Ballymore's twin objective
April 30, 2011Intermediate champions in 1972, '84, '98 and 2003, Ballymore were well off the pace last year when they were somewhat fortunate to avoid a relegation playoff.
If scoring difference had applied, the green and golds would have faced a relegation showdown with Kilbeggan Shamrocks. Fortunately for them, head-to-head results were used to decide the final positions last year, which meant that Ballinagore, and not Ballymore, contested the playoff.
"Our only championship win all year came against Ballinagore and, as things turned out, it was enough to keep us up," recalls Ballymore's promising attacker Brian Finerty.
"We weren't happy with our performances last year and realise that we have a lot of improving to do. We lost our Division 2 status in the league and that was a big blow. As far as I know, none of the present team has ever played in Division 3 before and they don't intend to stay down there for too long. We need to start winning games again and getting back up to Division 2 will be just as big a priority as doing well in the championship in the coming year."
Finerty, who is a son of former county star Willie and is a member of this year's Westmeath under 21 football panel, attributes Ballymore's disappointing season to a "lack of heart", insisting that former manager John McNeill couldn't be faulted for his efforts with the team.
"It wasn't John McNeill or his selectors' (Sam Ryan, Brendan Molloy and Seamus McDermott) fault. And in fairness to the players, they gave good commitment with training sessions being well attended. But the thing that I felt was missing in the team was heart. We didn't battle hard enough and that is something that needs to be addressed this year."
The tone for a disappointing championship campaign was set when Ballymore lost their opening game to Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall by 1-8 to 2-10. Most of the damage was done in the opening seven minutes when the Cavan-border outfit registered 2-2 without reply. Goals from Kevin Brazil and Ryan Plunkett were sandwiched between points by Ray Sheridan and Plunkett.
After John Gilligan opened their account, the Suedymen settled down to play some good football and Paddy Martin's fisted goal from Brian Finerty's '45 left them just four points adrift, 1-5 to 2-6, at the interval. Ballymore had hoped to eat further into their opponents' lead after the restart, but instead Finea came flying out of the traps and scored four points without reply to effectively end the game as a contest.
A second defeat to St. Mary's left Ballymore with a mountain to climb in their quest to reach the knockout stages. John Gilligan had John McNeill's charges in front early on, but it didn't take St. Mary's long to exert their superiority and a 28th minute goal from centre back Michael Geraghty had them perched on a 1-8 to 0-4 lead at half-time. And despite outscoring their Rochfortbridge opponents by 0-5 to 0-3 in the second half, the green and golds succumbed to a 0-9 to 1-11 defeat.
The highlight of Ballymore's season came in round three when they accounted for Ballinagore by 1-11 to 0-11 at a rain-soaked Shandonagh. Experienced midfielder Derek 'Ching' Molloy scored 0-7 (0-3 from frees) in a man of the match display for the Suedymen, who took a 0-6 to 0-4 lead into the break.
Brian Finerty extended Ballymore's advantage on the resumption before Ballinagore hit a purple patch which yielded four unanswered points from an inspired James Durkan. Finding themselves behind for the first time, Ballymore responded in the best possible fashion when a high centre by Brian Finerty was fumbled by the Ballinagore defence and cousin Ciaran Finerty was on hand to rifle home the only goal.
Ballinagore were demoralised and further points from Brian Finerty and Molloy sealed a vital win for Ballymore.
A 0-7 to 1-9 defeat to Rosemount in their next outing at Moate's Hogan Park ended Ballymore's slim hopes of reaching the knockout stages, and left them fighting for their intermediate survival. Rosemount made a dream start when Donal Boland found the net inside three minutes and with full forward David Malynn to the fore, they went on to lead by 1-6 to 0-3 at the break.
Ballymore tried desperately to stage a comeback in the second half, but relying totally on Brian Finerty for scores (he kicked 0-7 from placed balls), they struggled to close the gap with their best chance of a goal coming in the 44th minute when Alan Slevin was denied by Rosemount 'keeper Eoin Carberry.
Ballymore's campaign ended on a disastrous note when they suffered a crushing 1-6 to 1-21 defeat to Tang at Pairc Ciarain. The only crumb of consolation was that Ballinagore also lost to Rosemount on the same evening, meaning they faced the relegation playoff instead.
Tang dominated from start to finish, steaming into a 1-7 to 0-2 lead by the 22nd minute before John Gilligan handed Ballymore a lifeline with a superbly-taken goal. Leading by 1-9 to 1-3 at half-time, Tang took complete control in the second half and not even late points from Brian Finerty and Dermot Farrell could put a better complexion on the scoreboard.
Results were more encouraging at underage level with Millmore Gaels (a combination of Ballymore and Milltown) coming within a whisker of lifting the minor Division 3 (13-a-side) title. A last-gasp point by Alan Coffey handed Tubberclair a 2-10 to 4-3 victory and broke Millmore Gaels' hearts in the process.
An Alan Geraghty goal had Millmore Gaels ahead after 20 minutes, but county minor David Fagan responded with a similar score to leave Tubberclair 1-5 to 1-3 in front at half-time. Millmore found the Tubberclair net three more times in the second half through substitute Eanna Keena (two) and Ciaran Finnerty, but Coffey's late winner gave Tubberclair the spoils.
"Millmore Gaels has worked well for both Ballymore and Milltown. Neither club is in a position to field on their own at underage level anyone, so it made sense to join forces. The amalgamation did a lot for me and I've no doubt that it will continue to produce good young players for both clubs," Finerty says.
The appointment of former Tubberclair and Westmeath star Gerry Walker as Ballymore's new manager has been welcomed by Finerty, who was a key member of the Fr Dalton's team which suffered an agonising defeat to Delvin in last year's intermediate hurling final.
"We're all hoping that Gerry will bring a fresh impetus to the scene. We badly need a lift and hopefully Gerry will be able to give us that," he continues.
"Our main goals for the coming year are to get out of Division 3 and to avoid a relegation dogfight in the championship. We're not thinking about reaching the knockout stages or anything like that just yet."
The Ballymore team which defeated Ballinagore in last year's IFC was: Conor McNeill; Declan Rooney, Andrew Slevin, Paddy Harrington; Barry McDermott, Denis Eivers, Seamus Keena; Sam Whooley, Derek Molloy; Michael Slevin, Liam Gilligan, Frank Eivers; Stephen Rooney, Brian Finerty, Alan Slevin. Subs used: Dermot Farrell, Frank Hughes and Ciaran Finerty.
The Millmore Gaels team that contested the minor Division 3 (13-a-side) final: Stephen Butler; John Mahon, Stephen Higgins; Sean Kincaid, Seamus Keena, Patrick Somers; Ciaran Finerty, Alan Geraghty; Patrick Shanley, David Slevin, Michael Devanney; Alan Sloan, Jarlath Boyce. Subs used: Eanna Keena, Sam Moran, Eoin McCaffrey and Chris Donlon. Tweet
