Ballyhaise 2-13
Arva 1-14

by Shane Corrigan
at Kingspan Breffni Park

Ballyhaise banished their ghosts this afternoon to hold off Arva and end their 47-year wait for the intermediate football championship title.

In a thrilling finale at Kingspan Breffni Park, 'Man of the Match' Stephen Smith hit 1-6 to put John Brady's men on the path to victory against an Arva side that were never willing to throw in the towel at any stage, having trailed by six at half-time.

Ballyhaise had done decisive damage in those opening 30 minutes through the goals of Kevin Tierney (1-2) and Smith but Brian Doyle's charges did their utmost to turn it around in the second-half, finding the net within 15 seconds of the throw-in via Jonathan McCabe.

Last year's beaten finalists didn't want to know about more heartbreak here though and kept their nerves to see out a victory which has been a long time coming from their perspective at least, with their last triumph in this competition dating back to 1968.

Conal Sheridan's second minute point looked to settle Arva into this decider but it was their opponents that did all the damage over the ensuing five minutes, shooting an unanswered 1-3 into the stiff breeze.

Smith and Padraig Moore put Ballyhaise into their first lead before a sensational goal from Tierney hit Arva's net in the seventh minute, rocking the Longford border men to their core. Smith's first free ushered the favourites five in front a minute later, before Sheridan (free) trimmed it back to four.

The rhythm was starting to flow within Brady's team by this stage though with Tierney to forefront for them.

Stationed at full-forward, the former Cavan senior landed two sweet scores in the space of two minutes and Arva looked to be in trouble, as Martin Conaty found the time and space to fire over another in between the pair which had the men from the village well and truly rolling.

McCabe pulled off some terrific work to notch his first from the left corner in a bid to stem the tide and it started a bit of a revival as Kevin Bouchier and McCabe breathed some life into the underdogs with some more hard-earned overs, which defied a stingy Ballyhaise defence commanded by team captain Eamonn Costello at centre-back.

However, a huge swing arrived in the 22nd minute for the would-be winners when Smith finished off a fine sweeping move, conducted by Padraig Moore and Francis Moore, to Shane McEntee's net much to the delight of the contingent donned in green and yellow.

To their credit, the former junior champions responded in decent fashion through points from Sheridan (free) and Bouchier but Ballyhaise weren't willing to give up ground before the interval. Padraig Moore rounded his man for his first and Smith added a free to outweigh Peter Morris's strike, leaving it at 2-8 to 0-8 at the halfway stage.

Whatever Brian Doyle said to his players at half-time worked a treat as Arva blazed the turf from the second-half throw-in, with Bouchier rushing through to set-up McCabe and the corner-forward rounded Eamonn Brady in Ballyhaise goal for all three points.

It was very much game on after that and another major concession would have undoubtedly had Ballyhaise's backs to the wall.

Instead, Conaty and Smith (free) stroked over points to cool things momentarily, as Morris and Ciaran Brady brought it back to a one score game into its final quarter.

Ballyhaise were made play those last 15 minutes with 14 men after seeing midfielder Conor Lyons red-carded for an incident which occurred off the ball.

Smith (free) and Sheridan cancelled each other out in between and the difference stayed at three headed towards the final stages, with Padraig Moore and Sheridan (free) keeping accurate.

In the meantime, Arva had lost and regained the injured Bouchier, who sustained a heavy knock to his knee, and their playmaker's return very nearly made the difference for them. He'd locate McCabe, who had a fine hour, for a wonderful score which ignited a mighty roar from the Arva support whilst their counterparts stayed on the edge of their seats until the last whistle

Back came Ballyhaise though in a champions' response and when they gained a 40-metre free Smith was the man they put their faith in. He sailed over to lighten the burden a bit before Sheridan's fifth free looked to set-up some drama heading into four minutes of injury-time.

Those minutes were hugely intense and perhaps capsulated best by the thunderous shoulder hit James Morris sized up Tierney with, but no damage was done scores-wise from either side which meant that Ballyhaise had done enough to finally end their long wait.

Ballyhaise: Eamonn Brady; Francis McConnell, Mark Brennan, Fiachra McGoldrick; Marcus Duffy, Eamonn Costello, Francis Moore; Conor Lyons, Sean McCormack; David Brady, Stephen Smith (1-6, 4f), Martin Conaty (0-2); Colm Reilly, Kevin Tierney (1-2), Padraig Moore (0-3). Subs: Shane McKiernan for C Reilly (43mins), Shane Briody for M Duffy (52, BC), Barry McRudden for D Brady (58).

Arva: Shane NcEntee; Thomas Brady, James Morris, Cormac McCabe; Paul Bouchier, Ciaran Brady (0-2), Dermot McGlade; Cian Sheridan, Fergal McGlade; Peter Conneely, Kevin Bouchier (0-2), Peter Morris (0-2); Jonathan McCabe (1-3), Conal Sheridan (0-6, 5f), Ciaran Cooney. Subs: Danny Ellis for P Cooney (16mins), Shane Hamilton for K Bouchier (36, inj), K Bouchier for P Conneely (44), Conor McEntee for C Sheridan (52), Stephen Ellis for T Brady (60).

Ref: Conor Dourneen (Ballinagh)

Tweet

Most Read Stories