Ballina's participation in the County Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship was brought to an end by an in-form Upperchurch/Drombane side in what proved a one-sided encounter on Sunday evening. Needing nothing less than a win in order to progress and with Upperchurch having a preliminary quarter-final safety net as reigning Mid champions, it was down to Adrian Hurley’s side to fashion that all-important victory. It wasn’t to be however, and Ballina's ten year wait to progress to the knockout stages of the county championship continues following a game which saw them keep pace with the Mid champions for the opening half but the concession of three second half goals, including two from man of the match Pat Ryan, put paid to their quarter-final aspirations. Despite playing into the teeth of a bitter diagonal breeze, Ballina only trailed by four at the break and were well in contention having put in a decent opening half stint. Early points from Zac Egan and Jack Collins (free) got the ball rolling but the ‘Church responded with efforts from Pat Ryan and Paul Ryan. Josh Egan edged Ballina in front again on six minutes before Paul Ryan brought the James McGrath coached side upsides again. Upperchurch were very much getting into their groove at this stage and on twelve minutes Paul Ryan set up Luke Shanahan for Upperchurch’s fourth point to fire the Mid champions into a lead they would never relinquish. Ballina retaliated with a lovely Josh Egan point from close-range but between the 18th & 23rd minutes the ‘Church fired 1-4 without reply to take a firm grip on proceedings. A Paul Shanahan point was quickly followed by a cracking Paudie Greene goal after a promising looking Ballina attack was snuffed out and the ‘Church surged up field on the counter-attack. Gavin Ryan, who was immense at centre-back, added a sixth point for the men in black in amber before efforts from Paul Shanahan and Paudie Green fired the ‘Church into a 1-8 to 0-4 lead. Credit to Ballina they responded well though with successive efforts from Josh Egan and Jack Collins (free) narrowing the deficit before Paudie Greene retaliated for the ‘Church with a sublime left-handed effort following a neat through ball from Paul Ryan. A further brace from Ballina’s Charlie King and Michael Breen (free) cut the deficit to four on the cusp of half-time before Niall Grant and Michael Breen (free) traded points deep in time added on to see the ‘Church lead by 1-10 to 0-9 at the break. Ballina enforced one change at the break with Matthew Power coming on from Kian Donnelly, but the third quarter proved a dour affair with just one score coming from either side as both sides squandered a number of chances in front of goal. Jack Collins arrowed over a 36th minute free before Upperchurch eventually found their scoring feet again on 40 minutes after Diarmuid Grant finished the sliotar to the back of the net following impressive approach play from Paul Ryan and Paul Shanahan. Upperchurch raided again seconds later but Simon Grace pulled off a fine save to deny the ‘Church a third goal. The warning signs were there for Ballina and their inside back-line was seriously creaking under the pressure being imposed upon them by an Upperchurch attack building in confidence. Successive points from Paudie Greene and Paddy Phelan added to the ‘Church’s tally before Pat Ryan slipped the attentions of Ballina's corner-back Paddy O’Donovan and rifled the sliotar low to the back of the net. The men in blue responded with points from Matthew Power and Billy Collins but Pat Ryan once more raided on 52 minutes and calmly slotted the sliotar past the advancing Simon Grace to register his side’s fourth goal and put the final result beyond any doubt, 4-12 to 0-12. Upperchurch added to their tally in the closing stages, firing over seven points, six from play, the pick a lovely Paul Shanahan strike following a deft flick from the influential Paddy Phelan. Ballina battled on gamely but an unfortunate finger injury to Michael Breen in the latter stages forced him to leave the field on what was a disappointing day for the men in blue and white. Upperchurch/Drombane were full value for their victory and finished the group in second place with Carrick Swan topping by virtue of their opening round victory over the ‘Church. ## Player of the Match and Team Line-Ups ## Player of the Match: Pat Ryan (Upperchurch/Drombane). Upperchurch/Drombane: Ciaran Shortt (7); Ger Grant (7), Keith Ryan (7), Dean Carew (7); Niall Grant (0-2, 7), Gavin Ryan (0-2, 7), Ailbe O’Donoghue (7); Luke Shanahan (0-2, 7), Aaron Ryan (7); Paul Shanahan (0-3, 7), Diarmuid Grant (1-0, 7), Paul Ryan (0-2, 7); Paudie Greene (1-3, 8), Paddy Phelan (0-1, 7), Pat Ryan (2-2 (0-1f) 8). Subs: Colm Ryan (0-1, 6) for Paul Ryan (50); Conor Fahey (0-1, 6) for Greene (56); Oisin Treacy (NR) for O’Donoghue (57); Mikey Lavery (NR) for A Ryan (59). Ballina: Simon Grace (7); Paddy O’Donovan (6), David Grace (7), Terry O’Halloran (6); Zak Egan (0-1, 7), Michael Breen (0-3f, 7), James Hanly (6); Charlie King (0-1, 7), Jack Collins (0-4, 2f, 7); Cillian Ryan (6), David Kelly (0-1, 7), Billy Collins (0-1, 7); Kian Donnelly (6), David Coughlan (6), Josh Egan (0-3, 7). Subs: Cathal O’Donnell (6) for Hanly (21 inj); Matthew Power (0-1, 6) for Donnelly (HT); Ben King (6) for O’Halloran (36); Corey Ryan (NR) for Ryan (56); Kian Donnelly for Breen (59 inj). Referee: PJ Nolan (Killea).