Ballinlough 3-0-17 (26) Kilmainham 2-02-10 (20)

Ballinlough and Kilmainham met on a dry but cool Tuesday evening, exactly one week to the day from the original fixture, and it was a poignant start as both sides and spectators paused for a minutes silence before throw in to remember one of Kilmainhams finest Declan Black who passed away recently.

The home side started the game at a blistering pace hitting a goal in the first minute before following up with a lovely two pointer from play three minutes later.

Ballinlough responded well with a point from Sean Tunney and an early goal chance for the returning Darren O’Higgins in the sixth minute.

Kilmainham hit back with a pointed free in the 11th minute before Sean Tunney added his second this time from the placed ball off his trusty left boot.

Points for Brandon Brunton and Daire Shine lowered the deficit but Kilmainham responded well again with a point from play in the 15th minute.

Sean Tunney was single handily keeping Ballinlough in it with his accuracy in the opening period as he sent over another tidy point, but some of his team-mates couldn’t match his scoring rate with a number of balls dropped short before Daire Shine finally made one stick in the 18th minute to leave one point between the sides.

The same Shine leveled the sides three minutes later following good work from Eoin Briody to win the free, but Kilmainham were gifted a second goal in the 22nd minute when the evergreen Mickey Newmans shot took a heavy deflection, wrong footing the Ballinlough keeper and giving the home side their three point lead back.

That score was followed up in similar fashion to their first by another excellent two point score from play, while Ballinlough albeit battling a breeze of sorts, were struggling to kill the ball never mind get it over the bar as more chances were dropped into the waiting keepers hands.

Another point for the home side stretched their lead out to six in the 24th minute, before Ballinlough finally made something count as Darren O’Higgins fired to the net in 25th minute, Lorcan Maguire providing the perfect low ball in for the sharpshooter to latch onto before rifling to the net.

From that score Daire Shine played a lovely ball into Mark McCullen who showed a great pair of hands before offloading to Harry Ryan and he fired over from close range in the 27th minute to leave just two between then.

Kilmainham did finish the half stronger with a point from play before a pointed free just before the whistle, so when Referee Seamus O’Connor blew the half time whistle Ballinlough trailed by four on a scoreline of 1-08 to Kilmainhams 2-09.

From the restart Ballinlough supporters had their heads in their hands as yet another ball was dropped short from an attacking position, but they had cause to cheer seconds later as an interception in defense saw the ball worked swiftly forward and with Substitute Declan Galligan playing an intricate ball into Darren O’Higgins, he shifted the ball into the open Mark McCullen who blasted to the net in the 35th minute to reduce the gap back to one again.

I lost count of the number of balls dropped short by Ballinlough tonight and if they can rectify that before the next day they will notch up some scoring, but for tonight it was causing a major issue.

Down the other end Kilmainham were having no such problems and cancelled out that Ballinlough goal with three points from play by the 41st minute, the last of which coming after a minor scuffle which threatened to spill over, but Referee Seamie O’Connor cooled proceedings by flashing two yellow cards to the men from either side who were most fired up by the altercation!

But Ballinlough were playing more comfortable football now and after good movement from some of their younger players Sean Tunney fired over in the 42nd minute.

Some in Ballinlough will certainly be wondering how high up the table we might be if we had the services of Darren O’Higgins for the duration of the League, but while the starlet missed out on plenty of football due to County Hurling commitments, he wasn’t slow in settling back in as he fired to the net once again in the 44th minute to level the sides once more.

A Kilmainham point from play edged them back in front but Ballinlough tails were up now, with Brandon Brunton and Harry Ryan both converting good scores, whilst at the back good defensive pressure ensured the home side couldn’t add too easily to their tally.

A fine score from Oisin McDermott following good work from Brandon Brunton put two points between the sides, and following some fluttering with the scoreboard where points were disappearing from Ballinlough and Kilmainham gaining a ghost point or two, Referee Seamie O’Connor halted play to politely, but sternly, ask for the messing to stop and the correct score was promptly displayed !!

Ballinlough extended their lead to three points when Harry Ryan fired over in the 53rd minute and he was to repeat the dose with the next play as he sent over another fine effort a moment later to leave Ballinlough leading by four points.

Kilmainham did respond with a pointed free in the 57th minute, but it was Ballinlough who finished more confidently with pointed frees from Daire Shine and the impressive Sean Tunney, before Harry Ryan put the tin hat on the victory with an excellent point in the 64th minute.

With that score Referee Seamus O’Connor blew the full time whistle, Ballinlough taking their first win of the campaign after some near misses, on a scoreline of 3-17 to Kilmainhans 2-14.

While that win won’t change much on the table, it will provide a welcome boost to Ballinlough as we edge closer to Championship football in just a few short weeks time.

A massive thank you to the Kilmainham club for the lovely tea and biscuits afterwards, a simple gesture that should be replicated in every club in the county.

Ballinlough Team: S.McDermott, C.Lynch, R.Farrell, C.Rennicks, H.Ryan (0-05),L.Maguire, C.Fleming, E.Briody, O.McDermott (0-01), B.Brunton (0-02), D.Shine (0-04(2f)), J.Connell, D.O’Higgins (2-00), M.McCullen (1-00), S.Tunney (0-05(2f))

Subs: D.Galligan for E.Briody 33’, A.Gibney for C.Lynch 48’

Referee: Seamus O’Connor

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