Ballinagh 3-14
Laragh United 2-14

The last time Laragh United and Ballinagh played in the opening round of an ACFL Division 1 match, the year was 2000 and both teams were sprinkled with County players: Patrick Shields, Paul Brady, Paul Cooney, Darragh McCarthy and Paul Galligan were all on show.

However the most notable aspect to that millennium match was the new "All Navy" Laragh United strip worn that day which raised more eyebrows than the game itself. Fast forward 19 years, the navy strip in buried in someone's garage somewhere (thankfully) gathering dust and the main talking point from last Sunday's match in PJ Duke Park, Stradone was an excellent game of football.

Conditions were perfect for this 12 noon throw in with Ballinagh starting much the brighter. Padraig Reilly was dominating the midfield section early on and had a great goal chance which he flashed wide after 3 minutes. Shortly thereafter Thomas Moore won a free kick which was tagged over by Shane Finnegan for the first score of the day. Another long ball into Moore was held and the Ballinagh man laid it off to Kevin Smith who skyrocketed another long range point for the visitors.

Shane Finnegan again was proving a handful for the Laragh United full back line and he twisted and turned his marker and fired over Ballinagh's third point.

Route one football was reaping dividends again as Moore took a great ball on his chest and thumped over another point for the Nagh men. The pressure was on the Laragh defence here and when Barry Davis attempted clearance got blocked down Kevin Smith has a free hand to increase the lead to 5 points to no score after 20 minutes.

To be fair Laragh responded well and the two McKennas Jack and Fergal got to grips around midfield which the later bursting through the Ballinagh defence winning a free which Patrick Rudden duly dispatched.

Again Rudden was involved wining dirty ball along the side-line and feeding Ruairi Power for a second point on the board. Another passing movement from deep in the Laragh half moving all the way up the field saw Paul Smith thunder another long range point for the home team.

Partick Rudden who battled with Patrick Carroll on the edge on the square all day fielded a good pass from Jack McKenna and reduced the gap to only one point heading for the interval.

Ruiari Power shot over another free to leave the sides level but not to be outdone Kevin Smith put Ballinagh in the lead again with a high looping shot. The final score of the half and probably the best worked point before the whistle was when Stephen Cooney raced up the field, dodged a few heavy hits and slammed the ball over the bar to leave the sides level at the break on 0-6 apiece.

The second half stared like the first with 2 fast points for Ballinagh in the shape of a fisted point from Thomas Moore and another left peg punt from Kevin Smith. The old fashioned one - two between Jack McKenna and Pauric Reilly open up space for another Paul Smith point.

An excellent cross field pass of 30 metres left Liam McKenna in acres of room and he looped a left foot beauty to put Laragh in the lead. Again Patrick Rudden's ball wining skills paid off and Pauric Reilly benefited here and latched over another point for the Stradone men.

Not to be outdone Kevin Smith pointed for Ballinagh and immediately Pauric Reilly replied for Laragh, tit for tat at this stage. A marauding run from deep by Ballinagh's centre back Cormac Timoney saw him rattle the crossbar and with him out of position Pauric Reilly capitalised on the space and chalked up his 3rd point of the second half.

Another Kevin Smith pointed free was the prelude to a wonderfully worked Ballinagh goal by none other than corner back Killian McBride. A number of Balliagh players were involved in the build-up and the veteran defended coolly slotted home.

With the pressure now on the home side Jack McKenna moved up the gears and he tore through the Ballinagh defence, shipped a few heavy tackles and drove the ball to the net to restore Laragh's lead. A great goal from the Laragh midfielder. Tomas Smith drilled over another Ballinagh point when a goal was on and Paul Smith now playing with maturity beyond his years scored 2 more Laragh points one with each foot.

Ballinagh were not shaken however and this see saw second half saw another sweet Shane Finnegan point. All level again GAME ON.

Laragh pilled on more dominance here in the last quarter and a neat passing move involving Patrick Rudden, Ian Leady and Jack McKenna opened the door for substitute Ciaran Cooney to slot home a second goal for the home team. Laragh management more than happy with their impact sub here. A Tomas  Smith free settled the visitors nerves temporally but full back Eoin Donohoe raced up the field to thump Laragh back into a 2 point lead with only 5 minutes on the clock.

Again Tomas Smith benefited from good work for Moore to reduce the lead to one and another surprised scorer was Philip Bogue to level the match. Both sides seemed settled for the draw. However in the dying breath of the game a hit and hope from the near side-line from Kevin Smith from all of 40 meters looped agonisingly into the Fergal O'Rourke's net, the keeper blinded by the packed square and distance of the shot.

The green flag flew and Ballinagh had secured a 3 point win. Credit to both sides for a marvellous match.
 

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