Bective 2-12 Ballinlough 3-09

A thrilling end to end contest saw Ballinlough and Bective take away a point each in this B-League encounter played in Bective on Monday evening.

Ballinlough started on the front foot, and opened the scoring through hard working midfielder Niall Farrelly, after a powerful run through the middle. James O'Higgins soon doubled his sides advantage, before Bective were fortunate to get a goal and sneak into the lead. The home side added a brace of frees to their tally, but it was to be the 'Lough who would go on to dominate the remainder of the period.

Speedy corner forward Jonathan Francis Montgomery continued his impressive goal scoring form in the competition, with a thumping finish into the roof of the Bective net to regain the lead for the Reds midway through the half.

The visitors continued to use the strong breeze to their advantage, with Ken Rothwell and Adam Fox both registering a brace of superb points before Seamus Fagan brought the half to a close, splitting the posts from distance. This left his side leading by 1-07 to 1-02 at the change of ends.

Bective came out reinvigorated in the second half, and a few positional changes saw them chip away at Ballinlough's lead. A well taken goal, combined with some solid point taking saw them draw level, and at one stage open up a five point lead over their opponents.

The 'Lough however had great grit and determination, and showed why they are near the peak of this B-League division with a spirited fightback. It began when James O'Higgins confidently dispatched a penalty past the Bective keeper, before Niall Farrelly curled a free over the bar.

At this stage there was three points between the sides, which was soon cancelled out by a fantastic goal by full forward Simon Deevy. Ballinlough then edged in front after full back James O'Keefe capped a wonderful performance, with a fine point after a surging run from the back.

The end to end action wasn't quite at an end though, and Bective fisted an equaliser in injury time. Ballinlough still have a great chance of promotion once they can overcome Clann na Gael in the next round.

Ballinlough: L. Gibney, J. Farrelly, J. O'Keefe, J. Baugh, D. Francis Montgomery, E. Smith, P. Briody, S. Fagan, N. Farrelly, J. O'Higgins, K. Rothwell, Junior O'Reilly, J. Francis Montgomery, S. Deevy, A. Fox. Subs: O. Brady for J. Francis Montgomery, C. Gaughran for A. Fox.

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