Ballinagar 2-9 Dunsany 0-8

Ballinagar of Offaly were crowned Leinster Club JFC winners with this seven point victory over Meath champions Dunsany at Páirc Tailteann.

The Offaly IFC winners took a firm grip on this entertaining game between the 8th and 20th minutes of the opening half. Morgan Tynan got the scoreboard working. Eoin Harkin levelled proceedings on the 6th minute before a scoring burst that yielded 2-5 put Ballinagar in control. Geordi O’Meara was in for the games first goal, Conor McGuinness, O’Meara (2) and Steven Dwane followed with points before Dwane finished a fine move to the Dunsany net. Tynan completed the scoring spree with his second and the Offaly men were 2-6 to 0-1 up with ten minutes remaining. A one sided affair appeared to be on the cards but Dunsany didn’t give up and a Harkin brace and a fine effort from Mark Horan gave them some hope going in at the break 2-6 to 0-4 in arrears.

The second half was a more cagy affair. Dunsany now had the win but two pointed free’s from O’Meara opened up a ten point lead. Harkin and Jack Cottrell replied for Dunsany. O’Meara landed his 5th of the day from a 45 and with ten minutes remaining their lead was eight. Harkin narrowed the gap from a free but the Meath champions needed goals and a resolute Ballinagar defence were refusing to yield as they went on to claim the Provincial title with seven to spare.

After the game Damien Griffin presented the Sean Eiffe Cup to Ballinagar captain Geordi O’Meara.

Ballinagar: R Kinahan, J Gorry, D Finneran, D Crombie, A Joyce, B Malone, A Gorman, A Strong, M Tynan 0-2, G O’Meara 1-5, C McGuinness 0-1, J Sheil, C Bracken, R Gallagher, S Dwane 1-1. Subs: J Ballesty, E McGuinness , J Beatty, D Pierce.

Dunsany: N Flynn, P Burke, A Smyth, G Byrne, L Byrne, H Cahill, D Smyth, S Brennan, E Harkin 0-6, M Horan 0-1, J Cahill, C O’Sullivan, L Horan, K Gorman, J Cottrell 0-1. Subs: C Burke, C Murphy, A Brady

Referee: Enda Kelly (Westmeath)

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