Ballinlough 0-18 St.Ultans 1-9

Ballinlough and St.Ultans made their way to a wet and miserable, but well-presented Moynalty for the final group game of the Junior Football Championship and while all talk was on a big picnic in a field in Stradbally this weekend, it was the Lough men who got off to an Electric start with Darren O’Higgins firing over after three minutes, before the Spring chicken that is Benji Smith pointed three minutes later.

Aided by a significant but tricky breeze Ballinlough extended their lead when Oisin McDermott landed a monster two-point score before following that with another point from play in the ninth minute.

Tenacious work from the industrious Brandon Brunton set Darren O’Higgins up for his second point of the evening, before O’Higgins chipped over his third after 13 minutes when he pointed from an acute angle.

Seconds later and the ball was over the bar again for Ballinlough when Tom Shine pointed from a tricky angle the other side of the pitch to give Ballinlough an eight-point lead.

This game looked like it might all go to one side like Moynalty itself, but St. Ultan's finally got motoring with a point from play after fifteen minutes of play, before following it up with a pointed free.

The deficit could have been narrowed more with a decent goal chance in the 18th minute but the ball fired in came bouncing off the lower post. St.Ultans regained possession, but Ballinlough soon had it back again when an excellent intercept from Robbie Farrell set them on their way and when Oisin McDermott got his hands on the ball he made no mistake firing over the bar in the 19th minute.

Two points in quick succession kept St.Ultans in it, but Darragh Caffrey was superb for Ballinlough as he started the next attack and was on the receiving end to put the finishing touches to a fine team move as he sent the ball sailing over the bar in the 23rd minute.

Despite leading, Ballinlough were guilty of squandering plenty of scoring chances in the first half, but they did grab another one from the boot of the impressive Tom Shine in the 25th minute.

A final St.Ultans free in the 29th minute ensured spectators would stay interested in this game, so when Referee Gabriel Patterson blew the half time whistle Ballinlough led on a scoreline of 0-11 to St.Ultans 0-05.

Upon the restart, it was the Ultan’s who started brightest with a pointed free and then the games only Major in the 38th minute, the goal somewhat contentious as Mark McCullen appeared to be fouled in midfield but with the Referee pointing the other way St.Ultans moved it quickly and rattled the net to leave just two points between the sides.

Ballinlough responded very well to the concession of the goal and after some very patient buildup Mark McCullen was on hand to fire over from play in the 40th minute.

That score was matched by another fine score from Darren O’Higgins after great work from substitute Jack Connell.

Despite having the wind at their backs St.Ultans were having issues with converting the ball over the bar on occasion, but they did add another point from play and a pointed free by the 46th minute to leave just two between the sides again.

A threatening high ball into the square in the 48th minute had potential to cause panic amongst the Ballinlough defense, but Alan Gibney and Robbie Farrell combined well to thwart the threat and deny St. Ultan's a second goal.

As aforementioned, the wind was causing as much of a hindrance as it was assistance to the shooting forwards, but when Ballinlough won a free in the 49th minute, Tom Shine judged it perfectly kicking what looked a certain wide ball before the wind caught it and curled it beautifully over the black spot, a much needed point for Ballinlough to steady themselves again.

Twin brother Daire Shine got in on the act from the restart, when great work from Charlie Lynch and Eoin Briody broke down a St. Ultan's attack, and when the ball was worked forward Daire Shine fired over to restore Ballinloughs four-point lead.

St. Ultan's hit back with a point from play in the 55th minute to leave three between the sides entering the closing stages, but the young guns from Ballinlough showed a maturity beyond their years as Harry Ryan landed an excellent score from distance in the 56th minute, before Daire Shine tipped over a simple free in the 59th minute when Darren O’Higgins was clattered to the ground, the burly Ultan’s midfielder receiving a yellow card for his troubles.

The final score of the game went fittingly to Ballinlough and for the third game in a row a six-point win was secured when Daire Shine pointed in the 61st minute.

So, when Referee Gabriel Patterson blew the full time whistle a few seconds later Ballinlough took the win on a scoreline of 0-18 to St.Ultans 1-09.

It wasn’t exactly a Picnic, but a third successive win means Ballinlough take maximum points from the group stage and guarantee themselves an automatic Semi-Final spot in the competition.

With the hurlers also motoring well it will afford Manager Ken Rothwell and his charges an opportunity to get some rest and recovery into the lads now following a hectic campaign in the month of August!

Ballinlough Team: A.Gibney, C.Lynch, R.Farrell, C.Fleming, D.Caffrey(0-01), O.McDermott(0-04(one 2pt)), H.Ryan(0-01), E.Briody, M.McCullen(0-01), B.Brunton, D.Shine(0-03(1f)), S.Tunney, B.Smith(0-01), T.Shine(0-03(1f)), D.O’Higgins(0-04)

Subs: J.Connell for S.Tunney 37’, S.Geraghty for B.Smith 45’

Referee: Gabriel Patterson 

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