Ballyhaise 0-17
Butlersbridge 0-14

Ballyhaise secured their place in the last four of the intermediate championship after trumping Butlersbridge's impressive display last night at Kingspan Breffni Park.

In the end, it was fine shooting form from key forwards that made all the difference for last year's beaten finalists as they were put to the pin of their collar by the 'Bridge, whom had a stand out performer in Jonathan Leddy.

Leddy's 0-8 contribution kept Mickey Lee's men in the hunt throughout this contest and with 20 minutes to go they looked the more likely side, building up a three-point lead to leave the competition's favourites under a world of pressure.

To their credit, John Brady's charges rose to the challenge, picking off seven points without reply as the likes of David Brady, Padraig Moore, sub Kevin Tierney and the outstanding Stephen Smith (0-7), to weather the storm from their near neighbours and seal another semi-final berth.

Leddy's opener came inside the first minute and was met by a Smith free soon after. The game took that pattern, with eight scores consuming the opening 10 minutes and the sides still inseparable on 0-4 each. Leddy added two more to his tally and county U21 ace Caoimhin O'Reilly opened his account on the 'Bridge end, while Smith, Moore and Sean McCormack got the men from Annalee Park off to a flying start.

Smith sent the game's first goal chance over for his third but the underdogs weren't willing to give an inch as O'Reilly had a three-point effort of his own kept out by Eamonn Brady in the Ballyhaise goal and Leddy sent over the 45.

Moore registered a quick brace to try and put some daylight between the sides, but the 'Bridge finished out the half strong with two scores from the electric O'Reilly (one a free) to outweigh one from Smith, which sent Ballyhaise in with a 0-8 to 0-7 lead at the break.

John Brady introduced ace attacker Kevin Tierney to the fray for the second-half to try and keep the scores flowing for the would-be winners, but it was their counterparts that really caught fire early on in the resumption.

Leddy was outstanding in that 10-minute spell, recording 0-4 (1 free), as O'Reilly and John Fitzpatrick backed him up with singles to keep the umpire's arm busy at that end.

Ballyhaise could only muster a point from Barry McRudden, back from the suspension he received after being sent off in last year's final defeat to Cootehill, during that rich run of form from the 'Bridge.

However, there was no question over whom the better side were in the final 20 minutes as Ballyhaise clicked at just the right time, with minor star David Brady stemming the tide for them and a quick brace from Tierney bringing them level on the final quarter mark.

Smith, who has had a fine championship thus far, got the next two and when Moore and Brady bumped the lead up to four with as many minutes remaining Ballyhaise looked to have one foot in the last four.

In the dying seconds of regulation, Declan Callaghan left a goal in for Butlersbridge and their opponents were made sweat in four minutes of injury-time but they saw out the victory to keep their trail to the Tommy Gilroy Cup on track.

Ballyhaise: Eamonn Brady; Brendan Lyons, Mark Brennan, Fiachra McGoldrick; Niall Costello, Eamonn Costello, Francis Moore; Conor Lyons, Sean McCormack (0-1); David Brady (0-2), Barry McRudden (0-1), Marcus Duffy; Martin Conaty, Stephen Smith (0-7, 2f), Padraig Moore (0-4). Subs: Shane Briody for B Lyons (14mins), Kevin Tierney (0-2) for M Conaty (HT), Colm Reilly for N Costello (40), Shane McKiernan for B McRudden (45), Francis McConnell for F Moore (53), Ryan Brennan for S McCormack (60).

Butlersbridge: Stephen Murphy; Killian Leddy, Patrick Flynn, Kieran Greenan; Andrew McConnell, Noel McPhilips, Declan Callaghan (0-1); Feargal Flanagan, Peter Conaty; Shane O'Rourke, Caoimhin O'Reilly (0-4, 1f), Darragh Fitzpatrick; Jonathan Leddy (0-8, 2f, 1 45), Michael McDermott, John Fitzpatrick (0-1). Subs: Saolo Cantero for D Fitzpatrick (45), Pauric McGearty for N McPhilips (54), Cahir O'Reilly for K Leddy (54), Liam Canning for M McDermott (56).

Ref: Brendan Sweeney (Ballymachugh)

Tweet

Most Read Stories