Ballinlough 3-06 Rathkenny/Slane 3-14

Ballinlough and Rathkenny/Slane met in this much awaited Division 3 Championship Final, and a rain soaked and wind swept Castletown was the venue for the occasion.

With the weather having an impact early on, both sides struggled to make any inroads, with Rathkenny/Slane seeing plenty of the ball but kicking several wides, while Ballinlough struggled to maintain any sort of possession for a sustained period.

Rathkenny/Slane finally kicked off the scoring with a point from play before hitting a goal in the seventh minute, the Ballinlough rearguard cut open after some strong running from deep from Rathkenny/Slanes talismanic Sean O’Hare to set up the goal. Another point was added before the tenth minute and Ballinlough were really struggling to get to grips with the game, and quite literally the ball, but Daire Shine kicked over his first free of the evening in the 12th minute to get the Men in Red up and running. That point was followed up with a well taken goal from Shine, after some exceptional defending from Jack Connell and excellent reading of the game from Shane Lynch to send the ball into Daire’s path as he bore down on goal.

That score left just the minimum between the sides but disaster struck just on the stroke of the water break when referee Paddy Clarke, adjudged that a Ballinlough defender had fouled inside the square and after brief consultation with his umpire pointed to the spot for a penalty kick, which was duly dispatched to the net to give Rathkenny/Slane their healthy lead back at the first water break on a scoreline of 2-02 to Ballinlough’s 1-01.

From the restart Rathkenny/Slane sent over a super point from play in the 16th minute, before Daire Shine added another to Ballinlough’s tally. Another Rathkenny/Slane point from the influential Davy Curtis pushed out their lead but again Daire Shine led the way for the Lough scoring a brilliant point from long range to keep them in the game, but there was to be no let up from the Rathkenny/Slane men as they sent over another point from play in the 23rd minute.

Ballinlough were to hit a purple patch of sorts in the closing minutes of the quarter when Daire Shine was fouled on the way to goal, Referee Paddy Clarke allowing the advantage and Brandon Brunton taking maximum advantage as he finished to the net from close range in the 24th minute. Another Daire Shine free moments later left just one between the sides, and when further points were traded that was to be the deficit when Referee Paddy Clarke blew the half-time whistle Rathkenny/Slane leading slenderly on a scoreline of 2-06 to Ballinlough’s 2-05.

Upon the restart with Ballinlough really needing to be the team to score first, it was Rathkenny/Slane who seized the initiative sending over three quick points, two of whom were frees, to restore their four point lead. Daire Shine did keep the scoreboard ticking over with a pointed free in the 39th minute but that was cancelled out by a similar score for Rathkenny/Slane moments later.

While goal opportunities were at a premium Ballinlough were to find themselves on the end of a rather fortuitous one when Tom Shines free effort came back off the upright and Leo Brunton was quickest to react as the ball practically fell into his hands, credit to Leo he still had work to do and he rifled the ball to the net to give Ballinlough a much needed boost.

A converted free for Rathkenny/Slane shortly afterwards was to conclude the scoring for the third quarter with the boys in blue still leading but only by two on a scoreline of Rathkenny/Slane 2-11 to Ballinlough’s 3-06.

With all to play for in the final quarter Ballinlough were to find themselves on the end of some poor decision making, most of it their own doing, as Rathkenny/Slane sent over another close range free for a silly foul in the 50th minute and then from the restart there was a real sucker punch as Keeper Matthew Farrelly’s kick out went astray and landed straight into the Rathkenny/Slane wing forwards arms and the ball was in the back of the net before the Ballinlough defence had time to even register what just happened. While that score may have being the turning point where the opposition pushed on, there will be no blame laid at the Ballinlough Keepers door from me, one moment does not define a footballer and without Matthew’s heroics in earlier games we might never have even reached this far in the competition.

That score left Ballinlough with an insurmountable task with little time left, and while several players notably Tom & Daire Shine, Oisin McDermott, Kit Óg Lynch and Darren O’Higgins worked tirelessly to try and engineer the scores required, it was Rathkenny/Slane who finished strongest sending over two more points before referee Paddy Clarke blew the final whistle, Rathkenny/Slane running out deserved winners on a scoreline of 3-14 to Ballinlough’s 3-06.

While this result is obviously disappointing for the lads, they can hold their heads high and be proud of the enjoyment and entertainment they have provided for the community over the past few years. As Minor County Board Secretary Brian Kelly brought my attention to this evening, since we made the decision to play as our own club and colours at underage level a few years ago we have competed in a Championship Final every single year…that doesn’t just happen by accident, a lot of work goes on both on the pitch and behind the scenes to get to nights like tonight. The Management Team of Ronzer, Lorcan, Niall & Keith are owed a debt of gratitude for what they have done for these lads and taking them to levels many of us didn’t think were possibly for a Ballinlough underage team. Of course the lads on the pitch repaid that trust and guidance with exceptional displays throughout the years and on another day could easily have being the ones walking away with the Cup tonight.

Tonight’s defeat is a difficult one but tomorrow it will hurt a little less and I’ve no doubt these fine young men will go on and be the backbone of successful Ballinlough adult teams for many years to come, this is just the start of their journey and we’ll be with them every step of the way.

Ballinlough: M.Farrelly, S.Ryan, T.Shine, F.McDonnell, J.McDonnell, J.Connell, S.Rooney, O.McDermott, E.Briody, S.Lynch, K.Óg Lynch, D.Shine (1-06), C.Ryan, L.Brunton (1-00), B.Brunton (1-00). Subs: D.O’Higgins for C.Ryan H/T, A.Gibney for S.Lynch H/T

Referee: Patrick Clarke

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