GORMLEY U PVC SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.
Magheracloone 1-17
Ballybay 1-7

Magheracloone moved a step closer to the play-off stages of the senior football championship when they proved too strong for Ballybay in their first round match that was played under lights in Inniskeen on Friday evening last. A scintillating final quarter during which they hit 1-7 without reply saw Magheracloone pull away to win comfortably after Ballybay had recovered from an indifferent start to make a real contest of it in the third quarter. This was Ballybay's third championship outing in 6 days as their previous game against Monaghan Harps went to a replay and in the end that level of activity probably took its toll as Magheracloone were much fresher in the final quarter and Ballybay legs looked to be tiring. Superior firepower though was the hallmark of this Magheracloone victory with James Hand and Tomas Freeman registering 1-11 between them and by the finish five of their six starting forwards had got on the score sheet Ballybay in contrast had only three of their six starting forwards registering, Christopher McGuinness who scored their goal, Thomas Kerr and Hugh Malone. Magheracloone settled to the task much earlier than Ballybay and had seven points on the board before Ballybay opened their account. Indeed at times in the opening quarter it did look as if Magheracloone would simply run away with this game but Ballybay rallied in the final 10 minutes of the first half to hit 1-3 without reply to leave just a point between the sides at the break and Magheracloone now knowing that they were in a real contest. Seven minutes into the second-half Ballybay took the lead for the only time in the game when they hit three points without reply between the fourth and seventh minutes but thereafter they were only to register one further score as Magheracloone increased the tempo considerably and Ballybay where just simply not up to it. A point from a free by Tomas Freeman in the opening minute of the final quarter restored Magheracloone to the lead and while Ballybay equalised it was one-way traffic from there to the finish. Ballybay in fact were first on the attack but were off target as were Magheracloone before Tomas Freeman opened the scoring with a point from a free in the third minute. Three minutes later James Hand, who had an excellent match, but Magheracloone two up, Gavin Doogan winning possession with an excellent catch. Nine minutes into the first half Francie Doogan, a player that had quite an influence on the outcome with his forceful display in midfield, put Magheracloone three up. Magheracloone were dominating in kost sectors and added points by Paudi Finnegan in 12th minute, James Hand in the 16th minute, Tomas Freeman in the 17th minute and Hand again in the 20th minute with excellent support play in that period from the likes of Fintan Kindlon, Peter Tuite, James Ward and Damien Freeman who came on as a substitute for his first taste of championship action midway through the half. Ballybay eventually opened their account in the 21st minute with a point by Hugh Malone but the score that galvanised them into action came with four minutes of normal time remaining when Christopher McGuinness finished to the Magheracloone net, being on hand to capitalise when an initial shot by Hugh Malone was blocked. That score came either side of two points by, Thomas Kerr, both from frees, to reduce the deficit to the minimum and leave the half-time score Magheracloone 0-7, Ballybay 1-3.
Francie Doogan put Magheracloone two points in front in the opening minute of the second-half but by the sixth minute Ballybay were level with points by Thomas Kerr, Thomas O'Neill the provider and Paul Finlay, Kerr the provider from a short free and Ballybay then went on to take the lead for the only time in the game when Paul Finlay converted a free in the 7th minute. It was nip and tuck at this stage, Tomas Freeman brought Magheracloone level and they saw two good chance to retake the lead go amiss before Tomas Freeman earned a free in the 16th minute that he himself converted to restore Magheracloone to the lead. Two minutes later though Ballybay were back to parity when Paul Finlay worked a short free with Thomas Kerr for a good score that indicated that this was going to be one that could build to a dramatic finish. However as matters developed it transpired that was to be Ballybay's final score of the game as Magheracloone lifted their performance to a new level and a brace from Tomas Freeman, both from frees, the 19th and 20th minute put the Mitchells two in front. Magheracloone were now totally dominating the exchanges and they went on to add four points in as many minutes from James Hand, Fintan Kindlon, substitute Noel Tuite and James Hand again to lead by seven points with the game going into stoppage time. In stoppage time they did not relent with Paul Jones nicking a good point in the opening minute of added time and victory was complete less than a minute later when Francie Doogan initiated the move that ended with James Hand crashing to the roof of the Ballybay net to leave 10 points between the sides at the finish and Magheracloone underlining their title ambitions yet again.
Teams and Scorers: Magheracloone: Pauric Doogan, Niall Babbington, Peter Ward, Michael Jones, David Freeman, James ward, Paul Farnan, Francis Doogan 0-2, Gavin Doogan, Fintan Kindlon 0-1, Paul Jones 0-1, Peter Tuite, James hand 1-5, Paudi Finnegan 0-1, Tomas Freeman 0-6 (4f). Subs: Damien Freeman for P Finnegan, Noel Tuite for David Freeman.
Ballybay: Sean Gorman, Evan Rutledge, Brian McCabe, Paul Stuart, Mark McArdle, Fergal Smyth, Brent Wylie, Thomas O'Neill, Paul Finlay 0-3 (1f), Thomas Kerr 0-3 (2f), Fergal McArdle, Shane McQuillan, Shane McGuinness, Hugh Malone 0-1 (f), Christopher McGuinness 1-0. Subs: Enda Keenan for F McArdle. Referee: Brendan McNally (Cremartin). Tweet

Most Read Stories