An Cheathrú Rua edge Ballinagar late on to book All-Ireland club JFC final berth
January 05, 2025
An Cheathrú Rua (Galway) were one-point winners over Ballinagar (Offaly) at Dr Hyde Park ©INPHO/James Crombie
An Cheathrú Rua (Galway) are through to the All-Ireland club junior football championship final after edging out Ballinagar (Offaly) by 1-9 to 0-11 at King & Moffatt Dr Hyde this afternoon.
After Pádraig Mac Donnacha’s point saw the Connacht champions lead by 0-6 to 0-5 at the break, Ballinagar hit the front thanks to back-to-back scores from Geordi O’Meara (free) and Morgan Tynan in the first five minutes of the restart.
The men from the Connemara village responded in the best possible fashion via a Maitiú Ó Domhnaill goal in the 41st minute, but their Offaly counterparts would keep the heat on until the last whistle.
The points of Adam Joyce and Jacob Beatty eventually levelled things up come the 53rd minute and another white flag by Beatty shot the Leinster champions ahead with three minutes left in normal time.
A James O’Flatharta ‘45’ levelled the sides once more on the hour before Sean O' Flannagain sailed over what proved the winner for An Cheathrú Rua who now look forward to a Croke Park date against either Kilmurray (Cork) or Naomh Padraig, Muff (Donegal) on January 25th.
@AIB_GAA Cluiche leathcheannais sóisir peile na hÉireann@clganCrua 1-09@BallinagarGaa 0-11
— Galway GAA Official (@Galway_GAA) January 5, 2025
Comhghairdeas @clganCrua 👏 pic.twitter.com/8amAeFiRWm
TweetAll-Ireland Junior Football Club Championship Semi-Final Result:
— The Maroon & White Pod (@maroonwhitepod) January 5, 2025
An Cheathrú Rua 1-9 - 0-11 Ballinagar
An Cheathrú Rua advance to the All-Ireland junior final against Kilmurry of Cork or Naomh Padraig, Muff of Donegal on January 25 in Croke Park pic.twitter.com/IXf0Hmzz6P
