Tullamore Court Hotel Junior ‘B’ Football Championship final
Tullamore 1-9
Ballyfore 1-8
With legendary Tullamore and Offaly goalkeeper Martin Furlong home from New York and among the attendance, the Blues’ third string put the disappointment of scoring just once in the first half when favoured by a strong wind behind them to inflict a gut-wrenching defeat on Ballyfore, who were seeking their first title since 2018 when they defeated Tubber after a replay.
Ultimately, Tullamore’s stronger bench told as they made amends for last year’s final loss to Shamrocks – after a replay – and kept the club’s quest for a clean sweep of U14, U16, Minor, Senior, Senior ‘B’ and Junior ‘B’ Championships very much alive.
The winners looked to be in serious trouble when they trailed by 0-2 to 0-5 at half-time after failing abysmally to make use of the elements. Their only score in the opening half was a two-pointer from wing back Alex Sheridan and Ballyfore appeared to have one hand on the cup thanks in no small part to the accuracy of Josh Perry from frees.
But whatever the Tullamore management team of Ian Sullivan, Keelan Galvin, Willie Cronly, Johnno Kinahan, Conor Lambe and Matthew Keegan said in the dressing-room during the interval had the desired effect as the team was completely rejuvenated in the second half. They outscored Ballyfore by 1-7 to 1-3 against the elements, culminating in Cosgrove’s 62nd minute winning free after referee Chris Joslin had correctly awarded a free for a breach on the advice of linesman Eric Martin.
It was a cruel way for Ballyfore to lose after substitute Niall Spain’s equalising goal in the final minute of normal time had looked to have earned them a replay. But there was still time for one last twist in Tullamore’s favour.
With both sides sporting their alternative colours (Tullamore were in all-white and Ballyfore wore blue and green), Thomas Furey’s charges opened the scoring through Bobby McDonnell in the third minute after Ben Whelehan set him up. Alex Sheridan’s two-pointer three minutes later saw the lead change hands, but Tullamore wouldn’t score again until the second minute of the second half as Ballyfore took control.
Perry punished Tullamore indiscipline at the back by slotting over four frees between the ninth and 21st minutes, all of which were from inside the 30-metre line. The winners were almost gifted a goal when goalkeeper Cain Brereton dropped Diarmuid Egan’s shot from distance, but the ball was scrambled away for a ’45 which Brereton’s opposite number, Brendan Deering, sent wide.
Tullamore resumed with the first of four second half frees from Pa Cosgrove before half-time substitute Cody Hensey announced himself with a huge point into the wind. A Josh Perry two-point free put Ballyfore four up for the first time in the 38th minute before Cosgrove (free) and Perry (with his only point from play) traded scores.
By now, however, Tullamore were beginning to take a grip at midfield and they regained parity in the 52nd minute when substitutes Keith White and Alex Rooney combined for the latter to finish to the net from close range. White gave them the lead for the first time in almost 45 minutes before Cosgrove converted another free and then blazed over after Cain Brereton had saved Killian Wynne’s initial shot.
Trailing by three points with time running out, Ballyfore needed a goal and they got it when Dinny Evans’ shot was saved by Brendan Deering, and Spain was on hand to finish the rebound to the net. But Cosgrove – and Tullamore – had the final say as they celebrated another championship success.
MATCH ANALYSIS
THE SCORERS
Tullamore: Pa Cosgrove (4fs) 0-5, Alex Rooney 1-0, Alex Sheridan (2pter) 0-2, Cody Hensey and Keith White 0-1 each.
Ballyfore: Josh Perry (4fs, 2ptf) 0-7, Niall Spain 1-0, Bobby McDonnell 0-1.
THE TEAMS
Tullamore: Brendan Deering; Eoghain Spain, William Cronly, Aaron Pierce; Devon Henchy-Gragnic, Owen Power (captain), Alex Sheridan; Dean Carroll, Kevin Leavy; Evan Fitzpatrick, Killian Wynne, Louis Aubin; Mark Hayes, Pa Cosgrove, Diarmuid Egan. Subs: Cody Hensey for Power (half-time), Alex Rooney for Carroll (36 min), Keith White for Egan (44 min), Eoghan Geoghegan for Spain (52 min), Dean Carroll for Hayes (55 min).
Ballyfore: Cain Brereton; Seanie Coffey, Shane Ryan, Gavin Conlon; Sean Larkin, Mark Whelehan, Craig Mangan; Ben Whelehan, Josh Perry (captain); Seamus Perry, Dinny Evans, Luke Behan; Tadhg McBride, Aaron Mangan, Bobby McDonnell. Subs: Stevie Osborne for McBride (36 min), Ross Mangan for Larkin (41 min), Niall Spain for Behan (50 min).
Referee – Chris Joslin (Daingean).
By Offaly Secretary Sat 10th Oct
