Ballinlough 0-00-16 (16) Moylagh 0-01-10 (12)

Ballinlough and Moylagh met in a pristine Milbrook for Round 2 of the Junior Football Championship and before we start the Match Report, we have to take a moment to commend the Oldcastle club for having the place in tip top shape, despite the biscuit selection not being quite as superior as the offering in Ballinlough the evening previous!!

After a very cagey opening, Moylagh started the scoring with an excellent two pointer from play, aided by a slight but significant breeze in the sixth minute.

Ballinlough got themselves off the mark with a Harry Ryan free in the tenth minute but the game was marred with a couple of early delays due to injury, Moylagh’s Sean Guirke in particular coming off the worst in a case of accidental boot meeting unprotected face as a loose ball was contested, Guirke showing great resilience to get patched up and continue the game a few minutes later.

A Moylagh point from play from Fergal Flynn left two points between the sides, and the men in green and white hoops could have been further in front, were it not for excellent defensive action from veteran Robbie Farrell, who put on a masterclass in the full back position throughout the game and was ably assisted by the two Conor's, Fleming and Rennicks in the corners.

From one of Farrells interceptions in the 20th minute, Ballinlough broke forward and were rewarded when Darren O’Higgins fisted over, and from the next kick-out the sides were level when Seanie Geraghty fired over from play seconds later.

Ballinlough took the lead with a Tom Shine point from a free, and the men in red were rewarded again when Seanie Geraghty won the dirty ball around midfield before Harry Ryan had his arm pulled back while mounting an attack, with Tom Shine firing over the placed ball in the 25th minute.

A free in for Moylagh following a breach of the 3v3 rule, kept them in it and they added another pointed free in the 28th minute to leave it a draw game, but excellent work from Conor Fleming saw the ball worked forward to Brandon Brunton who returned the pass, with Fleming firing over in the 29th minute to leave Ballinlough leading by one again!

Further points were traded with Tom Shine accurate from a free and Ballinlough should have been further in front when a high ball was sent in from Harry Ryan and despite getting a flick of sorts, somehow the ball hit the bottom of the post and bounced away from danger in the 34th minute.

From that chance Ballinlough did gain possession with a free and Oisin McDermott was accurate off the turf in the 36th minute, and while there was plenty of added time, Moylagh added a point from play in the 37th minute to reduce the deficit once more.

So when Referee Gabriel Patterson blew the half time whistle, Ballinlough led by a singular point on a scoreline of 0-08 to Moylaghs 0-07.

From the restart, Ballinlough started with great intent with Tom Shine pointing from a free, before Conor Fleming came flying out before he set up Harry Ryan up for a point in the 35th minute.

That score was followed up by excellent work from the Ballinlough midfield, with Oisin McDermott playing an exquisite ball into Kit Óg Lynch and he fired over in the 36th minute to leave four points between the sides.

Moylagh responded well with a point from play, but Ballinlough had a goal chance of third own, when Darren O’Higgins played the ball across the face of the goal, but unfortunately there was no-one to tap home for the easy score !!

A point from play for Moylagh, was quickly cancelled out when Tom Shine fired over from a free, and the sharpshooter was on form as he added an excellent point from play to leave Ballinlough leading by four points once more.

Two points in quick succession kept Moylagh ticking over and left two points between the sides in the 52nd minute, but Ballinlough were happy to sit back and welcome some pressure from the opposition before picking their forward passes with greater accuracy.

Despite the momentum being with Moylagh at this stage, the introduction of a couple of substitutes managed to turn this game on its head in Ballinlough’s favour, as in a matter of minutes Oisin McDermott played a perfect pass to substitute Mick Geraghty, who won possession cleanly and fired the ball forward to fellow substitute Luke Harte, and he made no mistake firing over to leave three points between the teams in the 57th minute.

The next score of the game came from the boot of Tom Shine but its source was the outstanding work-rate and defensive work from Mark McCullen who tracked back and dug his defensive colleagues out with two brillantly timed interceptions to win the ball back for his team and get Ballinlough moving in the right direction again, with Shine on hand to add the finishing touch as he stroked the ball over the bar in the 58th minute.

A Moylagh free in the 61st minute was enough to leave three between them again and whilst they had chances to try an create the goal chance they desperately craved, Moylagh were to be denied when Conor Fleming produced an excellent block in the 63rd minute and with men in space in the forward line he sent the ball up the field, with Luke Harte capping off a fine ten minute cameo with his second point of the game and the insurance point for his team.

Shortly after that Referee Gabriel Patterson blew the full time whistle, Ballinlough taking a hard fought win and maintaining their top spot in the group on a scoreline of 0-16 to Moylaghs 0-12.

Ballinlough: Alan Gibney, Conor Fleming(0-1), Robbie Farrell, Conor Rennicks, Ferghal Gibney, Oisin McDermott(0-01), Sean Geraghty(0-01), Mark McCullen, Eoin Briody, Jack Connell, Kit Óg Lynch(0-01), Darren O’Higgins(0-01), Harry Ryan(0-02(1f)), Tom Shine(0-07(5f)), Brandon Brunton

Subs: Senan McDermott for Alan Gibney 14’, Mick Geraghty for Ferghal Gibney 52’, Luke Harte (0-02) for Brandon Brunton 52’

Referee: Gabriel Patterson

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