Meath Hill 0-14 Ballinabrackey 1-16

Meath Hill welcomed Ballinabrackey to a damp, blustery Sunday morning semi-final with a coveted place in the JAFC final on the line. Despite a stunning individual display from veteran forward Mark Tully — both on and off the ball — the visitors finished strongest to book their spot against Slane.

Playing with the wind in the first half, Meath Hill flew out of the blocks. Tully lit up proceedings with an audacious two-pointer off the ground with the outside of the boot. Ballinabrackey responded instantly, but Tully, aided by the hard running of Shane McCabe and Colin Breslin, kept the Hill in front. The evergreen attacker was in sensational form, landing four two-pointers in the opening half as well as a free, tallying nine points before the break. Ballinabrackey, however, remained in touch through a steady flow of frees and added scores from play, punishing any defensive lapses. 

HT score: Meath Hill 0-11 Ballinabrackey 0-7

The Bracks came out firing in the second half, quickly reducing the deficit. Tully again steadied the Hill with a well-struck free, while goalkeeper Martin Tully produced a brilliant save onto the post to deny a certain goal. Later in the half, tempers threatened to boil over after a heavy challenge near the sideline sparked pushing and shoving between both sets of players. Just as the row looked ready to escalate, it was Tully who stepped in, putting himself between the groups, calming teammates, and ushering opponents back to their positions. His intervention defused the situation, earning applause from the crowd and praise from both sides for showing respect in the heat of battle.

Ian Malone chipped in with a score to lift the home crowd, but it proved to be Meath Hill’s final point of the contest. Ballinabrackey took full control in the closing stages, hitting 1-6 without reply to turn the game decisively in their favour. Despite Tully’s remarkable personal tally, fine display of football, and moments of leadership and respect, Ballinabrackey’s late surge proved too much, as they ran out five-point winners to seal their passage to the championship final.

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