Ballinlough 0-14 Meath Hill   2-14

Ballinlough made the trip to Nobber, on what was probably the most glorious evening for football we’ve had for some time, to take on Meath Hill in Round 2 of the Intermediate Championship.

Meath Hill opened the scoring with a free in the opening minute, before adding another one a matter of seconds later, while Ballinlough were left to rue a missed goal chance early on. Peader Byrne finally opened Ballinlough’s account with a point from play in the sixth minute which was quickly followed up by a fine Mick Geraghty effort from play to level the scores with ten minutes approaching on the clock.

Then came the first of the turning point when Meath Hill were rewarded a penalty which was duly dispatched sending keeper Dereck Muldoon the wrong way in the Ballinlough net to leave Meath Hill three points to the good. Peader Byrne responded immediately for Ballinlough with a fine point, and it seemed the former county man was on form to play a nice bit of ball this evening...more on that later!

Meath Hill struck back with a superb point from play in the 14th minute before Ballinlough strung two points together, Mark McCullen scoring from play while Harry Ryan kicked his first of many frees in the 16th minute.

Unfortunately it was time for a water break and the Ballinlough momentum that had been building was swiftly diminished as from the restart Meath Hill sent over the next three scores all from play to leave them four points clear. Colm Mallen got Ballinlough scoring again in the 23rd minute with a great score from play, before Harry Ryan added his second from a placed ball moments later.

The second turning point of the game came when Meath Hill found the Ballinlough net again moving the ball masterfully and at speed to finish to the net.

Mick Geraghty added another point in the 28th minute, but Meath Hill fired off two quick points of their own to maintain their strong lead. Even though Colm Mallen had the honour of kicking the last point of the half in the 32nd minute from a free, the Lough went in at the break trailing on a scoreline of Ballinlough 0-09 to Meath Hills 2-08.

The second half started with a Meath Hill point  shortly after throw in, before Colm Mallen was on target again from a placed ball. Harry Ryan and his Meath Hill counterpart traded frees in the 38th minute, before Ballinlough were dealt a hammer blow in the 40th minute when Peader Byrne received his marching orders for an alleged second yellow card offence that saw Byrne headed to the line leaving Ballinlough 5 points down, a man down and 20 minutes left to play in this contest.

Meath Hill added another point from play in the 47th minute before Ryan was accurate once again seconds later. Ballinlough had a golden opportunity in the 49th minute but Tommy McCullen was unlucky to see his goal effort go wide of the posts. Another Harry Ryan free, (there’s a picture forming there if you care to think enough about it) left just four points between the sides in the 57th minute and you felt if the 14 men of Ballinlough could just muster up that last daring attack a goal and grandstand finish was on the cards.

Sadly it was Meath Hill who took the next score, and despite a late opportunistic dropped ball into the square no Balinlough man was able to guide it towards the net with Meath Hill coming away with the ball.

The game was put to bed in the 63rd minute when Meath Hill added another point to extend their lead further, the two contentious goals all that stood between the teams in the end, scoreline reading Ballinlough 0-14 to Meath Hills 2-14.

Credit to the Meath Hill players they had a job to do, did it well and probably just about deserved the win this evening, their team are in with a fine chance of progressing to the Semi-Final stage of the competition.

Next up for Ballinlough is a shoot-out with Longwood to determine who avoids the relegation dogfight.

Ballinlough: D.Muldoon, B.Smith, P.Muldoon, R.Farrell, L.Maguire, M.Geraghty(0-02), C.Fleming, D.Caffrey, T.McCullen, F.Gibney, S.Geraghty, M.McCullen (0-01),C.Mallen (0-03(2f), P.Byrne (0-02), H.Ryan (0-06(6f)

Referee: Peter Skelly

Meath Hill Report

Meath Hill 2-14 V Ballinlough 0-14

Meath Hill and Ballinlough met in the second round of the Intermediate championship at a sun-kissed Nobber Saturday evening . Meath Hill went into an early lead with well taken points from Meath Hill stalwart Jason Yorke as they led the game by two points to no score. Trailing by two points Ballinlough broke through early on only to be halted by a spectacular one on one save from Meath Hill keeper Domonic Yorke. Ballinlough quickly rectified this as they drew the game with two well taken points.

Meath Hill then took control as Yorke continued to kick the ball over the bar, ably assisted by Pierce McGrath who coolly dispatched a penalty before  becoming the architect for Jason Yorke to finish well to the corner after excellent approach play for Meath Hill.

In the second half Ballinlough rallied but Meath Hill then took control of the game as a Ballinlough player received a second yellow. Despite the numerical advantage Ballinlough still fought on bravely, this however would be to their detriment as Kieran Slavin and Ryan Owens sent over second half scores on the counterattack to get Meath Hill over the line.

Meath Hill now go into their last game against Clann Na Gael with both teams aware that this winner take all game will decide who will progress in the competition.

Meath Hill:D.Yorke,T.Carolan,C.Marry,B.Kieran,H.Corscadden,K.Slavin,M.Tully,K.Ginnity,P.Matthews,J.Mooney,J.McMahon,J.Yorke,R.Owens,T.Rooney,P.McGrath. Subs:C.Owens for B.Kieran ,M.Tully for P.McGrath

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