Ballinlough 1-09 Clann na nGael 1-12

Ballinlough and Clann na nGael met on a pitch perfect Kilmainham on Sunday morning for this early start in the Junior Football Championship Semi-Final, and the preparations in both camps couldn’t have being more different, Clann na nGael coming off the back of a four week lay-off whilst Ballinlough were facing their third major Championship game in seven days between both football and hurling.

Before a score was even on the board Ballinlough were dealt a massive blow when the influential Tommy McCullen was lost to injury in the second minute, forcing a reshuffle of the Ballinlough deck early on. Early points were traded with Clann na nGael pointing in the fourth minute before Ballinlough hit back with Harry Ryan splitting the posts a moment later.

An excellent sideline point from Tom Shine in the tenth minute gave Ballinlough the lead and Seanie Geraghty put two between the sides before a well worked Clann na nGael attack resulted in a point for them in the 12th minute.

That score was built on with two further points from play for the Rathcairn men by the 15th minute to give them the lead.

Ballinlough had a great goal chance in the 19th minute when Mark McCullen collected the ball and held off his man, but Daire Shine was unfortunate to see his goal effort blaze wide of the posts.

With the level of games played in recent times it was understandable that Clann na nGael might have looked the fitter of the two teams and thus was to be the case midway through the second half as they tagged on three further points to leave them leading by four in the 26th minute.

Credit to Ballinlough though after weathering that particular storm they came out fighting with Collie Mallen playing a perfect ball into the full forward line, Mark McCullen laying the ball off and dishing it out to Daire Shine and this time the young sharpshooter made no mistake as he rifled the ball to the net in the 29th minute to lower the deficit significantly.

There was still time for Clann na nGael to tag on a point from play in the 30th minute but Ballinlough matched that one when Tom Shine fielded expertly in the middle of the field before playing the ball onto Benji Smith and he fisted the ball over the bar in the 31st minute.

So when Referee Marcus O’Donnchú blew the half time whistle, Ballinlough trailed by the bare minimum on a scoreline of 1-04 to Clann na nGaels 0-08.

The second half started much like the first with Clann na nGael taking the opening score before a short Ballinlough kickout was worked to Robbie Farrell and he in turn played an excellent ball forward to Daire Shine who fired over to leave one between the sides in the 32nd minute.

There was a serious shift put in by the Ballinlough side as they hassled and harried for every single ball forcing turnover after turnover around the middle of the park, and from one of these balls the next attack was set up. With quick movement of the ball forward the ball was worked to Harry Ryan and while I think he was going for a point myself, the ball very narrowly avoided going under the bar, instead hitting the woodwork and bouncing away to safety in the 39th minute.

Despite Ballinlough having the majority of the ball the next score came from Clann na nGael when they pointed in the 43rd minute to put them two ahead. Tom Shine hit back with a point from a free in the 45th minute and there was another moment of consternation on the Ballinlough sideline shortly after when what looked like a clear free in for the men in Red wasn’t given but yet up the other end Clann na nGael were gifted a free of their own in the 47th minute to leave two points between the sides.

A Daire Shine point from play lowered the deficit and with Jack Connell putting in an outstanding display in defence Ballinlough were able to negate any Clann na nGael  threat that came their way, instead forcing the ball forward for the Lough men once more.

To say Ballinlough didn’t have chances to get themselves back into the game would be a lie, as first Tom Shine saw his free effort go wide before brother Daire was guilty of the same act a moment later in the 52nd minute… how Ballinlough could have desperately done with those points on the board.

Alas they were to rue those missed chances as Clann na nGael came up the field in the 54th minute, and while there might of being a suspicion of over-carrying, there was no doubt about the finish as Clann na nGael blasted the ball to the net from distance to give themselves a four point lead.

The gap stretched to five a minute later and Ballinlough suddenly had a mountain to climb.

With a clash of heads injury taking up a large chunk of time towards the end of the game Ballinlough knew there was still plenty of time to make something happen and Tom Shine pointed in the 62nd minute with a free.

That score was followed up by a point from Lorcan Maguire but try as they might Ballinlough couldn’t just engineer that one big goal chance to force the game into extra time.

So when Referee Marcus O’Donnchú blew the full time whistle it was Clann na nGael who advanced to the Final on a scoreline of 1-12 to Ballinlough’s 1-09.

A disappointing end to the year for the lads but after putting in a monumental effort to get this far they can be proud of their actions.

Next up is a Reserve Cup Semi-Final next Sunday in Ballinlough.

Ballinlough Team: O.McDermott, C.Fleming, J.Connell, R.Farrell, D.Caffrey, S.Geraghty(0-01), E.Briody, T.McCullen, L.Maguire(0-01), B.Smith(0-01), T.Shine(0-03(2f)), D.Galligan, M.McCullen, D.Shine(1-02)), H.Ryan(0-01)

Subs: C.Mallen for T.McCullen 02’, K.Óg Lynch for H.Ryan 49’, B.Brunton for C.Mallen 55’

Referee: Marcus O’Donnchú

Tweet

Most Read Stories