Ballinlough 1-01-11 (16) St.Vincents/Curraha 2-06 (12)

Ballinlough and St.Vincents/Curraha met on a cold but dry October evening for Round 1 of the Division 4 Football Championship, and for anyone following the Junior Championship earlier in the year, those in attendance might have being looking forward to getting a look at sharpshooters Darren O’Higgins and St.Vincents Michael McIvor, but for various reasons neither player was available this evening for their respective teams so it was a chance for a few more lads to get on the scoresheet !!

Ballinlough opened brightly with scores from James Brooks and Ryan Corcoran but St.Vincent’s/Curraha hit back with a well taken goal in the fifth minute and directly from the kick-out they had a second goal chance that just went wide of the posts. 

While the game was only warming up unfortunately the floodlights in Ballinlough began to cool down so it was lights out after nine minutes of play!

Thankfully Seamus McGee, as he often does,came to the rescue and after a short break in play we were able to get things underway again and we thank St.Vincent’s/Curraha and Referee Peter Skelly for their patience while the issue was resolved.

When light returned it was St.Vincents/Curraha who started with the ball and they didn’t take long to catch Ballinlough cold and fire to the net a minute after the restart and give themselves a four point lead. The amalgamated side were goal hungry in this first half and only for Corey Monaghan in the Ballinlough net they could well have added a third by the 15th minute.

Instead the dangerous nature of that attack kicked Ballinlough into gear, and following an exquisite run the length of the field from Shane Lynch, who played a quick one-two with Jaden Mollison, before shooting for goal, and while the shot was well stopped, James Brooks was on hand to fire into the net from the rebound to leave one point between the teams.

Ryan Corcoran levelled the sides a moments later before points were traded St.Vincents/Curraha pointing from play before Shane Lynch responded with a Ballinlough free in the 20th minute.

A great run from Luke Harte was illegally halted three minutes later with Dan O’Brien firing over the resulting free and O’Brien was to put two between the sides with another free in the 25th minute, Referee Peter Skelly bringing the ball forward after abit of dissent from both the sideline and some players, who had their own interpretation of the advantage rule that didn’t quite tally with the Referees discretion as per the rule book!

The visitors finished the half strongest though with two pointed frees in the 29th and 30th minute so when Referee Peter Skelly blew the half time whistle the sides were all level on a scoreline of Ballinloughs 1-06 to St.Vincents/Curraha’s 2-03.

From the restart Ballinlough pushed themselves back into the lead with an excellent score from Paddy White in the 32nd minute, but St.Vincents/Curraha hit back with a point from play in the 36th minute and a free in the 39th minute to shift momentum back to their side.

Balinlough were playing some great football now though and were well rewarded when Shane Lynch fired over a superb two-point free in the 42nd minute to put Ballinlough back in front.

His efforts up front were equally matched in defence as some great defending from Charlie Lynch, Cian Buckley, Luke Harte, Robert O’Brien and Mark Tynan, ensured no easy scores were given up and the ball was shepherded away from danger.

Another man who put in a fine defensive display but showed his attacking prowess to great effect was Paddy White as he sent over a super score from a tricky angle and distance and Ballinlough now had a two point lead.

With Alan Gibney already off the field with a head injury, Ballinlough oft times resembled the walking wounded as Rory Smith, who picked up a leg injury in the first half, kept battling and gave everything for his side while on one leg, but it was a good leg, as he played an excellent ball into Jaden Mollison in the 51st minute, and the rugby man fired over from close range to put three points between the sides.

Another driving run from Shane Lynch in the 52nd minute resulted in another scoring opportunity for Dan O’Brien and he made no mistake firing over to put Ballinlough four points clear. 

A late red card for Ballinlough had the potential to cause panic, but great credit must be given to the players who collectively oozed calmness and after some very patient build up play worked the ball to Dan O’Brien and he put the icing on the cake with a point from play in the 62nd minute.

There was one final scoring chance for the visitors and they added a point in the 63rd minute, but it was to be Ballinloughs evening as they ran out four point winners on a scoreline of 1-13 to St.Vincent/Currahas 2-06.

Next up for Ballinlough is an away game v Wolfe Tones in a little over a week’s time where we will be hoping to build on this evenings fine performance.

Ballinlough: C. Monaghan, C.Lynch, C.Buckley, R.O’Brien, P.White (0-02), L.Harte, A.Gibney, J.Mollison (0-01), M.Tynan, S.Lynch (0-03(1f, One 2ptf)), D.O’Brien (0-04(3f)), R.Corcoran (0-02), R.Smith, J.Brooks (1-01)

Referee: Peter Skelly

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