Ballivor 1-15
St Fechins's 1-8

Having been second best for the most of normal time, Meath's Ballivor pulled clear of Louth counterparts, St Fechin's, to win the AIB Leinster Club JFC final at Drogheda on Sunday.

Ballivor never led in regulation time but after hitting the front through sub Richie Sherrock's goal in the first minute of extra time they pushed on to claim the title.

The next score was a Mairtin Doran point from a sideline, at the hospital end, and by half-time in extra time the Meath-men were 1-13 to 1-7 clear.

The second period of extra time saw just three scores while St Fechin's main marksman Ronan Holcroft was dismissed during this time.

St Fechin's had grounds for being aggrieved at the awarding Ballivor penultimate point in the first hour as Sherrock's 53rd minute effort appeared wide.

Referee Brian O'Shea allowed the point after consultations with a lineman and an umpire. An Adam Gannon pointed free tied the scores at 0-10 to 1-7 shortly after.

Both sides passed up chances in the time remaining with Fergus McMahon's '45' into the wind dropping short just before full time was called.

That miss didn't prove costly as Paddy Doyle's men hit 1-2 without reply within four minutes of the start of extra time.

Both sides struggled when playing with the wind while two Holcroft efforts from frees and a Niall Devlin point from play saw St Fechin's move 0-3 to 0-0 clear within six minutes of the start.

Ballivor only managed one score in the opening quarter, a Fergus McMahon free, By the 20th minute the sides were level for the first time after Padraig Geoghegan sent over a fine effort.

Holcroft's sole score from play was countered by a great effort from Sean Heavey. Then came St Fechin's goal with sub Eoghan Duffy cutting through the Ballivor defence before firing to the net.

There was a suggestion of over carrying in Duffy's run on goal as Tony Kearney's charges opened up a three point lead for the second time.

Cillian Canavan pulled a point back for Ballivor in first-half stoppage time as St Fechin's led by 1-4 to 0-5 at the break with wind advantage to come.

Two further pointed Holcroft frees left four points in it, 1-6 to 0-5, by the 40th minute. The same margin separated the sides midway through the half when Niall Devlin sent over.

That was to be St Fechin's last score in normal time as Ballivor upped their game in the final quarter. While they got the benefit of the doubt at a crucial juncture the efforts of Mairtin Doran, Noel Kirby, Padraig Geoghegan and substitute Derek Doran were central to their success.

Ballivor - K. McKeown; D. Raleigh, T. Fox, B. McLoughlin; C. Canvan (0-1), S. Heavey (0-1), S. Corrigan; N. Kirby, B. Perry; P. Geoghegan (0-1), J. McLaughlin, C. Keegan; F. McMahon (0-4 fs), M. Doran (0-2, 1 sideline), A. Gannon (0-5 fs). Subs - R. Sherrock (1-1) for Keegan (40 mins), D. Doran for McLaughlin (40), K. Keoghan for Heavey (49, P. Kelly for D. Doran (78).

St Fechin's - M. Savage; B. Fanning (0-1), D. Collier, P. Dillon; F. McNally, C. Haughney, H. McArdle; J. McGlew, B. Duffy; J. King, C. O'Neill, R. Sheridan; B. Devlin, N. Devlin (0-2), R. Holcroft (0-5,4 fs). Subs - E. Duffy (1-0) for Dillon (11), M. Hynes for King (26 mins), J. Devereux for Sheridan (51), D. Younger for Hynes (70), V. Corrigan for B. Duffy (77).

Referee - B. O'Shea (Dublin).