Knocked out at the final hurdle in the IFC, Ballinagh showed true grit to secure the ACFL Division One title. Greater hunger and midfield mastery proved a lethal concoction as Ballinagh posted notice of their intention to capture league honours last April. The Saffrons came from behind to put hosts Mullahoran to the sword (1-11 to 1-8) in an entertaining ACFL Division One clash in the first week of the month. It was a real statement of intent. The would-be champions displayed a superior will-to-win which, allied to a large majority of possession garnered in the vital diamond area of the field, counted double on the day. Ballinagh were to experience a rollercoaster ride in the league though and a 1-9 to 2-10 setback away to Kingscourt a couple of weeks later re-inforced the need for everyone to remain focussed. In late May, Ballinagh really showed their mettle by holding defending champions Cavan Gaels to an exciting draw (0-9 apiece) in a rather ill-tempered match at Terry Coyle Park A converted free by Colin Gumley deep into injury time salvaged a deserved point for the Ballinagh boys. The game was a fractious affair as several clashes on and off the ball, a plethora of bookings plus one red card coloured what was a real fiery local derby clash. Indeed it was during the six minutes of added-on time afforded by referee Gerry Sheridan (Mullahoran) that Colin Gumley slot over the equalising point. By the end of June, Ballinagh vied with Kingscourt Stars and Denn for the fourth semi-final berth with all three tied on nine points although with eight games played, Kingscourt had one more game played than the other two clubs. Things were no clearer by the end of July with Ballinagh denied a much-needed win (1-9 to 2-6) by Denn in an entertaining ACFL Division One clash at Crosskeys. Meanwhile in the intermediate championship, the Ballinagh lads easily side-stepped the challenge of a depleted Kill side (1-15 to 0-6) at Stradone. The Saffrons eased their way into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead with out much fuss with 17 minutes on the clock when they delivered a real blow to Kill's solar plexus with a sweet goal from Colin Gumley. Thereafter in early September, Ballinagh made a serious statement of intent regarding their IFC ambitions this year by easily disposing of the challenge of Lavey (2-10 to 0-6) in their quarter-final tussle in Killygarry. The town team made good a brillant first half display to book their place in the last four of the competition against a Lavey side which failed to find their top form at any stage in the match. Thereafter a converted free almost four minutes into added-on time served to deny Ballinagh a place in the IFC final after a thrilling penultimate round battle (1-10 to 1-10) with Ballyhaise at Kingspan/Breffni Park. The replay saw Ballinagh make no mistake with a tremendous diving save by Darragh McCarthy in added-on time proved crucial as Ballinagh held off a determined late surge from Ballyhaise to clinch their place (1-11 to 1-7) in the 2006 Cavan IFC final. The final against Drumalee was a disappointing affair with a point two minutes into added-on time by Colin Gumley seeing Ballinagh snatch a gritty 0-7 to 0-7 draw against long-time leaders Drumalee at Kingspan/Breffni Park. Drumalee had looked home and hosed when countyman Michael Brennan split the posts with a 44 metre free on the hour mark to leave his side ahead by the odd point in thirteen. However in timely fashion Ballinagh shed their erstwhile ponderous, laboured selves to drive a stake through the heart of the Drumalee men with their dramatic equaliser. Gumley's equaliser brought the house down among those wearing Saffron colours. On October 21st, the replay at Kingspan/Breffni Park was a no less dogged affair with Ballinagh seeing their hopes of regaining the IFC title they last held in 1992 by going down by 0-4 to 1-5. The town team again underperformed as they failed to match their opponents in most aspects of play and, above all, in the hunger stakes. In a week which saw football put into perspective by the death of the mother of players Padraic and Niall O'Reilly, the Ballinagh players never got into their stride despite chiselling out an early lead. The match favourites sprang into a 0-2 to 0-0 lead inside the opening nine minutes with points from Colin Gumley (free) and Damien McInerney (free) but that was as good as it got for the Saffrons. Ballinagh were made to play second fiddle for practically the remainder of the game with the paucity of their challenge being reflected in the fact that they only notched one point from play over the hour-plus. A goal in the 21st minute catapulted Drumalee into a 1-3 to 0-2 cushioned lead and laid down the gauntlet in a big way to the chasing Saffrons. Ballinagh were never at their best and even though they did try hard to chisel their way back on terms they were out of luck on the day. The Ballinagh line-out in the IFC final replay was as follows; Daragh McCarthy; Anthony Duffy, Conor Brady, Niall O'Reilly; Padraic O'Reilly, Anthony Gaynor, Damien McInerney (0-1, free); Pauric