By: Kevin Corrigan
Tullamore Court Hotel Senior “B” Football Championship Round 1
Ballinagar 2-23
Tubber 1-12
Last year’s beaten finalists looked in good health but made hard work of it for a good while as a stretched Tubber side dug deep, fought with everything and hung in as long as humanely possible. They were only 1-13 to 1-11 behind in the 46th minute after former county star Ciaran McManus, now near 50, turned the clock back with a sensational two point free into the wind a few minutes after being introduced as a sub.
Morgan Tynan cancelled that out with a two point free to make it 1-15 to 1-11 heading into the closing ten minutes and the wheels came off for Tubber late on as Ballinagar opened the floodgates. They had begun to turn the screw at midfield throughout the second half and became utterly dominant late on as they outscored Tubber by 1-8 to 0-1 from the 50th minute to the final whistle, Aaron Gorman netting the goal in the 63rd minute.
The score line was hard on Tubber but there was no disputing Ballinagar’s superiority and the merit of their win. Even when Tubber were alive, Ballinagar always looked like they had more in reserve and it is a win that sets them up very nicely for the season.
It was a mixed performance at times and they had a rocky patch just after the third quarter when Tubber were on the ropes but they struggled to put them away.
The home side, however, were in a very strong position when they went in level at half time, 1-6 each after playing against the wind.
A stunning 19th minute goal from Lee Colgan gave Tubber a 1-3 to 0-4 lead but Ballinagar struck for their own goal of real quality in the 26th minute, Jamie Ballesty driving a great shot to the roof of the net to put them 1-5 to 1-4 ahead.
A great two pointer from Eoin Murphy levelled it up at 1-6 each at half time but Ballinagar very much had the initiative and it was theirs to lose.
Tubber fought hard in the second half. They got ahead with a Bernard Allen free and were still ahead, 1-9 to 1-8 after 39 minutes. It had the potential to be a sobering evening for Ballinagar at this stage but they finally clicked into top gear after this. Playing fine attacking football, Robbie Gallagher, Adam Mangan (free), Morgan Tynan (free) and Brian Malone (2 pointer) all scored as they grabbed a 1-13 to 1-9 lead.
That Ciaran McManus two pointer kept Tubber in it but by the time Eoin Murphy got their next point in injury time, it was well and truly out of reach. A well struck Morgan Tynan two point free got Ballinagar going, Robbie Gallagher got a single free and then his own two point one to put Ballinagar 1-18 to 1-11 up with five minutes left and their youth and fitness showed as they pulled out of sight after this.
MATCH STATISTICS
THE SCORERS
Ballinagar: Morgan Tynan 0-8 (1 x 2pf, 4f), Robbie Gallagher 0-6 (1 x 2pf, 1f), Adam Mangan 0-4 (2f), Aaron Gorman and Jamie Ballesty 1-0 each, Brian Malone (2p) and Ryan Strong 0-2 each, Adam Joyce 0-1.
Tubber: Bernard Allen 0-5 (1 x 2p and 1f), Eoin Murphy (1 x 2p) 0-4 each, Lee Colgan 1-0, Ciaran McManus 0-2 (2pf), Sean Farrell 0-1.
THE TEAMS
BALLINAGAR: Steven Dwane; Kevin O’Beirne, Declan Crombie, Oisin Troy; Jack Gorry, Brian Malone, Adam Joyce; Aaron Gorman, Adam Strong; Jamie Ballesty, Morgan Tynan, Craig Strong; Conor Bracken, Robbie Gallagher, Adam Mangan. Subs – Ryan Strong for Adam Strong (41m), Eibheann Gorman for O’Beirne (57m).
TUBBER: James Langan; Hugh Murphy, Ciaran Allen, Nigel Farrell; David Fallon, Patrick Farrell, Adam Fox; Enda McLoughlin, Ciaran Kinahan; Eoin Murphy, Padraig McLoughlin, Ciaran McGuinness; Lee Colgan, Bernard Allen, Sean Farrell. Subs – Ciaran McManus for Colgan (37m), Ronan Farrell for Kinahan (53m), Colm Donnellan for McGuinness (56m).
Referee – Marius Stones, Clara.
STATISTICS
Wides: Ballinagar – 9 (5 in first half); Tubber – 5 (4 in first half).Yellow cards: Ballinagar – 2 (Morgan Tynan and Conor Bracken); Tubber – 1 (Ciaran McGuinness).
Black cards: 0
Red cards: 0
By Offaly Secretary Sat 4th Jul
