Ballinlough 1-14 Boardsmill 0-07

Ballinlough and Boardsmill made the Sunday afternoon trip to Bective for this U-15 Div.6 Football Championship Final, and much credit must be given to the Bective club for having the pitch in immaculate condition at this late stage of the year.

Ballinlough opened proceedings with two Paddy White frees, before Callum Reilly got their first point from play in the ninth minute.

Boardsmill hit back with two frees of their own by the 13th minute to leave just one point between the teams.

Another point for Callum Reilly extended Ballinlough’s lead and the men in red could have being further in front when Warren Farrell had a fine goal chance, but his effort was well saved by the Boardsmill net minder, and thankfully Callum Reilly was on hand to fire over from close range in the 22nd minute.

Boardsmill had a goal chance of their own moments later but thanks to the dogged work rate of Sean Donegan in the Ballinlough defence he was able to apply enough legal pressure on the kicker and the ball went harmlessly into the hands on Ballinlough keeper Conor Tunney.

Last time these two sides met Ballinlough were guilty of switching off before half time but there was to be no such mistakes this time round, as points for Callum Reilly and Cian Buckley extended their lead, before Paddy White added a fantastic individual goal effort in the 28th minute.

That score was followed up by another Paddy White free and an excellent score from full-back Evan Connell in the 31st minute.

So when Referee Paul Mooney, who was his consistent and professional self throughout the contest, blew the half time whistle Ballinlough led on a scoreline of 1-09 to Boardsmills 0-02.

Upon the restart it didn’t take Ballinlough long to get firing again with Substitute Adam Harte earning his side an early free which Paddy White converted in the 35th minute.

Boardsmill countered with a point of their own two minutes later before White showed all his class with another point in the 37th minute.

Boardsmill hit their second point of the half in the 45th minute and indeed they could have being much closer on the scoreboard but some poor shooting let them down, coupled with the fact they decided to play with a sweeper for the entirety of the game despite needing scores the other end of the field.

That decision allowed Ballinlough to release Jack McDonnell as an extra man and he had the perfect reading of the game knowing when to sit back and when to go forward and provide link up play, and it was from one of his attacks forward the ball was played to Cian Gaughran who fired over a beautiful point from play in the 49th minute.

Callum Reilly capped off a fine performance with his fifth point from play in the 51st minute, and another man who was on fire today was Paddy White as he converted yet another free in the 53rd minute to leave Ballinlough leading handsomely.

Credit to Boardsmill though they kept battling to the very end and kicked three fine points in the closing stages to lower the deficit on the scoreboard.

But the day only ever really belonged to one team and that was Ballinlough, as our lads capped off a fine year to take victory today on a scoreline of 1-14 to Boardsmill’s 0-07.

A massive well done to this group of players who gave everything and despite a couple of setbacks they never dropped the heads and kept battling right to the end to claim their deserving title.

It would be remiss of me to also not thank Coaches Pauric White and Tom Shine who came and took over the team when we were at a low ebb and guided them to this win today…give yourselves a clap on the back lads!! 

Ballinlough: Conor Tunney, Jack Lynch, Evan Connell(0-01), Alex Smith, Conor Muldoon, Adam D’Arcy, Jack McDonnell, Paddy White(1-06(6f)), Liam McDonnell, Cian Gaughran(0-01), Cian Buckley(0-01), Aaron Rothwell, Adam Gillespie, Callum Reilly(0-05), Warren Farrell

Subs: Sean Donegan for A.Smith 20’, Daire Beacroft for W.Farrell 22’, Reece Farrell for J.Lynch H//T, Adam Harte for A.Gillespie H/T, Jamie McNamee for C.Gaughran 54’, Jonah Beacroft for C.Muldoon 58’

Referee: Paul Mooney

As this is the last Match Report of the year I would like to thank ye all for the coverage you have given our games over the year and for publishing our Match Reports to a wider audience.

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