By; Mary Dunne
Tullamore Court Hotel Senior B Football Championship Round 5
Ballinagar: 2-15
Cappincur: 2-8
An extremely impressive and dominant second half performance saw an already qualified Ballinagar cement their authority on the Senior B Football Championship when they came from five behind to run home with a comfortable seven point victory.
Played in Geashill on Friday evening last, the game was very much poised in Cappincur’s favour at the half time break and the side who needed to win, certainly looked to be a very commanding position following a very good opening half performance.
Ballinagar struggled to cope with the intensity of their opponents in the opening half and missing two, two pointer frees just before the break very much left the game in Cappincur’s hands.
But it was a totally different ball game in the second half with Ballinagar running riot in what was an exceptionally good showing and they will now face off against Tubber in the semi finals in two weeks’ time.
They came out like a totally different team. Their fitness levels are second to none and with Brian Malone, Jack Gorry and Adam Joyce leading the charge from the back they rained down some brilliant ball for the forwards who stole the show in the second half.
Cappincur and Eoin Carroll in particular tried everything they had in the second half, but they just had no response and they now will have to face off against Ballycumber in a relegation showdown in a bid to save their Senior B status for 2027.
Cappincur were very worthy of their half time lead having played some very good football. Ciaran Farrell opened the scoring inside five minutes with a score from play after they had be awarded an indirect free following a very hefty clash between Alex Cuddy and Sean Graham.
Jacob Beatty levelled up matters with a free after a foul on Jack Sheil, but with a fine two pointer from Peter Norris, Cappincur were back in front 0-3 to 0-1 with eight on the clock.
A superbly struck two pointer free from Robbie Gallagher drew the sides level a minute later, but that is when Cappincur started to play some really good football and it wasn’t long until they were ahead again.
Sean Courtney pointed them in front on the 12th minute following some lovely play between Hubert Healion and Brian Norris and it wasn’t long until they were on the attack again.
Ger Treacy stole a march on the defence and with a genuine goal scoring opportunity stopped, the penalty was correctly awarded by match referee Chris Dwyer.
Up stepped the same player Ger Treacy and making no mistake he slotted the ball coolly past Ryan Kinahan, to give Cappincur a four point cushion 1-4 to 0-3 with fourteen on the clock.
Eoin Carroll hit over a fine score to add to the lead and it was Ballinagar who now needed a score and what a return it was.
Jack Sheil overturned a Cappincur clearance and making a great run, he pulled the Cappincur defence out and with Robbie Gallagher slotted in and with a cracking shot he rattled the net and with that it was a two point game, 1-5 to 1-3.
Cappincur were rattled but in fairness they regrouped well. Ger Treacy was on point with a fine score and then with another great move Brian Norris and Jason Gethings worked with well for their corner back Ollie Hayes who was never tracked to crash the ball the net. Cappincur 2-16 to 1-3 clear with twenty two played.
Ballinagar did have the final say of the half, with a nice score from Aaron Gorman but it was Cappincur who were in the driving seat, leading 2-6 to 1-4 at the interval.
The second half from a Ballinagar point of view was second to none. They came out with immense intent and vigor and they simply blew Cappincur apart.
From the 31st minute to the 58th when Cappincur finally got their opening score of the second half, they were unstoppable. Ballinagar in that time scored a staggering eleven points without reply and that in itself was the tale of the half.
The blend of football they played was right out of the top drawer and once they got the lead on Cappincur they ran riot and show absolute no mercy.
Adam Mangan started the revival and with three more scores on the bounce from Alex Cuddy, Adam Joyce and a two pointer from Robbie Gallagher, the sides were deadlocked 1-9 to 2-6 with forty three on the clock.
Jamie Ballesty hit them in from on the 46th minute and it was a lead they never lost and thanks to follow up scores from Robbie Gallagher (3), Adam Strong and Morgan Tynan, Ballinagar led 1-15 to 2-6 with fifty seven played.
It looked like Cappincur were going to fail to score in the second half but finally on the 58th minute a free from Peter Norris saw them record their seventh point.
The same player Peter Norris added another free in injury time, but it was Ballinagar who sealed the win with a terrific goal from Conor Bracken, to bring the final scores to 2-15 to 2-8.
The Scorers
Ballinagar: Robbie Gallagher 1-7 (0-2 TP, 0-2 TPF 0-1 Advanced Mark, Conor Bracken 1-0, Jacob Beatty 0-1 (Free), Aaron Gorman 0-1, Adam Mangan 0-1, Alex Cuddy 0-1, Adam Joyce 0-1, Jamie Ballesty 0-1, Adam Strong 0-1, Morgan Tynan 0-1 (Free).
Cappincur: Ger Treacy 1-1 (1-0 Penalty), Peter Norris 0-4 (0-2 TP, 0-2 Frees) Ollie Hayes 1-0, Ciaran Farrell 0-1, Sean Courtney 0-1, Eoin Carroll 0-1.
The Teams
Ballinagar: Ryan Kinahan; Kevin Beirne, Declan Crombie, Evan Gorman; Jack Gorry (Capt.), Brian Malone, Adam Joyce; Aaron Gorman, Alex Cuddy; Craig Strong, Jack Sheil, Adam Mangan; Jacob Beatty, Robbie Gallagher, Jamie Ballesty.
Subs: Conor Bracken for Jacob Beatty (36 mins), Oissinne Troy for Craig Strong (36 mins), Adam Strong for Jack Sheil (47 mins), Morgan Tynan for Jamie Ballesty (55 mins), Sean Cuskelly (for Adam Mangan (58 mins).
Cappincur: Peter Daly; Ollie Hayes, Darragh Norris, Hubert Healion; Brion Carroll, Diarmuid Carroll, Sean Graham; Eoin Carroll (Capt.), Adam Galvin; Ciaran Farrell, Sean Courtney, Brian Norris; Ger Treacy, Jason Gethings, Peter Norris.
Subs: Igor Daly for Sean Graham (inj. 41 mins), Michael Fitzgerald for Ciaran Farrell (54 mins).
Referee: Chris Dwyer (Clara).
By Offaly Secretary Sat 29th Aug
