Ballivor 1-09 Navan O’Mahonys 2-10

As advertised, this was a repeat of the 2002 Intermediate final and was sure to be as exciting as the spectacle that day. On the 27th of October 2002, Ray McKeown stepped up to kick a 45 that would win Ballivor the intermediate final and send the club to senior football. On the 10th of September 2023, a day in which the same Ray McKeown was togged out as sub goalie for Ballivor, the result would not be the same, as the experience and senior pedigree of Navan O’Mahonys shone through.

From the first whistle O’Mahonys were on it, as to be expected from a team who were well used to all or nothing championship games and who were well backed as favourites for the Intermediate Championship. It was the town team who hit the front foot with a point from play after 45 seconds. Kevin Mckeon levelled the scoring two minutes later from a free, although it was another 10 minutes before Kevin Mckeon moved Ballivor’s side of the scoreboard again while in the interim, O’Mahonys had kicked three points in a row.

Ballivor found it hard to break down the O’Mahonys defensive structure. Often holding the ball patiently and keeping possession well but not converting the possession into scores often enough. O’Mahonys kept ticking over, breaking quickly when they would turn the ball over. They scored another two points before half time, one from a 45 and one from play. Ballivor responded with an excellent point from play from Kevin Mckeon.

Just before half time, O’Mahonys were dealt a blow when the wing forward Evan Coffey received his second yellow of the evening for a high tackle on Brendan Mckeon and was sent to the line. There was nothing dirty or malicious in it but the player himself knew as soon as the challenge was made that his day was over.

Half time Ballivor 0-3 Navan O’Mahonys 0-6

Ballivor flew out of the traps in the second half and within two minutes had the margin reduced to a solitary point. Stefan Kelly, who was a handful for the O’Mahonys full back all day, called his mark and executed it perfectly. The other point came from play from Nicky Potterton and Ballivor were right back into the game.

O’Mahonys used all their experience to slow the game down and halt Ballivor’s momentum. The red card probably didn’t work to Ballivor's favour at all as O’Mahonys tightened up their defence even more. Six minutes into the second half, the green flag was raised for the first time. An O’Mahonys free from the 45-metre line dropped short on the edge of the small square and it was punched to the back of the net to put O’Mahonys four points in front.

Ballivor responded perfectly, two minutes later, a Kevin Mckeon free hit the upright and came back into play. Nicky Potterton was quickest to react and hit the net cancelling out the opposition goal from moments earlier.

Ballivor’s heads were up, and they could sense that this was the chance they’d been waiting for. Ten minutes into the second half Ballivor got the equaliser. Substitute Jamie Smyth, who earlier in the year had been placed on a strict “no kicking the ball policy”, defied those orders and kicked a lovely point off his right, leaving many jaws dropped while others looked around for the flying pig. One minute later, the Ballivor captain scored a point from play and put his team in front for the very first time. 

O’Mahonys as you would expect did not take this lying down and scored the next two points to reclaim their lead at the halfway point of the second half.

Ballivor had plenty of opportunities which weren’t taken. A goal chance hitting the side netting plus a few scorable chances sent wide were crucial against a team like O’Mahonys who were clinical on the break. They showed just how clinical they were in the 22nd minute when, against the run of play, they broke quickly and buried the ball past Tosh Raleigh and extended the lead to four points. A sword to all Ballivor hearts. 

Both teams gave it everything for the last ten minutes. Ballivor threw the kitchen sink at it and managed to kick two more points, both from Adam Gannon. However, each time Ballivor would reduce the deficit O’Mahonys would reply with a point of their own and keep Ballivor at arm’s length.

A game that could have gone either way and had Ballivor taken more of their chances, that was certainly a possibility. Taking nothing away from O’Mahonys though, a very well drilled and well organised team who are obviously determined to return to senior straight away. We wish them all the best in the rest of the championship.

Not to be for Ballivor today but we will come back stronger next year. Thanks to Liam Reddy and his team of officials. Thanks to Dunsany for their hospitality and Thanks to all the supporters who followed us all year. Up Ballivor

Ballivor: Tosh Raleigh, Brian Conneely, Stefan Connolly, Gary Sherrock, Brian O’Halloran, Mark Healy, Brendan Mckeon, Evan Fitzgerald, Paddy Conneely, Kevin Mckeon (0-4), David Raleigh, Keith Keoghan, Nicky Potterton (1-1), Stefan Kelly (0-1), Adam Gannon (0-2)

Subs: Jamie Smyth (0-1), Podge Geoghegan, Martin Healy

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