From a Ballina perspective, this was never going to be easy. The Shannonside club entered this County Premier Intermediate Hurling opener with an endless list of absentees and injury concerns. Preparations had not been smooth. And neither was this performance.

True, Eamon Power’s outfit showed flickers of promise and seemed to have worked their way into a winning position on the verge of half-time, but their second-half display lacked conviction and bite.

St Mary’s, on balance, were the better side. The Clonmel club will fancy their chances of emerging from the group, and perhaps going on to achieve greater things.

Played out amid blustery, almost autumnal conditions on Friday evening last, this game was always going to be an even contest.

Both sides had exhibited flashes of form in the county league, yet both seemed to approach this fixture somewhat under the radar.

Neither are considered favourites to win this Premier Intermediate Championship, but both will have intentions of going deep into the knockout stages. For Ballina, that task now becomes considerably more difficult.

And yet for a short period in the first half, it looked as if the north side would prevail. From the 15th minute onwards they started to hurl, throwing off the shackles and playing with a bit of panache. Matthew Power led the line with a series of well-struck frees.

His namesake, full forward Eoghan (no relation), was similarly influential, swiping over on several occasions during the opening thirty minutes.

Ballina’s first score was the latter Power at his absolute best. The stocky forward rose high to snap a Martin McKeogh puckout, before swiftly turning and firing over from fifty metres. It elicited widespread applause from the sizeable contingent of Ballina supporters nestled in the stand.

Mary’s failed to hit gear until the very latter stages of the first half, but they kept in touch courtesy of some sublime Seán Kennedy free-taking. The centre forward was a model of consistency throughout, applying the same languid technique and slotting over Aaron Gillane-style.

His counterpart, Matthew Power, was equally effective. The Ballina man takes a more orthodox approach, but his ability from placed balls is nothing short of outstanding. If Ballina are to somehow escape from this group, Power’s presence could prove essential.

In truth, it was a first half largely defined by frees. There were relatively few open chances, few opportunities to snatch a goal, but Ballina managed to concoct one on the cusp of half-time.

Donie Whelan, who had been an injury concern prior to throw-in, performed astonishingly well to latch his hurley onto a lofted high ball just entering the square. He did very little but he did enough, subtly redirecting the sliotar past Enda Dunphy and sending Ballina 1-10 to 0-7 ahead.

A six point half-time deficit would have been unjust - the sides were closer than that and, sure enough, Mary’s closed the gap in the ensuing minutes, reeling Ballina back in to just three points by the time the half-time whistle arrived.

They had the lead, 1-10 to 0-10, but whatever momentum they might have garnered from the goal had already dissipated. Mary’s were back in business.

Every game has a critical moment, and in this instance it arrived in the 43rd minute.

Referee Séamus Delaney’s decision to award Ballina a penalty was a tad controversial, but it granted the northerners a glorious opportunity to effectively seal the outcome. Yet Power - who, it must be acknowledged, delivered an outstanding individual performance - could not convert. His effort dragged off the surface and spiralled towards Enda Dunphy’s right-hand side. The St Mary’s ‘keeper crouched down low and deflected the sliotar away, granting his side a lifeline.

The penalty save seemed to energise St Mary’s. Thereafter they were a different force, a sharper, more confident outfit who overpowered Ballina in the closing stages.

A brilliant individual effort from Ross Peters drew them level in the 51st minute, and just moments later Peters had fired them ahead, 0-19 to 1-15.

From there Mary’s steered the ship home smoothly, with Seán Kennedy adding further frees and inter-county maestro Séamus invigorating the St Mary’s crowd with a sublime point in the second minute of stoppage time.

Ballina pressed desperately for an equaliser, but the goal proved elusive. Their chances of progression have not been fatally damaged, but Friday’s outcome most definitely ranks as an agonising blow.

Player of the Match: Ross Peters (St Mary’s Clonmel).

St Mary’s: Enda Dunphy (0-1 free), Thomas Charles, Ross Slattery, Liam Ryan, Tadhg Condon, James Morris, Sammy Ryan, Séamus Kennedy (0-2), Richie Gunne (0-2), Cathal Deely (0-2), Seán Kennedy (0-11 frees), Niall Hoctor, Ross Peters (0-5), Michael Murphy, Josh Ryan.

Sub: Dara O’Connor for Morris (60+1).

Ballina: Martin McKeogh, James Hanley, Michael Breen, Zach Egan, Terry O’Halloran, Jack Collins, Conor Power, David Kelly, Sam Loughran, Cathal O’Donnell, Matthew Power (0-11, 6 frees, 1 ’65), Kian Donnelly, Donie Whelan (1-0), Eoghan Power (0-4), Charlie King (0-1).

Sub: Paddy O’Donovan for Egan (55).

Referee: Seamus Delaney (JK Brackens).

Match report from Thomas Conway - North Tipperary