MFC Div 3 final: Cullen goal completes 'Bracks' comeback
September 27, 2020
Leo Cullen celebrates after scoring the winning goal for Ballinabrackey against Wolfe Tones in the MFC Division 3 final in Dunganny
Ballinabrackey 2-15
Wolfe Tones 3-09
Ballinabrackey lined out for their second final this year in a pristine conditioned Dunganny GAA grounds. This time round our minors took the main stage in the LMFM Minor Football Championship Division 3 against a well fancied Wolfe Tones team. Wolfe Tones hit the ground running with a 45, but Jack McLoughlin responded well with a point from play for the Bracks. Two more points from play from Wolfe Tones highlighted how dangerous they were on the attack. McLoughlin pointed over a free, but two more points from Wolfe Tones left them three points ahead at the first water break.
Tones came back out and fired a ball into the back of the Bracks’ net putting them now up by six, things were beginning to look bleak for Ballinabrackey. Credit where it is due though, they never gave up, management showed great encouragement and Moore and McLoughlin scores kept them in the game in the first half. Ballinabrackey were finally building momentum and had got it back to a three point game when Wolfe Tones rattled the back of the net for the second time seconds before the the half time whistle leaving the score as Tones 2:06, Ballinabrackey 0:06.
Second half started strong for Ballinabrackey with McLoughlin and Andrew Moore getting some fantastic scores, but The Tones kept at the Bracks and got it back to a six point lead again, when doom struck and another great goal by them left it all looking over and done for the boys in green. 9 points behind was a huge hill to climb, but some fantastic performances from Conor Ennis and Mark Coffey drove the team on. Points from Moore and McLoughlin kept us in it and Wolfe Tones then got a red card to add a bit of luck to Ballinabrackey’s challenge and from then on things just went our way. McLoughlin got in to get a class goal to bring the Bracks back in to reaching distance of Wolfe Tones. The second half water break scoreline was Wolfe Tones 3-08, Ballinabrackey 1-11.
It was then Ballinabrackey’s time to shine. The last quarter was edge of the seat stuff. A real thriller in Dunganny. Wolfe Tones came out again and added a score to the board to put them 4 points up. Leo Cullen then scored a point from play, and more excellent well taken scoring opportunities from McLoughlin and Moore left it a draw match with 2 minutes to go. It was a superb high ball into the center from Jack McLoughlin that was well picked up by Leo Cullen that sealed the deal for the Bracks. Straight into the bottom left hand corner and game over for Wolfe Tones. A superb goal from Leo Cullen that led Ballinabrackey to victory as the whistle blew a minute later. What an unbelievable performance and comeback from this minor team. A thriller of a match that was a credit to both clubs. A huge well done to Ballinabrackey’s players and management on an amazing never say die performance. The future is bright.
Ballinabrackey: Daniel Coyne, Ian McCormack, Eoin Dalton, Andrew O’ Brien, Aidan Fitzpatrick, Luke McNamee, Kenneth Thompson, Mark Coffey, Conor Ennis, Andrew Moore (0:05), Jack McLoughlin (1:09), Brian Dunne, Cathal Monahan, Leo Cullen (1:01), Adam Dockery. Subs: Eoin Bannon and Alan Fowley. Conor Bannon (injured)
