J. Kennefick, P. Lane, M. O’Dwyer 0-1 each.

Scorers for Ballinascreen: E. Conway 0-6 (5 frees); : E. McCallion 1-1; C. Gough 0-1 s/line; P. Cleary 0-1.

RUSSELL ROVERS: R. Walsh; K. O’Brien, P. Lane, J. Kennefick; F. Murray, E. O’Sullivan, D. Moynihan; K. Walsh, R. Cummins; B. Harnett, K. Moynihan, D. Ruddy; L. Duggan Murray, C. Sheehan, J. Beusang.
Subs: S. Walsh for O’Brien (35), M. O’Dwyer for Sheehan (38); J. McGrath for Moynihan (43); C. Aherne for Beasang, S. O’Neill for Duggan Murray (54)

BALLINASCREEN: A. McCallion; C. McBride, P. McGlade, A. McBride; C. Gough; J. Conway, C. Doyle; R Scullion, A. Kelly; E. McCallion, P. Cleary, E. Conway; N. Rafferty, M. Bradley, R. McSorley.
Subs: D. McDaid for McSorley (3 min); R. McWilliams for Kelly (30 – Inj); R. McSorley for Conway (39); B. Kealey for Bradley (57), J McDaid for Cleary (58).

Referee: C. Flynn (Westmeath).