IFC semi final: 'Bracks' through at Michaels expense
September 21, 2020
Ballinabrackey's David Carroll with Paddy Clarke (St. Michaels) during the Meath IFC semi final at Pairc Tailteann
St. Michaels 1-13, Ballinabrackey 3-13
Ballinabrackey are through to the Meade Potato Co IFC final after a comfortable win in the end over a spirited St. Michaels side in Pairc Tailteann on Sunday afternoon last.
A scoring surge in the second quarter which produced 1-7 to St. Michaels 1-2 helped the 'Bracks on their way but had St. Michaels availed of two earlier gift wrapped goal opportunities the score board could have read a whole lot different at that stage.
Both sides traded 2 points apiece in the opening four minutes with Oran Meehan and Felim O'Reilly on target for the 'Michaels. Jamie Farrelly turned provider for Shane McDonnell and Ciaran Lynch to open their accounts however Ballinabrackey goaled for the first time on seven minutes which they followed up 10 minutes later with their third point of the opening quarter. McDonnell added the final score of the opening quarter from a free to leave his side trailing by a point at the first water break.
Ten minutes had elapsed since St. Michaels last score when Ciaran Lynch sent over from a close-in free following a foul on Meehan but the St. Michaels lads were at this stage committing handling errors all over the pitch, misguided passes were being punished and not contesting their own kick-outs was always going to take its toll and it gave the Bracks the platform to dictate the trend of the proceedings and that's what happened, they added 1-7 in the second quarter. But credit must go to the St. Michaels lads and despite their errors they kept plugging away and a well struck goal from Oran Meehan and a point from Shane McDonnell in the final two minutes of the half cut the Bracks lead to 6 points at the interval, 2-10 to 1-6
St. Michaels had to hit the ground running for the second half and that they did, Ciaran Lynch pointed from a free, McDonnell followed with an excellent point from play, Lynch reduced the deficit to three points from another placed ball all inside the opening two minutes. The Bracks pulled two back to extend their lead but a great effort from out along the sideline from Meehan brought it back to a four point game at the second water break.
After the re-start McDonnell sent over to put just three between the sides, Ronan Lynch made it a two point game but the killer blow came straight from the kick-out when the Bracks got through for their hat-trick and a five point lead. As it's said Goals win games and the Bracks got the important ones yesterday, they added a further minor three minutes later by which stage the St. Michaels effort was spent as the Ballinabrackey lads played keep ball for much of the remaining 10 minutes.
St. Michaels GFC wish Ballinabrackey the very best of luck in their final with Trim.
St. Michaels team and scorers: Shane McCormack; Christopher Drew, Matthew Halpin, Ben Reilly; Sam Briody, Ronan Lynch (0-1), Paddy Clarke; Mark Stafford, Felim O'Reilly (0-1); Davy Lynch, Shane McDonnell (0-5), Ray Reilly; Ciaran Lynch (0-4), Oran Meehan (1-2), Jamie Farrelly Subs: Ciaran O'Reilly for Clarke 41 minutes, J.B. O'Reilly for Stafford 50 minutes, Patrick Tobin for Reilly 55 minutes, Cian Sheridan for R. Lynch 59 minutes.
Referee: Padraig Coyle.
Report and photo Pascal Reilly PRO.
