Ballyea’s blend of steel and skill proves decisive

Ballyea 1-21 Glen Rovers 2-10: Little over three weeks ago, Ballyea travelled to Ennis in search of a first county title. This morning, they rise as Munster champions.

It’s an incredible tale of achievement by the small village, buffered, as it is, by players from the football strongholds of Ballynacally, Kilmihil and Cooraclare.

Tradition wasn’t on their side arriving into Thurles yesterday, but Munster’s new order showed scant regard for the lines of symmetry which ran between the Glen’s storied past and current crop.