Ballinlough 3-06    St.Patricks  1-10

Ballinlough made their return to Bective for the second time this year for this relegation play-off, and they opened the scoring with a Harry Ryan free in the opening two minutes. The men in red were creating plenty of chances but just could not get that final pass right, despite great pressure being applied both defensively and offensively. Peader Byrne scored a fine point from a side line ball in the 12th minute, despite some supporters thinking it was too awkward an angle, but as always Byrne proved them wrong.

St.Patricks got themselves off the mark in the 13th minute with a point from play but it was Ballinlough doing all the early running, creating several chances but once again the last pass just letting them down. A second point for St.Pats in the 18th minute left the teams level, and they were to push on and take the leading score with a point from play in the 23rd minute. Their lead was further extended with two points in as many minutes around the 26 minute mark, but as he started the half, Harry Ryan finished the scoring with a pointed free in the 32nd minute to leave Ballinlough chasing a small deficit on a score line of Ballinlough 0-03 to St.Patricks 0-05 when referee Martin Dawson blew the half time whistle.

It’s often said goals win games and St.Patricks set about hoping to prove that theory correct by storming out of the blocks in the second half, scoring 1-01 in the opening five minutes to give them a very healthy six point advantage. It was at this juncture the Balinlough men had a collective decision to make, they could either lie down and accept their fate, or they could come out fighting and give every ounce of energy they had for that Ballinlough jersey, and it was the latter option each man opted to take and fight they did!! 

Harry Ryan kicked a free in the 36th minute and despite St.Patricks attempting to run down the clock playing handball around the centre of the field even though there was plenty of time left, Ballinlough secured possession and made a game of it when Peader Byrne used his strength to power through the St.Patricks defence, lay it off to Fergal Gibney and Byrne was then in a prime position to receive the ball back, finishing to the net with ease in the 45th minute to leave just two points between the sides heading into the second water break.

Upon returning to the field Ballinlough had their tails up, and when Peader Byrne won a kickable free, he opted to play it quick and short into the hands of Simon Deevey. From there Deevey played it on to Conor Fleming, who had only being on the field a little over five minutes, but it didn’t take long for him to make his mark as he sent the ball hurtling towards goal, a superb effort that gave the St.Patricks keeper no chance to leave the Lough one point up. Credit to St.Patricks they kept plugging away and took the next two scores, both pointed frees,and they held a slender lead as the clock approached 50 minutes.

Ballinlough introduced the evergreen Ronzer McGuinness from the bench in the 53rd minute and he was to have an instant impact kicking a point with his first touch of the ball to level the sides. Another Pats free put them one ahead a moment later but Ronzer was to prove himself as the super sub when he found himself on the end of a Brillant Mick Geraghty pass, and the veteran marksman made no mistake smashing the ball to the net to leave Ballinlough two points up.

From the kickout Mick Geraghty was instrumental again claiming the mark and playing onto the third substitute of the day Jamie Casserly. Jamie put the head down and was motoring well until he was fouled by his marker leaving Harry Ryan with another simple free to tap over the bar to extend Ballinlough’s lead to three points. St.Patricks did take the final score of the game in the 60th minute with a pointed free but they never looked like penetrating that Ballinlough defensive line to get that all important goal they needed. With almost three minutes added time played, Referee Martin Dawson decided it  was time to bring some much needed relief to the Ballinlough Faithful and he blew the final whistle on an absorbing contest with Ballinlough the victors on a scoreline of 3-06 to St.Patricks 1-10.

That win secures Intermediate football for Ballinlough for 2021 and considering the year we’ve had both on and off the field we are more than glad to draw a line under 2020 and hopefully we’ll be back to our best next year. 

Ballinlough: D.Muldoon, R.Farrell, P.Muldoon, D.Caffrey, M.Geraghty, L.Maguire, J.O’Reilly, C.Mallen, M.McCullen, F.Gibney, P.Byrne(1-01), H.Ryan(0-04(4f), B.Smith, S.Deevey, S.Geraghty

Subs: 41mins C.Fleming(1-00) for P.Muldoon, 52mins R.McGuinness(1-01) for J.OReilly 55mins J.Casserly for M.McCullen

Referee: Martin Dawson

Tweet

Most Read Stories