Extra time curse strikes again
November 30, 2009They had spent 16 memorable years in the premier ranks when Kilmainhamwood defeated them in the Senior Championship relegation shootout in 2007, but they were a whisker away from appearing in the intermediate final in their first year back in the competition before Cortown edged them out last September.
But 2008 still represented quite a successful year for Ballinlough because they achieved promotion to Division 2 of the All-County A League, losing the Division 3 final to St Michael's on the first Sunday of November.
Vinny Ryan, one of the finest Ballinlough footballers of the modern era, was coach last year, but there was a new man at the helm this time in former Walterstown player Ian Kearney who took on the task of attempting to guide them back to the top flight where they had provided the club's supporters with so much entertainment since tasting intermediate success in 1991.
Ballinlough were drawn in group B of this year's Intermediate Championship and it also included Kilmainhamwood, who made the drop down last year after surviving on so many pervious occasions, last year's beaten finalists Cortown, reigning junior champions Moynalvey and Castletown.
Their first round meeting with Kilmainhamwood at Carnaross was a clash of the previous two relegated senior teams and the outcome was a draw (1-9 each). The 'Wood edged ahead by 1-3 to 0-2 during the first half, but a goal from Peadar Byrne helped Ballinlough to reduce the deficit to 1-3 to 1-4 at the interval.
They made a great start to the second half and surged ahead by 1-9 to 1-5, but the scores dried up after that and they failed to hit the target again as Kilmainhamwood reeled off the last four points to secure a share of the spoils. Their equalising point came from an Andy Farrelly free in injury time.
Ken Rothwell's late goal was the difference between the teams when Ballinlough beat Moynalvey by 2-7 to 1-7 in the second round at Athboy. Byrne was also on the mark with a goal in this game and it helped his team to hold a four point (1-4 to 0-3) advantage at the change of ends.
Ballinlough goalkeeper Keith McGuinness saved a penalty from Cathal Sheridan early in the second half, but the former Meath and Kildare senior panelist netted from the rebound to give Moynalvey a huge boost. The match was in the melting pot at that stage and Rothwell's intervention with his side's second goal did the trick.
Cortown won by 3-14 to 1-12 after extra-time when they played Ballinlough in last year's semi-final and this time they triumphed again, shading the verdict in a highly entertaining encounter at Kells. When Cortown had Martin Henry sent off midway through the second period they were trailing by 0-8 to 0-9 and it looked like advantage Ballinlough.
However, the numbers were evened up when Ballinlough's Byrne was dismissed and late points from Ivan Coyne and Gordon Codd gave the 2008 runners-up a 0-11 to 0-10 victory. It meant that Kearney's men had a mixed bag of results as the championship took a break, with three points secured after a draw, a win and that loss against Cortown.
Castletown endured a real struggle in last year's championship, winning just one of their group games, but Ballinlough had managed to defeat them by just a point in the third round. They clashed in the fourth round this time and again there was the minimum between them at the end, with the team in red winning by 2-8 to 0-13 at Moynalty.
Rothwell's late goal had proved hugely significant in the earlier meeting with Moynalvey and this time it was his point which earned a victory. He contributed 1-6 overall, including a brace of points close to the interval which were vitally important as they helped turn a six point deficit into a more favourable position at the change of ends.
They still trailed by 0-3 to 0-7, but had a stroke of luck early in the second half when Kevin Devine's '45' found its way into the Castletown net off a defender. That was the break they needed and a Rothwell goal had them ahead for the first time. They eventually secured victory with his late point.
It was a case of wait and see at that stage because Ballinlough had all their matches played, but there was still a good deal of action to take place in the group.
When all was said and done the news was good for Ballinlough as they and Kilmainhamwood occupied the top two positions in the section and booked quarter-final places. Cortown were still in the title hunt as well and were into the preliminary quarter-final. All three teams finished on five points.
However, that was as good as it got for Ballinlough and when they played neighbours Oldcastle in an eagerly anticipated last eight meeting at Kells on the first Sunday of October they again met with extra-time misery. But they were very close to getting through to the semi-finals when ahead near the end of normal time, only to be caught by a late point which forced an additional 20 minutes of action.
