Watch and read: Tipp stars McGarry and Kennedy help end Ballincollig run

Munster Club IHC quarter-final: St Mary's (Tipperary) 1-16 Ballincollig (Cork) 0-15

St Mary's made home advantage count as they outplayed Ballincollig in this AIB Munster hurling Intermediate Club Championship quarter final at Clonmel on Sunday.

Before a massive crowd the Tipperary men were ultimately more clinical and kept Ballincollig at arm’s length when they briefly threatened a comeback in the closing quarter.

Tipperary senior panelist Peter McGarry was magnificent, hitting 0-9, while Tadgh Condon’s goal on 45 minutes proved decisive.

Ballincollig were always brave but some poor first-half shooting proved costly while Harry Ahearne was desperately unlucky as his goal attempt came back off the post in the 27th minute.

Kilbrittain’s Jamie Wall is the St Mary's coach and was naturally thrilled.

“We are obviously delighted to win and there is no doubt that playing at home is a huge advantage," Jamie Wall said.

"The lads play and train here and know every blade of grass here. Ballincollig hit the post at the end of the first half when a goal looked certain and Seamus Kennedy landed a monster point from the clearance, that was huge and a four-point swing really.

"Very fine margins when you consider the winning margin was only four.” 

Ballincollig’s Danny Miskella opened the scoring, but St Mary’s replied within seconds through Tipperary panelist McGarry.

Ballincollig went back in front through the hard-working Darragh O’Mahony.

Tipperary senior star Seamus Kennedy was superb all through and he landed a monster equaliser to thunderous approval. Both sides squandered chances through nerves and a tricky breeze.

The Clonmel side edged in front with a brace from livewire McGarry. The sides looked evenly matched early on as Ballincollig’s Cian O’Driscoll replied with a magnificent brace from play, 0-4 each after 15 minutes. McGarry clipped over another placed effort before Theo Morgan landed an equaliser.

St Mary's enjoyed a purple patch and Ballincollig wouldn't score again in the half. McGarry nailed another placed effort before corner-forward Harry Lawlor landed the score of the game from over his shoulder.

Moments later, a sweeping Ballincollig move ended up with Ahern hitting the post after an exquisite pass from Stephen Wills. From the clearance Kennedy's boomer ensured the Tipperary men led by 0-9 to 0-5 at half-time.

On resumption, Ballincollig reduced the gap to three with a fine point from Miskella. St Mary's introduced Thomas Charles, and he converted with his first touch and minutes later put through Tadgh Condon for a crucial goal.

Ballincollig introduced talisman Brian Keating and he clipped a nice point.

But St Mary's were always in control and the magnificent McGarry clipped over after Ballincollig scores from lively sub Tadhg O’Connell and James Dwyer.

Ballincollig kept plugging away with points from Tadgh O’Connell, Steven Wills (2) and Ross O’Donovan but the St Mary's defence was mean and the goal chances never materialised.

Scorers for St Mary's: P McGarry 0-9 (0-5 f), T Condon 1-0, T Charles 0-3, S Kennedy 0-2, H Lawlor, A Cagney 0-1.

Ballincollig: C O’Driscoll, J Dwyer, T O’Connell, S Wills (0-1 f), Danny Miskella 0-2 each, Theo Morgan, D O’Mahony, B Keating, C Dalton, R O’Donovan 0-1 each.

ST MARY'S: G Buckley; R Gunne, R Peters, D O’Connor; T Sheehan, S Kennedy, J Morris; T Condon, S Ryan; A Cagney, P McGarry, S Kennedy; H Lawlor, C Deely, J Power.

Subs: T Charles for S Ryan (h-t), R Peters for J Power (40), M Murphy for H Lawlor (45), J Higgins for S Kennedy.

BALLINCOLLIG: J Linehan; J Murray, F Denny, R O’Donovan; K O'Leary; B Coleman, D O’Leary, J Dwyer; T Morgan, H Ahearne; D O'Mahony, S Wills, C O’Drisoll; A Wills, D Miskella.

Subs: B Keating for B Coleman (35), T O’Connell for D O’Mahony (47), D O’Sullivan for J Murray (50), P Kelly for D Miskella (55), C Dalton for T Morgan (55).

Referee: Kieran Guina (Limerick).