Ballinagore became the first ever Westmeath club football side to win a provincial championship when they recorded a dramatic 0-9 to 0-7 extra-time victory over Grangenolvan of Kildare in the Leinster junior championship final last Saturday, November 19. The success was easily Ballinagore's finest hour and hopes are high that their wonderful odyssey will continue when they meet the Connacht champions in the All-Ireland semi-final on January 29. Last Saturday's victory was just reward for the grit and determination they showed throughout the contest. Trailing by 0-2 to 0-5 at the interval, the Brosnasider looked to be in serious trouble, but with county star Michael Ennis leading by example, they battled back to draw level on 0-7 each and force extra-time. Scoring chances were at a premium in the additional 20 minutes, but Ballinagore showed the greater resolve and secured a historic victory courtesy of points from teenage sensation James Durkan and the excellent Ennis, who finished as top-scorer with 0-6 to his credit. "It's a great win and we are over the moon about it," said a delighted Ballinagore club secretary Martin McCann. "We came back today, after being dead on our feet for the first 20 minutes. They seemed to have everything going their way but we dug in and we were going to have to up the tempo if we were to win it. We did that from there to the finish." McCann paid tribute to goalkeeper Paddy Maloney, whose vital save just before half-time kept the Westmeath side in contention. "Paddy brought off a brilliant save which literally kept us in the game. That's Paddy, he's been doing that all year for us, saving us in a lot of games. But in the second half, Louis Ennis was superb at full back, playing his man from the front. "He did exceptionally well and Peter Heraty, our centre back, really got into it later in the game." Tweet

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