Ballinlough 2-0-13 (19) Blackhall Gaels 2-01-12 (20)

Ballinlough made the slightly longer journey to Kilcloon after a late switch of venue from Batterstown for Round 4 of the Meath Division 3 League, and early scores were traded with Harry Ryan accurate for Ballinlough before Blackhall Gaels equalized with a point in the fifth minute.

Ballinlough then took control of proceedings with a Mark McCullen point from play after good link up play from Oisin McDermott and Benji Smith, before Harry Ryan took the first goal of the game in the sixth minute, Lorcan Maguire with the exquisite pass to Kit Óg Lynch, who in turn found Ryan, and despite being on his weaker left foot, Harry managed to work the angle and finish past the Blackhall Gaels netminder to boost Ballinloughs lead.

That score was followed up with excellent tracking back and intercepting from Brandon Brunton who turned over possession before setting Benji Smith up for his first score of the game.

Two points from play for Blackhall Gaels lowered the deficit but Ballinlough were still on top and they added their second goal in the 17th minute, when what looked like a fine point effort for Harry Ryan dropped short, but with the keeper letting the ball spill from his hands, Oisin McDermott was alive to the opportunity and punched the ball to the back of the net to leave Ballinlough leading by six points.

A Sean Tunney point from play was followed by a pointed free from the same player after Kit Óg Lynch was felled in the 21st minute, a serious question on whether the foul was committed inside the square but Referee Stephen Cregan was adamant that a free in and not a penalty was the correct call.

Blackhall Gaels were struggling for scores in this opening half and they were twarthed once again when Robbie Farrell intercepted in defense and the ball was worked at pace to Benji Smith, who fired over for the second time of the evening in the 24th minute.

A Sean Tunney free moments later concluded Ballinloughs scoring for the half, but Blackhall Gaels had a late surge, hitting a pointed free, one from play and a very well struck 45’ in the 33rd minute to lower the gap. 

So when Referee Stephen Cregan blew the half time whistle, Ballinlough led on a scoreline of 2-07 to Blackhall Gaels 0-06.

Upon the restart Mark McCullen secured possession for Ballinlough and worked it forward before Brandon Brunton fired over in the 31st minute.

A Blackhall Gael point from play kept them in it before perhaps the turning point in the game arrived in the 35th minute.

Ballinlough found themselves on the attack with three men excellently placed to work their way to almost certain goal, but a wayward pass put an end to that pursuit and the ball was stolen by the home side.

From there they got it forward to the pivotal Paul Kelly who changed the game for Blackhall Gaels when he was introduced shortly before half time.

On this attack he let fly a lovely low and accurate shot from distance to nail Blackhall Gaels first goal of the evening, much to the chagrin of the Ballinlough Faithful who should have being celebrating at the other end.

The same player added a point from play to leave just three points between the sides, before Brandon Brunton tipped over for Ballinlough after a lovely pass from Oisin McDermott.

Further scores were cancelled out as Blackhall Gaels hit a free in the 39th minute before Sean Tunney was accurate with a free of his own three minutes later.

A Blackhall Gaels free that was brought forward in the 44th minute reduced the gap back to three points but Ballinlough kept bouncing back with two points from Harry Ryan and Oisin McDermott by the 47th minute.

Blackhall Gaels had an excellent goal chance denied when Alan Gibney pulled off a superb save, but it was to be short reprieve as the home side got the deficit down to four points with a point from play, before being awarded a penalty in the 53rd minute, the foul occurring around the same area as Ballinloughs shout in the first half, but this time it most definitely was inside the square.

From the placed ball Blackhall Gaels gained their second goal to leave just a point between the sides. Ballinlough had the chance to put that lead back to two points with a free but it was sent wide of the posts in the 55th minute.

Up the other end Blackhall Gaels had no such issues as they leveled the sides with a free in the 56th minute, before they took the lead for the first and most important time two minutes later, when the first and only two-point score came from a free in the 58th minute.

Oisin McDermott landed an excellent 45’ in the 60th minute for the visitors but with time running out it was scant consolation as Referee Stephen Cregan blew the full time whistle seconds later, Blackhall Gaels taking the win on a scoreline of 2-14 to Ballinloughs 2-13.

A disappointing result for the lads this evening when they had the game firmly in their grasp before letting it slip, but many of them will have to dust themselves down quickly and go again with our Div.6 team in the morning as we welcome Summerhill to the Park.

Ballinlough: A.Gibney, C.Lynch, R.Farrell, J.Connell, C.Fleming, L.Maguire, D.Caffrey, O.McDermott (1-02(one 45’)), M.McCullen (0-01), L.Finnegan, H.Ryan (1-02), B.Brunton (0-02), K.Óg Lynch, S.Tunney (0-04(3f)), B.Smith (0-02)

Referee: Stephen Cregan

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