Maguire, Killian McBride; Alan Durkin, Enda Brady, David Finnegan (0-1); Colin Gumley (0-2, both frees), Adrian Maguire, Paul Galligan. Subs; Ruairi Brennan for Enda Brady; Kevin Smith for Alan Durkin; Terry Smith for Killian McBride; Kevin Galligan for Paul Galligan. In the immediate aftermath of the game, Ballinagh's defeated team-captain Adrian Maguire was mindful of the part played by three of his team-mates in particular. "I thought the two O'Reillys, Padraic and Niall, were outstanding which was incredible given what they've been through with the death of their mother. "The funeral was very upsetting for everyone involved with the team, selector Sean Finnegan and David (Finnegan), but we can't use that as an excuse. "The management did all they could but we just didn't perform on the day." By the end of October, Ballinagh football club received a timely pick-me-up when the team overcame Cavan Gaels by 1-9 to 2-4 in an absorbing senior league division one semi-final clash at Cornafean. An excellently crafted goal just four minutes from time sealed the shock win for the Saffons in a game which was a torrid, dogged affair that had a draw written all over it until a late, late twist altered matters. Following their demoralising defeat in the intermediate championship decider, it was expected that Ballinagh would provide timid opposition to the county town side. But Ballinagh were full value for their surprise win even if they chose to do it the hard way, falling behind by five points in as many minutes at the start of the match. The Gaels threatened to blow Ballinagh away in the opening stages as they forged their way into a 1-2 to 0-0 lead. The lead-up to the decisive goal for Ballinagh saw Paul Galligan gain possesion and when his lobbed centre into the Cavan Gaels' square was broken down by Anthony Gaynor, Kevin Galligan was on hand to draw on the ball and fire the ball into the net for the match-winning score. Ballinagh went onto meet Gowna, 1-9 to 1-6 conquerors over Crosserlough in their semi-final tussle, in the decider. As things panned out, two clinically dispatched and timely goals proved pivotal as Ballinagh finished the year on a real high by scooping the ACFL Division One title at the expense of the red and greens at Drumalee in mid-November. Following their IFC final defeat and their surprise reversal in the under 21 division two semi-final just a week previous, Ballinagh's 2-8 to 0-8 victory was all the sweeter. Ballinagh were full value for their rare title win with their charges fitter, sharper and more hungry than their opponents over the hour-plus. The winners-elect got a huge leg-up in the 5th minute when stand-in attacker Anthony Gaynor made hay from some sloppy Gowna passing at the rear to drive through and beat advancing Gowna 'keeper Raymond Keogh with a fine strike. While Ciaran Og Brady fired over the best point of the day for Gowna two minutes later, the red and greens continued to look uncomfortable in chasing the game. Gowna looked distinctly match-rusty in comparison to their better honed opponents although they managed to get on level terms, 0-4 to 1-1, by the 12th minute thanks, in part, to points from Ger Pierson and Dermot McCabe - both from frees. But Gowna couldn't sustain their rebuttal of Ballinagh's goal-propelled momentum and points from Paul Galligan and Declan Beard (free) helped strengthen Ballinagh's hand entering the final five minutes of the first half. Just when Gowna seemed set to get up a head of steam, their opponents hit back with another killer blow. Ballinagh's second goal in the 35th minute had more to do with the individual than the collective with Kevin Galligan making ground opposite the stand side before hurtling along the by-line, around his marker, before firing the ball hard and high into the roof of the Gowna net. A brace of converted frees from Declan Beard (9th and 16th mins) extended Ballinagh's lead to two goals, 2-6 to 0-6, and it was obvious even at that early juncture that Gowna needed a goal(s) to save the day. Gerald Pierson gave the chasing team a glimmer of hope with a converted free in the 51st minute but another brace of frees from Beard made it a seven points game, 2-8 to 0-7. Ballinagh were in no mood to give up their advantage and with Gowna's passing and distribution leaving a lot to be desired, the leading team's lead came under no serious threat in the dying minutes. Gowna did try to launch a last desperate attempt to breach the Ballinagh defence but a last minute point from Niall Madden was all Gowna could manage. It was Ballinagh's day and could anyone begrudge them their day in the sun? The Ballinagh team that did the business in the 2006 ACFL Division One final was as follows; Darragh McCarthy; Anthony Duffy, Cian Brady, Killian McBride; Niall Reilly, Padraig Reilly, Damien McInerney; Padraig Maguire, Cian McDermott; Enda Brady, David Finnegan, Declan Beard (0-5); Paul Galligan (0-2), Anthony Gaynor (1-1), Kevin Galligan (1-0). Subs; Terry Smith for Enda Brady; Kieran Brady for Paul Galligan. Tweet

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