By: Mary Dunne
Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship Group 2 Round 1
Ballycommon: 1-12
Clonbullogue: 1-12
A sensational two pointer from County Star Keith O’Neill deep in injury time saw Clonbullogue earn a very precious draw at the expense of Ballycommon on Sunday evening last.
In a game that could have swung either way, it was a very keenly contested affair and one that was always going to come down to very fine margins.
Ballycommon looked to have it in the bag. They had regrouped brilliantly from a thirty eight minute goal also from Keith O’Neill to lead by two with sixty one minutes played, but Clonbullogue didn’t panic and when Oisin Dempsey won the ball he got it to the correct man.
It was a sensational kick from the outside of his right foot and it earned Clonbullogue a share of the spoils and left the group with two draws on the opening weekend, with Bracknagh and Clara also drawing earlier in the day.
Ballycommon certainly will feel that they should have won this game. They lorded a lot of the possession in the latter stages of the second half, but their final shooting let them down way too often and we all know too well that a two point lead is living dangerously in the modern game.
Clonbullogue came into the 2026 season on the bag of a horrible year in 2025. They suffered an awful lot of injuries last year, but they have regrouped brilliantly and it was vitally important for them to have a good start on Sunday.
While it was exciting and it went right down to the wire, the game itself was sloppy at times especially in the opening half, but the second half certainly came to life, with both sides creating better scoring chances and while it could have probably went either way, they will both gladly take the draw.
The breeze wasn’t as much as a factor in this game as it was in a lot of the games over the weekend. Whatever factor of wind that came into it, it favoured the visitors in the opening half, but it was the home side who took the opening score fifteen seconds in when Chris Kenny pointed.
Gareth Mann extended their lead to two by the 7th minute with a free, before a foul on Ruairi O’Neill saw his brother Keith step up to score Clonbullogue’s opener. The scores reading 0-2 to 0-1 with nine minutes played.
Stephen Conneely was instrumental for Ballycommon. He won vital ball throughout the hour, and he also stepped up with a score on the 10th minute to stretch Ballycommon’s lead.
Conor Dunne brought the scores to 0-4 to 0-1 by the 12th minute, before Keith O’Neill hit over the opening two pointer of the game from a free, and the gap was back to one, 0-4 to 0-3 with fourteen played.
It was certainly tight in the opening half and by the 15th minute the sides were level thanks to Tommie Dempsey, but Brian Todd was hot on his heels to edge Ballycommon marginally in front by the 18th minute.
Daryl Quinn hit over a nice score on the 20th minute, but it was Ballycommon who had the final say of the half with a fine score from Gareth Mann to leave the faintest of margins between the sides. The scores reading 0-6 to 0-5 at the break.
On the resumption, Clonbullogue were fired up and by the 41st minute they had turned the game on its head.
Jack McEvoy pointed early to draw the side’s level and then with thirty eight on the clock the county players Jack McEvoy and Keith O’Neill took on the Ballycommon defence after being set up by Tommie Dempsey initially and making no mistake Keith O’Neill finished brilliantly as expected.
Clonbullogue now led by three 1-6 to 0-6 and with a following up ’45 from Keith O’Neill after a goal bound shot from Eoghan Kinsella was block well.
Clonbullogue really should have pushed on from there, but they allowed Ballycommon to regroup. Tom Mealiffe hit over a wonderful two pointer and then somewhat against the run of play Chris Kenny found a chink to hit the back of the Clonbullogue net. Ballycommon back in front 1-8 to 1-7 with forty six played.
Keith O’Neill levelled matters again with a free, before a brace of scores from Gareth Mann left two between the sides 1-10 to 1-8 with fifty one on the clock.
It was end to end stuff now and the lead wasn’t set to last again and with the games third two pointer Daryl Quinn had the sides deadlocked again, 1-10 each.
There was very fine margins in it now. David Dempsey edged Ballycommon back in front on the 53rd minute and with another score from Gareth Mann a minute into injury time, it looked certain Ballycommon had sealed the win, 1-12 to 1-10.
With time still on the clock Clonbullogue attacked and it looked certain that Ballycommon had the measure of it, but a misguided pass landed right to Keith O’Neill and with no hesitation he rose the orange two pointer flag with a magnificent kick.
It was the final action and the sides shared the spoils. The final scores reading 1-12 each.
The Scorers
Ballycommon: Chris Kenny 1-1, Gareth Mann 0-4 (0-1 Free), Tom Mealiffe 0-2 (TP), Conor Dunne 0-2, Brian Todd 0-1 (Free), David Dempsey 0-1, Stephen Conneely 0-1.
Clonbullogue: Keith O’Neill 1-7 (0-2 TPF, 0-2 TP, 0-1 ‘45), Daryl Quinn 0-3 (0-2 TP), Jack McEvoy 0-1 Tommie Dempsey 0-1.
The Teams
Ballycommon: Robert Conneely; Matthew Dempsey, Aidan Bracken, Zach Wright; Jack Kenny, Karl Dunne, Brian Todd; David Dempsey, Tom Mealiffe (Capt.); Paul Conway, Gareth Mann, Stephen Conneely; Conor Dunne, Chris Kenny, Daniel Scally.
Sub: Sean Conway for Daniel Scally (33 mins).
Clonbullogue: Cian Corcoran; Sean Moran, Peter Bennett, David Dempsey; Harry Judge, Ryan Dempsey, Ian Curry; Lee Dempsey, Jack McEvoy; Eoghan Kinsella, Daryl Quinn, Ronan O’Neill; Ruairi O’Neill, Keith O’Neill, Tommie Dempsey.
Sub: Oisin Dempsey for Tommie Dempsey (57 mins).
Referee: Chris Dwyer (Clara).
By Offaly Secretary Sun 5th Jul
