Ballinlough 2-13  St.Marys/Slane 2-09

Ballinlough took on a St.Marys/Slane combination for the second time this year, this time in a picturesque Ballinlough.

The first outing was our very first game at Minor level for a number of years and the inexperience showed as St.Marys/Slane absolutely beat us off the field that evening. But that game was to be a wake up call to both management and players, to let us know what exactly was required to compete at this level on our own, and the difference in mindset, application and work rate from our lads since then has been nothing short of phenomenal.

But back to the park today and the going was slow in the opening minutes as both teams operating like Heavy weight boxers, both eyeing each other up without committing too much to the attack, and it was St.Marys/Slane who drew first blood with a pointed free in the 08th minute. Harry Ryan got Ballinlough going a moment later, and the influential midfielder was to play an integral part in this game. 

Further points were traded from frees before St.Marys/Slane pushed on with a point in the 14th minute, and then again when their very industrious corner forward dazzled his way past three men to calmly finish to the back of the net, leaving the visitors four points up with 15 minutes gone on the clock. 

Harry Ryan added another free in the 18th minute, but St.Marys/Slane retained their four point lead with a free of their own in the 20th minute. Ryan was to be accurate again from the placed ball two minutes later, the free coming off a foul on Kit Óg Lynch, who seemed to be manhandled every-time he got his hands on the ball. Oisin McDermott added another point from play for Ballinlough to lower the deficit but again the Marys hit back with a point of their own in the 26th minute. 

Jamie Casserly added his name to the scoresheet in the 27th minute, before another Harry Ryan free, and then some very cute thinking by Ryan and Oisin McDermott with a quick 45’ resulted in McDermott slotting the ball over the bar to level the sides for the first time since the throw up. 

St.Marys/Slane, realizing they were in a game now, pushed forward seeking a second goal to put them back in the driving seat but they were to be denied by a super save from Senan McDermott in the Ballinlough net. From the resulting rebound, Ballinlough worked the ball up the field and Seán Tunney added a sweet point from his left boot to give the home side the lead for the first time in the 31st minute.

A moment later Ballinlough were to be rewarded with a pivotal goal when Jamie Casserly, who was fouled in the run in, still managed to get his pass off and Seamus Rooney was perfectly positioned to smash the ball to the back of the net. It was an excellent application of the advantage rule from referee Seamus O’Connor who resisted the urge to blow the whistle to bring play back, and instead correctly allowed play to continue resulting in a Ballinlough goal. 

And so Ballinlough were to take a four point lead into the half time break on a scoreline of 1-09 to St.Marys/Slane’s 1-05, a lead they may not have thoroughly deserved but one they fought for none the less.

Harry Ryan kicked off proceedings in the second half with a pointed free, again Kit Óg Lynch the victim of an unnecessary foul by the St.Marys/Slane corner back. The visitors pulled a point back from play in the 34th minute, and might well have been right back in this game with another goal chance in the 35th minute, only again to be denied by the reflexes of the ever impressive Senan McDermott in the Ballinlough goals.

St.Marys/Slane added another point in the 39th minute, but Harry Ryan retained the four point lead from a free in the 41st minute. Brían Casserly kicked an absolutely super Point from play in the 48th minute to push out Ballinlough’s lead, and in what is quickly becoming the norm, big brother Jamie wasn’t long getting in on the action when he secured possession in the 50th minute close to goal. 

Now anyone who has ever been to a Ballinlough game this year knows that Jamie has two only two levels when in close proximity to the goal mouth and they are Goal and Near Goal and this time thankfully it was the former which was the result pushing Ballinlough’s lead out to eight points with less than ten minutes left on the clock. 

Daire Shine added a point a minute later, a superb effort from play, with Shine almost on the floor before the ball left his boot, but still the young man got his shot between the posts and over the bar. 

At nine points up you’d think we were home and dry but St.Marys/Slane had other ideas and they came pushing for scores to get themselves back into the game. They kicked a point from play in the 58th minute before being gifted a goal in the 61st minute, when Senan McDermott made a rare error in the Ballinlough goals when clearing his lines to allow the visitors back into this game. Another point from play in the 62nd minute for St.Marys/Slane left a very nervy ending for the Ballinlough Faithful. 

With just four points between the sides and quite a number of stoppages earlier in the game, the time remaining was literally in the hands of the Gods, or in this case, that God was referee Seamie O’Connor, and only he alone knew how much more time was to be played before this game would reach its rightful conclusion. 

St.Marys/Slane had chances and played a couple of balls into the Ballinlough danger area but they were repeatedly thwarted by some fantastic defending from the home side, in particular Stan Ryan, Jack Connell and Hugh Briody were outstanding to keep the danger out. 

Eventually after over four minutes of added time, Mr.O’Connor finally brought the whistle to his lips for the last time on the Ballinlough turf for the day, to an eruption of escalation from the Ballinlough sideline.

To reach a Championship Minor Final is a massive achievement for any team, but to do it when you are only playing independently for a couple of months is extraordinary and extra special. Regardless of what way the Final goes, this group of young men have shown the heart and desire that is inherent in the parish of Kilskyre/Crossakiel/Ballinlough and the passion these lads have to play football for Ballinlough. They, along with their ever supportive parents and our mentors , were willing to put their bodies on the line for each other, take the hits for each other and take a step into the darkness together not knowing where this journey would lead.

And the answer is this journey has brought them to a Summer League Final, which they emerged victorious, and now they stand on the cusp of a Minor Championship title. To win the Final would be immense, but to see young fellas fighting to play football for Ballinlough is worth more than any accolade you could win... that is the true victory for this club and it will be long remembered regardless of the outcome of the Final, and each of those men, their parents, and their Management Team should be immensely proud of themselves for making it happen. 

We’ll take it easy for abit now and take what comes in a few weeks time in the final.

Ballinlough: S.McDermott, S.Ryan, B.Jordan, S.Rooney (1-00), T.Shine, J.Connell, H.Briody, S.Tunney (0-01), H.Ryan (0-7(7f)), E.Briody, J.Casserly (1-01), O.McDermott (0-02), D.Shine (0-01), B.Casserly (0-01), K.Óg Lynch. Subs: J.McDonnell, R.Cunning, J.Ryan

Referee: Seamus O’Connor

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