Ballinlough looked odds on to triumph when they pushed into a 1-7 to 0-4 lead at the break, but it's an indication of how the trend of the game changed subsequently that Oldcastle outscored them by 1-12 to 0-3. Former Meath minor player Paddy Gilsenan capped a fine recovery in the second half of normal time when his pointed free got Oldcastle back to level terms (0-13 to 1-10).
They made the most of that reprieve and held Ballinlough scoreless in extra-time, adding three points in the opening 10 minute period to push into a 0-16 to 1-10 advantage. Nicky Galligan's goal was the only score in the second half and that meant Oldcastle won by 1-16 to 1-10 and were through to a meeting with Dunderry at the penultimate hurdle. It was a very disappointing way to exit the championship for Ballinlough.
Seamus Byrne has been playing adult football for Ballinlough since he was 16 or 17 and enjoyed his years lining out in the Senior Championship, but he feels being back in the intermediate ranks is giving the team a chance to rebuilt momentum. The wholehearted performer, who also plays hurling with Kilskyre, was pleased with the input of coach Ian Kearney.
"I thought he was great," said Seamus who was the Ballinlough captain this year. "He brought a new dynamic to the club. Ian had a lot of experience as a player with Walterstown and Meath and he coached other teams. The players had a lot of respect for him.
"We drew our first championship game against Kilmainhamwood, but gave away the last four points. We seem to either start well in games and fade or start slowly and improve. Consistency is missing from our game and we need to sort that out.
"Ken Rothwell got a late goal when we beat Moynalvey. He was one of our best players all year. He is a great fellow to play with and always gives 100 per cent. Losing to Cortown was a bitter pill. We were doing well in that game, but caved in. We gave away the last two points. We had the ability to win that one, but didn't.
"It wasn't a great performance against Castletown, but we got the win we deserved. We knew we were better than them. There was more in us."
But then things got very disappointing for Ballinlough when they exited the championship at the quarter-final hurdle against a vastly improved Oldcastle team. The manner of their collapse after being in a very strong position was extremely annoying.
"I suppose we got out of jail against Castletown, but it came back to haunt us against Oldcastle," Seamus added. "We were cruising at one stage, but we didn't perform in the second half. They got a draw with the last kick of normal time and ran all over us in extra-time. It was very disappointing.
"But we are up with the best of them. If we are going to win the championship we have to play for 60 minutes. We under-performed this year. It's a matter of having the will to do it. If enough lads have the will then it will be won. It's possible."
Ballinlough were renowned for their great spirit and battling qualities during their 16 years in the senior ranks and while losing that status at the end of the 2007 championship was an undoubted disappointment, they have shaped well enough in their first two campaigns back at intermediate level to suggest that they mightn't be there for too long.
Ballinlough Juveniles
2009 had mixed fortunes for Balinlough juveniles, our U10s lost all matches in North West Juvenile League. Our U12 had a similar fate. However our U13 and U14 had a better fare. The U13 reached the final losing heavily to Dunderry 3.17 to 1.4. Dunderry had accounted for Ballinlough in the first round by 1-11 to 2.5.
The U14 beat Boardsmill in the league final played at Bohermeen however, Boardsmill turned the table on Ballinlough in the Summer League final played at Ballinlough.
Ballinlough lost their U13/U14 trainer/coach Bernard O'Reilly who emigrated to Canada in September, he was ably assisted by his selectors, Tom Brady, Noreen Brady and Michael McInerney.
Early in the summer a number of former Ballinlough senior players namely Vinny Ryan, Hugh McDonnell, Martin Lynch, Frank Tunney and Pauric White former Garristown (Dublin) player coached U8 players in the club. The highlight of the year was an U8 game played in Croke Park on July 1st, Ballinlough v Annacurra (Wicklow). Perhaps some day these young players will again play in Croke Park not in the Red & White of Ballinlough but he green and gold of Meath. Tweet
