Ballinlough 3-13 Meath Hill 4-08

Ballinlough made the early morning trip to Meath Hill for Round 7 of the Division.7 League to complete what was the third game in six days for many of their players but it was a worthwhile spin as we came away with wins in all three games.

From the start here Ballinlough looked lively with Kit Óg Lynch firing over after two minutes, before Brandon Brunton was unlucky to see his early goal effort come back off the post in the third minute. From that effort the ball was worked up the field and Meath Hill were awarded a penalty, for a push in the back inside the square, which was duly dispatched to the net to give the home side a one point lead.

Ballinlough responded well to the set-back though with Kit Óg Lynch and Collie Mallen both landing frees before a glorious goal chance for Darren O’Higgins was blazed wide of the posts in the eighth minute.

Two Meath Hill points from play restored their two point lead but Ballinlough hit back with a lovely fisted point from Niall McDonnell, after the ball was worked out of defence by great work from Alan Gibney.

The next score came through the pure tenacity of Mark Tynan who hassled the Meath Hill wing back who had collected a short kick-out, with Tynan forcing his man to handle on the ground and win a free for his team. He then quickly played the free forward to Darren O’Higgins and he made no mistake this time firing to the net in the 16th minute to put Ballinlough in the lead by two.

The Meath Hill defence were to be punished for their persistent fouling of the Ballinlough flying fowards and Kit Óg Lynch tipped over in the 18th minute to extend the lead to three.

Two Advanced Marks, one at either side were converted before Ballinlough carried out some patient and excellent defending, refusing to allow Meath Hill an entry route to the posts, and when the ball was finally turned over, once again Darren O’Higgins was felled on his way to goal, allowing Collie Mallen to tap over a handy free in the 23rd minute.

The home side did finish the half stronger though when a very well struck free from a tight angle was followed up with two frees from distance with their Keeper stepping up and sending them over, so when Referee Paddy Clarke, who was a busy man this morning, blew the half time whistle Ballinlough led by one on a score line of 1-07 to Meath Hills 1-06.

Upon the restart Ballinlough pushed their lead out to two points with a super score from Collie Mallen but then things started to go a little bit wrong, as a misplaced pass beyond midfield set Meath Hill on their way towards goal and while Corey Monaghan did well to stop the initial effort the ball somehow spilled to the net to give Meath Hill a one point lead.

The home side were further boosted when Ballinlough were reduced to 14 men after a moment of petulance from Declan Galligan saw him receive his marching orders in the 35th minute, with Meath Hill adding another point from play to give themselves a two point lead.

With the dismissal of Galligan in the middle of the Park it was time to spring Peader Byrne from the bench and one of his first acts was to step up for a penalty in the 39th minute when Darren O’Higgins was fouled for the 47th time of the morning !!

While the Meath Hill keeper did well to stop the initial effort Byrne was quickest to re-act to the rebound and tapped the ball into and empty net to give Ballinlough a one point lead once more.

That score inspired Ballinlough and Darren O’Higgins fired over an exquisite point in the 42nd minute before another free was converted by Kit Óg Lynch. A score for Meath Hill kept them ticking over but Ballinlough were motoring well now, with Peader Byrne in particular leading the charge.

Without taking the scores himself he firstly played a lovely pass to Jack Smith who fired over from close range, before another excellent assist for Byrne came when he sent forward an excellent ball to Darren O’Higgins. Try as they might the bedraggled Meath Hill defence couldn’t catch him to foul him this time and O’Higgins blasted the ball to the net in the 48th minute.

O’Higgins followed that score up with another point from play to leave seven between the sides, and more Crossakiel men were putting a serious shift in for Ballinlough down the other end with the trio of Robbie Farrell, Eoghan McCabe and Mattie Farrell working overtime in the full back line.

But as we all know working hard can lead to tired minds and Meath Hill capitalised with their use of the high ball in the closing stages of the game, their big man up top showing great hands and twice in as many minutes the ball was battered to the back of the net to leave this a one score game with 58 minutes played.

With all the momentum now with the home side, and a very harsh black card for Darren O’Higgins considering the number of times he was tripped and hauled down throughout the game, one would be forgiven for thinking Ballinlough had thrown this one away. But once again they showed great heart and determination, never panicking and worked the ball up the field methodically before earning themselves a free in the 62nd minute.

With the sideline urging Collie Mallen that a wide was as good as a score at this stage, Mallen shrugged the shoulders and did what he does best, absolutely nailing the free to give Ballinlough a two point lead.

With the ball dead Referee Paddy Clarke, who issued seven yellows, one black and one red card throughout the contest, finally blew time on an absorbing game with the visitors taking the win on a score line of 3-13 to Meath Hills 4-08.

That win completes three wins on the road for our two adult teams this week and keeps us right in the mix in both Leagues. A well deserved break for a few days now for the lads, who have put a serious shift in once again before we look forward to Round 8 in a couple of weeks time!!

Ballinlough: C.Monaghan, E.McCabe, R.Farrell, M.Farrell, A.Gibney, L.Maguire, J.Lynch, D.Galligan, C.Mallen (0-04(3f)), N.McDonnell (0-01), K.Óg Lynch (0-05(3f, 1 Ad.Mk)), J.Smith (0-01), B.Brunton, M.Tynan, D.O’Higgins (2-02)

Sub: P.Byrne (1-00(1pen))

Referee: Patrick Clarke

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