IFC final preview: Very little separating Ballinabrackey and Ballinlough
October 04, 2014
Two young players hoping to leave their mark on the Intermediate Football Championship final, Ballinlough's Johnnie Reilly and Michael Kearney Ballinabrackey
The Battle of the B's. A final not many pundits would have predicted last Spring. Numerous similarities here. Two clubs squeezed in by neighbouring counties. Both started their championship campaign slowly but have gained amazing momentum in recent months. The Bracks have never tasted senior while Ballinlough have spent a fair bit of their life span in the top ranks. But history will be thrown out the window on Sunday evening. Each likes to defend and counter attack with speed. Much will depend who comes out on top of the midfield minefield. And it will be interesting to see how county players past and present, like the Bracks pairing of Chris O'Connor and Damien Carroll fare against the Red's star Peadar Byrne in the head-to-head encounter.
Both teams came third in their group and were lucky to advance to the knockout stages. Ballinabrackey finished with three wins and two losses in Group A. Their final group game against Longwood was a winner take all game. Ballinlough scraped out of Group B on score difference. Their nine point winning margin over Syddan in the final group game was enough to see them edge out Trim for a place in the preliminary quarter final.
Path to the final.
Round 1
Ballinabrackey 2-9 Kilmainham 0-10
Ballinlough 0-9 St Colmcilles 2-8
Round 2
Ballinabrackey 0-8 Castletown 2-12
Ballinlough 2-7 Drumbaragh 2-15
Round 3
Ballinabrackey 0-8 Dunderry 0-10
Ballinlough 2-15 Nobber 0-12
Round 4
Ballinabrackey 0-10 St Michaels 0-7
Ballinlough 0-10 Trim 0-10
Round 5
Ballinabrackey 0-11 Longwood 1-7
Ballinlough 1-18 Syddan 2-8
Preliminary Quarter final
Ballinlough 1-12 Clann Na nGael 0-6
Quarter Final
Ballinabrackey 2-13 Ballivor 0-8
Ballinlough 1-12 Dunderry 0-11
Semi Final
Ballinabrackey 1-11 Ratoath 1-10
Ballinlough 2-14 Castletown 2-12
Ballinabrackey Key Players: Derek Flynn, Kevin Darby, Nicky Judge, Damien Carroll, Chris O'Connor, Andrew Munnelly, Trevor Bannon and Danny Quinn.
Ballinlough Key Players: Benji Smith, Padraig Muldoon, Lorcan Maguire, Colm Mallen, Peadar Byrne, Seanie Geraghty, Cian Mallen and Kevin Devine.
The fixture
Sunday October 5th
IFC final Ballinabrackey V Ballinlough 16.00 Páirc Tailteann Padraic Coyle
As for a prediction? Will be accused of bias or gamesmanship one way or the other! So how about a draw!
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