Meath Hill 3-13 Ballinlough 1-11

Ballinlough and Meath Hill met in a beautiful but breezy Pairc Tailteann yesterday evening to finally play the 2020 Premier Championship Div.7 Final, and it was great to be able to welcome some 200 supporters back to the home of Meath Football.

Meath Hill kicked off the scoring with a free in the opening minute which was quickly cancelled out by two James O’Higgins frees and in a game where both sides struggled to settle, referee Barney O’Rourke didn’t help matters when he dished out early black cards to Ballinlough’s Paddy Briody and his Meath Hill counterpart for an off the ball incident, two yellows probably would have sufficed in this instance.

Ballinlough were dealt a further blow in the 10th minute when Hugh Briody was left with little option but to take one for the team and took down his man who was bearing down on goal, and with Barney O’Rourke flashing the notebook once again, Hugh joined Paddy in the Briody Bin.

With the numerical advantage Meath Hill pushed forward and Ian Malone slotted over 3 frees in as many minutes to give them a two point lead, indeed they should have being further ahead only for an astounding save from Keith McGuinness in the Ballinlough net who saw the ball flying towards him but managed to tip it over the bar just in time to avert a certain goal.

There was nothing Keith could do moments later when the men in red felt the pinch of having their full back in the sin-bin as Ian Malone cut through the centre of the Ballinlough defence laying the ball off, and after seeing the ball come back off the crossbar it finally ending up in the Ballinlough net.

Another Meath Hill free in the 22nd minute saw them extend their lead before Ken Rothwell finally pulled one back for Ballinlough, their first score in almost 20 minutes in what was a dismal first half for the Ballinlough men, and shortly after that score Referee Barney O’Rourke blew the half time whistle Meath Hill leading on a scoreline of 1-06 to 0-03.

Meath Hill starting the second half like they did the first with a point in the opening minute, before another converted free from the veteran Ken Rothwell. Two further points for Meath Hill stretched their lead to 8 points in the 38th minute before Ken was accurate again from the dead ball after winning his own free.

Another Meath Hill point in the 42nd minute gave them the 8 point lead again before a tactical change for Ballinlough and the introduction of Kevin Byrne at midfield, saw them claw their way back into the game. Jamie Casserly who had started in midfield was moved onto the 40 and from there he proceeded to make hay, kicking 3 unanswered points to reduce the deficit back to five.

There were a few moans when the Referee blew for the water break somewhat early just as Ballinlough were finding their feet, but all

 that was forgotten when a misplaced short kick out from Meath Hill goalie gifted Ken Rothwell a golden goal opportunity in the 47th minute. They say you can’t beat experience and Ken showed all of his as he came one on one with the keeper, and in the most audacious of actions, cheekily chipped the ball over the onrushing keepers head, with the ball seemingly hanging in the air a lifetime before finally nestling in the net to roars from the Ballinlough Faithful.

The Ballinlough tails were well and truly up now and that was evident again as corner back Niall McDonnell drifted up the field unmarked and fired over an impressive point in the 49th minute to leave just one between them. With the confidence now flowing Jamie Casserly kicked another monster score a moment later to level the sides for the first time since the opening minutes and you felt Ballinlough might just push on from there with momentum on their side and ten minutes to go on the clock.

Unfortunately the Ballinlough revival only served to wake Meath Hill from their slumber and they took the next three scores, two points and an all important goal in the 56th minute to reaffirm their hold on the game. The Ballinlough challenge seemed to fade quickly with the concession of that goal and Meath Hill were in again in the 60th minute to finish to the  net once more to break Ballinlough hearts all over again.

A Jamie Casserly free in the second minute of injury time was as good as it got for Ballinlough, while Meath Hill finished in style scoring a lovely point in the 63rd minute just before Referee Barney O’Rourke called time on what was a much more enjoyable second half with Meath Hill running out winners on a score line of 3-13 to Ballinlough’s 1-11.

So Meath Hill take the Cup, and while it’s always disappointing to lose a Final, one must remember 2 years ago we couldn’t not even field a second team so to reach the Final in their maidan voyage is a remarkable achievement for the young(and not so young!) men of Ballinlough. They showed hunger and passion in every game leading to the Final, going unbeaten up to this stage and they can be very proud of their efforts. I have no doubt there are brighter days ahead for this team and their management.

Ballinlough: K.McGuinness, N.McDonnell(0-01), H.Briody, E.McCabe, C.Briody, E.Smith, P.Briody, J.Casserly(0-5(2f)), S.Tunney, B.Wiseman, J.O’Higgins(0-02(2f)), R.Ryan, T.Fagan, K.Rothwell(1-03), C.Cunning

Subs: D.Farrelly for C.Cunning 22nd Minute, K.Byrne for J.O’Higgins H/T, A.Fox for R.Ryan 34th Minute, B.Brady for S.Tunney 42nd Minute, P.Farrelly for C.Briody 45th Minute

Refereee: Brian (Barney) O’Rourke

 

 

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