Baxter heroics seals place in Breffni League final for Hugh's
July 17, 2014
Ballymachugh's Killian Smith
Ballymachugh 0-11
Laragh Utd 0-8
Paddy Baxter made two outstanding saves in the dying minutes of this Breffni league semi-final as Ballymachugh booked a place for themselves in this Sunday's Division two decider.
In what was an evenly-contested penultimate round match, the Ballyheelan-based boys were full value for their passage through to the final but they had to pull out all the stops to do so.
Two Killian Smith frees in the first three minutes were quickly matched by a point apiece from Oisin Carolan and Conal O'Donohoe for United with six minutes on the clock.
The sides were still level, 0-3 apiece, by the end of the quarter hour mark but it took a great save by Paddy Baxter to prevent Paddy Rudden (Laragh) from goaling.
Ballymachugh were to enjoy much better tidings in the second quarter but they had another big let-off in the 26th minute when John Fox did very well to clear the ball off his line to stop a shot from Paddy Rudden hitting the net.
Either side of Rudden's ill-luck, the Ballymachugh forwards did well with points from Mark Kiernan (23), Darragh Kiernan (24) and Richie Fitzsimons (31) put some clear water between the sides.
Ballymachugh sought to consolidate their 0-6 to 0-3 interval lead but, instead, a point within seconds of the restart from Paddy Rudden helped Laragh keep the pressure on the would-be leaders.
The sides continued to exchange points with abandon but a brace of Mark Kiernan points suddenly left Laragh trailing by 0-5 to 0-9 with 44 minutes on the clock.
Laragh continued to look dangerous going forward but they found Baxter in superb form in the Ballymachugh goal as he prevented Cian O'Rourke from goaling in the 56th minute.
Rudden then pointed for Laragh to make it a three point game two minutes from time but two more fabulous saves in quick succession by 'keeper Baxter from Rudden and Gerry Murray ensured Ballymachugh progressed to a meeting with Killinkere.
Ballymachugh:
Paddy Baxter; Vincent Ellis, Micheal Halton, John Fox; Diarmaid O'Reilly, Anthony Baxter, Finbar Sheridan; Liam Buchanan-Goldrick, Darragh Kiernan (0-1), Kieran Goldrick; Richie Fitzsimons (0-1), Christopher Rooney (0-1); Mark Kiernan (0-3), Killian Smith (0-3), Steven Harten (0-2).
Laragh Utd:
Martin Smith; Owen Donohoe, Patrick King, Ciaran Cooney; Declan King, Shane O'Rourke, Darragh Brady; Seamus Cooney, Liam McKenna; Oisin Carolan (0-2), Paddy Rudden (0-3), Declan Brady; Conal O'Donohoe (0-1), Gerry Murray, Cian O'Rourke (0-1).
Sub used; Philip Fitzsimons (0-1).
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