Late Ronan free earns Ballyhea another crack at Fr O’Neill’s

A POINT from a Neil Ronan free three minutes into injury time earned Ballyhea a draw in a thrilling Premier IHC second round tie at Páirc Uí Chaoimh last night.

It was a result they deserved if only for their refusal to throw in the towel when all seemed lost, and again they gave glimpses of the power and passion of their hurling once feared by teams in the county.

However this game will be remembered for the failure on the part of the referee John Kearney not to send Barry Coleman (Ballyhea) and Fr. O’Neill’s John Flavin off for wreckless use of the hurley on each other in a disgraceful flare up in the second half.