Ballinlough 3-08 Dunsany 0-13
Ballinlough and Dunsany met in a pristine Kilmainham on Sunday morning with the pitch and facilities looking mighty, the drop of rain overnight probably helped to have it immaculate but thankfully the rain held off for the duration of this game to ensure a good sporting contest ensued.
Ballinlough raced out of the blocks fastest and opened the scoring with a goal in the second minute, Mick Geraghty burying the ball to the net after great work and quick hands from Mark McCullen and Daire Shine. That score was followed up by an excellent point from play for Daire Shine and not to be out done his twin brother Tom sent over a fine free in the seventh minute to leave Ballinlough with a healthy five point lead.
Dunsany finally opened their account with a point from play in the ninth minute, but Ballinlough were flying in the opening half in particular Daire Shine who added another point from play. A second goal chance for Mick Geraghty was blasted over the bar in the 15th minute, but Ballinlough didn’t have to wait long to get their second Major as superb team work resulted in releasing Daire Shine ,and he made no mistake firing to the net to boost Ballinlough’s lead significantly.
That score sparked Dunsany into life and they began to show much more of their ability that supporters would be more accustomed to hitting a free in the 21st minute, and then almost landing a goal from a 45’ that was worked short. The Ballinlough kick out had abit of a malfunction and Dunsany capitalised on every ball, sending over four points from play in quick succession to bring themselves right back into this game.
Ballinlough needed to get their hands on the ball badly at this stage and they got themselves back into the game when Darragh Caffrey expertly blocked down another Dunsany attack in the 29th minute and from that block the ball was worked further up the field to Benji Smith who sent over a super point to relieve the pressure Ballinlough were feeling. Smith then repeated the dose moments later, this time Harry Ryan providing the assist, so when Referee Pat Clarke called for the ball Ballinlough led on a scoreline of 2-06 to Dunsanys 0-06.
The second half started in the way many of us expected with Dunsany really putting it up to Ballinlough and they added a point from play immediately to lower the deficit to five points. An early missed free for Ballinlough from a score-able position left the scoreline the same but they didn’t have to wait too long for their next score when Tom Shine was fouled on his way to goal, and after brief consultation with his umpires, Referee Pat Clarke stretched out his arms indicating a penalty was to be awarded. Up stepped Daire Shine and cool as you like he sent the keeper the wrong way and slotted the ball in the bottom corner to give Ballinlough some more breathing room in the 33rd minute.
Similar to last time Ballinlough goaled, the score drew an immediate reaction from the Dunsany players and they must have thought they had a goal of their own seconds later only for a combination of Matthew Farrelly and Robbie Farrell throwing himself at the post to deny the shot. Two Dunsany frees in quick succession reduced the gap to six points, before Harry Ryan got his name on the scoresheet, the point coming after a Brillant interception from Tom Shine in his own half back line. Shine was then to be the scorer himself when a long kickout from Mattie Farrelly bypassed midfield and Shine latched onto it, quickly firing the ball over the bar to leave eight between the sides again in 41st minute.
Truthfully this game should have being done and dusted at this stage but nobody told Dunsany that and they rattled off four frees over the next ten minutes to leave just four points between the sides entering the closing stages. Several long balls were played in an attempt to create the goal chance Dunsany desperately needed but the Ballinlough defence held firm, and defending for their lives repelling Dunsany time and time again. Finally after over five minutes of additional time was played Referee Pat Clarke blew the full time whistles to scenes of jubilation from the Ballinlough Faithful.
With news filtering through that Syddan had beaten St.Ultans it began to dawn on the Ballinlough crew that we had indeed topped the group and will go straight into a Semi-Final now, leaving Manager Conn Clearly with a couple of extra weeks to fine tune his charges for battle once more!
Ballinlough: M.Farrelly, D.Caffrey, R.Farrell, J.Connell, B.Smith (0-02), M.Geraghty (1-01), E.Briody, O.McDermott, D.Galligan, T.Shine (0-02(1f)), H.Ryan (0-01), S.Geraghty, L.Maguire, M.McCullen, D.Shine (2-02) (1 penalty)
Subs: C.Mallen for S.Geraghty 31’, P.Muldoon for B.Smith 57’, K.Óg Lynch for O.McDermott 61’
Referee: Pat Clarke