Ballinlough 1-12
Ballinabrackey 1-9

Peader Byrne took the scoring plaudits as Ballinlough resisted a strong Ballinbrackey rally to claim the Meade Potato Company IFC title at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday.

Byrne capped an industrious hour with eight points, but it took a squad effort from Ballinlough to fend off a spirited Ballinbrackey side that trimmed an eight-point deficit to the minimum with just eight minutes remaining.

It's to Ballinlough's credit that they responded positively and closed in on their first IFC title since 1991 and claim possession of the Mattie McDonnell Cup, which honours one of their most illustrious clubmen.

Ballinlough looked to be coasting to victory heading into the final third of the hour. Then with Damien Carroll driving them forward from midfield Ballinabrackey rallied to set up an exciting finale.

Ballinlough were still four points to the good in the 52nd minute when Trevor Bannon flicked a Nicky Judge delivery to the net at the town end.

Suddenly, Ballinabrackey were just a point in arrears. Ballinlough responded well, conceding no further scores and copperfastening the outcome with Byrne's fourth pointed free which was followed another such score from Kevin Devine. The 'Lough rearguard stood firm as Aidan Coffey's men valiantly tried for force an equalizing goal.

Drizzle began to fall before action got underway. Playing into the town goal, Ballinlough were first to make an impression on the scoreboard with pointed frees from Kevin Devine and Peader Byrne.

Byrne's effort was from 45 metres, in fourth minute. Buoyed up by those scores the Lough continued to dominate. The Ballinlough number 8 landed his second free in the 10th minute just before posting the game's first score from play.

The board read 0-4 to 0-0 before Andrew Munnelly was wide with two point attempts in quick succession at the Commons Road end. Supporters from the south west corner of the county had something to cheer about in the 13th minute when midfielder Damien Carroll pointed.

Tommy McCullen became the third Ballinlough player to get off the mark as the game entered the second quarter when the board read 0-5 to 0-1.

Before the 20th minute was reached, Byrne had four points to his name. His fifth arrived in the 25th minute, at this juncture the former county senior was operating for a short spell at full-forward. That left it 0-7 to 0-3

Another one-time county senior got off the mark, Chris O'Connor, as Ballinabrackey halved the deficit by half-time when the team in red and white led by 0-7 to 0-5.

Less than a minute into the second-half Ronan McGuinness and Byrne combined before the latter placed Mark McCullen for the opening goal. Ballinlough's number eight brough his tally to 0-6 shortly after to leave it 1-8 to 0-5

When Byrne brought his tally to 0-7 with 37 minutes gone that was the difference between the sides, 1-9 to 0-5. Damien Carroll's efforts helped Ballinabrackey get the gap down to four points before the end of the third quarter.

Ballinlough - Keith McGuinness; Benji Smith, Pauric Muldoon (C), Robbie Farrell; Lorcan Maguire, Colm Mallon, Johnnie Reilly; Peader Byrne (0-8, 4fs), Derek Muldoon; Mark McCullen (1-0), Sean Geraghty (0-1), Cian Mallen; Ronan McGuinness, Tommy McCullen (0-1), Kevin Devine (0-1f). Subs - Simon Deevy for Derek Muldoon (35), Ken Rothwell (0-1) for Tommy McCullen (black card 53), Junior Reilly for Mark McCullen (53).

Ballinabrackey - Ger Crehan; Michael Kearney, Derek Flynn, Kevin Darby; Daire Kennedy, Nicky Judge, Pat Loftus; Damien Carroll (0-3, 1f), Chris O'Connor (C) (0-1); Seamus Curry (0-1 f), Andrew Munnelly (0-1), Trevor Bannon (1-0); Vinny Mooney, Danny Quinn (0-3, 1f), Evan Daly. Subs - Neville Brazil for Daly (36), David Thompson for Bannon (59).

Referee - Padraic Coyle (Seneschalstown)

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