Killinkere 1-7
Ballymachugh 0-8


Killinkere were crowned Breffni league Division 2 winners in Kingspan Breffni Park on Sunday last with a win over a Ballymachugh outfit who failed to perform to their potential. It was the would-be winners who took the lead in the opening minutes and it was a lead they failed to relinquish.

As suggested by the final scoreline, Killinkere's success in bagging the only goal of the game proved instrumental in steering the spoils their way.

Killinkeres goal just shy of the three-quarter hour mark was a move that would have done justice to any competition played on any stage.

Killinkere led by the odd point in seven at half-time but better things lay ahead with their well-worked goal hoisting them into a four point (1-5 to 0-4) lead that they never looked like surrendering thereafter.
With the teams boasting a win apiece in their two earlier league meetings, this was a final that was always destined to go right down to the wire and so it proved.

Killinkere had a two point advantage after 4 minutes thanks to quick-fire points from Emmet Fitzsimons (free) and Peter McCabe (after turning his man and fisting over from 13 metres.
Another converted free from the aforementioned Fitzsimons made it a three point game before Ballymachugh suffered a blow when Vincent Ellis was given a black card after an altercation with Peter McCabe in the 11th minute. From the resultant free, Darren Smith put the would-be winners four points in front.

Less than 90 seconds later, Ballymachugh got a real let-off when Jason McMahon ran through on a one-on-one with 'keeper Baxter but the latter did well to block and help clear the danger subsequently.

Slowly but surely, Ballymachugh began to find their feet and a brace of points from Mark Kiernan plus an excellent 40 yarder from Killian Smith (21) - after good work by Anthony Baxter and Christopher Rooney - ensured that just the minimum separated the sides.

In the run-in to the interval, Killinkere had the upper hand and almost nabbed an opening goal but Jason McMahon saw his effort from long range strike the crossbar before the ball dropped kindly into the arms of a relieved Baxter in goal.

Killinkere began the second half with all the gusto, vim and vigour that they had showed in the early minutes of the first half and a Peter McCabe fisted point inside the opening minute marked his side's first point since the 10th minute.

For the next five minutes, Ballymachugh were forced onto the backfoot by a Killinkere side hell bent on ratchetting up the scores but, time and time again, the likes of Anthony Baxter and Micheal Halton hoovered up high deliveries into their own square.

Then in the 46th minute came the most telling score of the match. A short kick-out by Killinkere saw the ball being moved up the park with Emmet Fitzsimons and Liam McCabe at the heart of the drive forward.

Eventually the ball was worked into Peter McCabe who ran in on Ballymachugh 'keeper Baxter with the ball before unselfishly passing it to the loitering Brian Clarke who promptly tapped the ball into the empty Ballymachugh net.

Clarke, a senior debutant in 1992, was now well on his way to collecting his only ever medal with Killinkere with his side's 1-5 to 0-4 lead more solid than at first glance.

Just two minutes after Clarke's major, Ballymachugh engineered a goal chance of their own but James Kiernan's overhead flick - after Kieran Goldricks long delivery - was batted out by Sean McGovern for a fruitless '45.

The final ten minutes of the match saw the tempo increase dramatically as both sides eyed the chequered flag with renewed vigour.

The sides exchanged points and there was just two separating the sides when James Kiernan and Alan Donohoe crafted another goal chance for Ballymachugh in the 62nd minute but Killinkere's McGovern was out quick to narrow the angle and make a match winning save.

It was end to end action in the dregs of the game as a great point from Christopher Rooney (64) left just the minimum between the sides.

Killinkere were not to be denied though and impressive senior debutant Jason McMahon ensured he had the lost word as he pointed in the fifth minute of injury time to secure the league title.

Killinkere:
Sean McGovern; Ollie Sharkey, Martin Reilly, Louis Fay Cooper; Brian Smith, Michael Smith, Finbar Smith; Michael Duff, Noel McGovern; Darren Smith (0-1), Jason McMahon (0-1), Emmet Fitzsimons (0-3); Liam McCabe, Paul Kerr, Peter McCabe (0-2).
Subs; Anthony Brady for D Smith; Brian Clarke (1-0) for P Kerr; Ciaran Smith for F Smith.

Ballymachugh:
Paddy Baxter; Vincent Ellis, Micheal Halton, John Fox; Diarmaid O'Reilly, Anthony Baxter, Christopher Rooney (0-2); Liam Goldrick-Buchanan, Darragh Kiernan; Kieran Goldrick, Richie Fitzsimons (0-3), Finbar Sheridan; Stephen Harten, Killian Smith (0-1), Mark Kiernan (0-2).
Subs; Brendan McLarney for V Ellis; Aodhain Kiernan for J Fox ; James Kiernan for S Harten; Alan Donohoe for D O'Reilly (inj). Tweet

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