By: Mary Dunne
Tullamore Court Hotel Senior B Football Championship Round 3
Daingean: 7-12
Ballinagar: 3-10
With pole position in the group up for grabs it was no wonder a huge crowd flocked to see the meeting of the near neighbours Ballinagar and Daingean in Croghan on Friday evening last, but nobody could have envisaged what would unfold as Daingean set their stall in what turned out to be an unbelievable second half.
Ballinagar who came into the game on foot of two very impressive wins over Tubber and Ballycumber, looked extremely comfortable up to the half hour mark and certainly they were playing all the football, but two goals in the space of thirty seconds had Daingean right back in the game, but even at that it was hard to see what was about to unfold in the second half.
It was a goal fest to say the least. Daingean came out with a pep in their step having got the lifeline before the break, and in the second half they took over completely, outscoring Ballinagar by a staggering 5-8 to 1-4.
With a close encounter expected, this game was dubbed as being one of the clashes of the weekend and while at times it was close and interesting, it failed to live to the heights of what was anticipated.
With that said, there is no taking away from what Daingean done in this game. They knew at half time they had got back into the game and once they hit the front, they never looked back and with players like Cathal Ryan, Shane Tierney, Adam Bolger and Odhran Connolly, commanding the play and dominating the possession they never let Ballinagar back into the game.
Absolutely ruthless they hit Ballinagar time and time again in the jugular and as the goals started to flow, they just ran amuck and they now find themselves with one foot in the knockout stages even with two games to play.
For Ballinagar, it is not over, but this loss will certainly hit them every hard. After their two wins they looked very comfortable in their surroundings, but on Friday evening they were exposed on numerous occasions.
Their plight was not helped by a number of injuries they also picked up during the game, but they still do have plenty of time to regroup.
With four places up for grabs, there is no doubt that have the ability to bounce back, but their next two games against Tullamore and Cappincur are not going to be easy at all.
Daingean who also came into the game on foot of two big wins over Tullamore and Tubber would have fancied their chances against their neighbours, but for spells in the opening half, they did play second fiddle and they found it hard to get a footing on the game.
With that said Daingean, did start well and by the second minute they were 0-2 to no score in front thanks to Shane Tierney and Odhran Connolly.
Ballinagar were finding it hard to get on the board but finally with eight minutes played Robbie Gallagher landed a superbly struck two pointer free and with a follow up scores moments later from the same player the lead had switched hands.
Cormac Whittle who despite lining out a wing back loved to move up the field and with a nice score he drew the side’s level at 0-3 each twelve minutes in.
It was tit for tat but with fourteen minutes played Adam Mangan hit home the opening goal of the game and in the blink of an eye Ballinagar led 1-3 to 0-3.
Shane Tierney pulled a score back for Daingean, but there was more yet to come from Ballinagar who now were playing all the football.
With twenty three minutes on the clock Morgan Tynan took on the Daingean defence and with an absolute screamer to the top corner, he suddenly had Ballinagar five clear 2-3 to 0-4.
Ballinagar were on top everywhere now and with another two pointer free this time from Morgan Tynan and a follow up free from Adam Mangan, they were 2-6 to 0-4 ahead with twenty seven played.
Daingean were struggling to get their hands on any ball, but then out of nowhere a brilliantly worked move between Cathal Ryan and Sam Wright found Odhran Connolly on hand to flick the ball to the net.
There was more to come in what a frantic few seconds and just on the stroke of half time Cormac Whittle landed the ball to the net and with that the game was back to two points. Ballinagar with the edge at the break, 2-6 to 2-4.
On resumption Robbie Gallagher stretched the lead to three, but that’s when it all started to turn in Daingean’s favour.
A nice point from Aran Byrne started the Daingean comeback but they were always going to need goals, and boy did they come.
With unmerciful pressure on the Ballinagar defence, Daingean soon turned it into scores and with thirty three on the clock they had goal number three on the board.
Steven Dwane came under terrible pressure and was disposed by Cathal Ryan, who was duly hauled down. Chris Dwyer mad no hesitation in calling for a penalty.
Up stepped Shane Tierney to the mark and with a brilliant save Steven Dwane certainly did his best, but with no defence to help him in sight, Cathal Ryan blasted the rebound to the net and with that Daingean were in front 3-5 to 2-7.
Ballinagar did have a chance of two pointer but it went to the left and wide and with that Daingean went down the field with Shane Marsden hitting home goal number four and started a flurry of scoring for his side.
A follow up point from the same player brought the scores to 4-6 to 2-7, but with a massive two pointer Cathal Ryan, Ballinagar saw it all crumbling down around them.
On the kick out Daingean attacked again with Cormac Whittle bearing down on goal and with a neat pass to Shane Tierney, he sent home goal number five.
It was a goal fest to say the least and with forty six on the clock Ballinagar did claw one back when Robbie Gallagher netted after an initial shot from Jamie Ballesty was saved well by Conan Curley, to leave the scores reading 5-8 to 3-7.
There was still plenty of time for Ballinagar to come back, but Daingean simply didn’t allow them and by the forty eight minute Shane Tierney had his second goal. He had gone for a two pointer, but as it dropped off the goalie it went into the net rather than over the bar.
With fifty minutes on the clock Adam Bolger started off a brilliant move and with a one two between himself and Aran Byrne, Bolger hit home goal number seven to bring the scores to 7-8 to 3-7.
Everything Daingean touched was turning to goal. Shane Tierney scored from an advanced mark and with another score from Odhran Connolly the gap was a staggering fifteen points, 7-10 to 3-7.
Shane Tierney was on the mark again, this time with a two pointer brought the gap to seventeen, 7-12 to 3-7 with a minute of normal time to play.
Ballinagar did hit the last of the scores thanks to Robbie Gallagher – a two pointed free and a ’45, but it was Daingean who romped home at their ease The final scores reading 7-12 to 3-10.
The Scorers
Daingean: Shane Tierney 2-5 (0-2 TP, 0-1 Free, 0-1 Advanced Mark), Odhran Connolly 1-2, Cathal Ryan 1-2 (0-2 TP), Cormac Whittle 1-1, Shane Marsden 1-1, Adam Bolger 1-0, Aran Byrne 0-1.
Ballinagar: Robbie Gallagher 1-7 (0-4 TPF, 0-1 ‘45), Morgan Tynan 1-2 (0-2 TPF), Adam Mangan 1-1 (0-1 Free).
The Teams
Daingean: Conan Curley; Cathal McKnight, Ryan Conway, Finn McGuinness; Steven Joyce, Adam Bolger, Cormac Whittle; Sam Wright, Scott Milne; Aaron Longworth, Aran Byrne, Cathal Ryan; Shane Marsden, Odhran Connolly, Shane Tierney.
Subs: Cian Bracken for Aran Byrne (52 mins), Jaime Hayes for Scott Milne (52 mins).
Ballinagar: Steven Dwane; Kevin Beirne, Declan Crombie, Jack Gorry (Capt.); Oissíne Troy, Brian Malone, Adam Joyce; Aaron Gorman, Adam Strong; Adam Mangan, Conor Bracken, Craig Strong; Morgan Tynan, Robbie Gallagher, Jamie Ballesty.
Subs: Alex Cuddy for Adam Strong (inj. 8 mins), Ryan Strong for Declan Crombie (inj. 29 mins), Jacob Beatty for Craig Strong (42 mins), Evan Gorman for Ryan Strong (inj. 55 mins), Jack Sheil for Conor Bracken (inj. 57 mins).
Referee: Chris Dwyer (Clara).
By Offaly Secretary Fri 31st Jul
