By: Mary Dunne
Tullamore Court Hotel Senior B Football Championship Final
Tullamore: 1-13
Ballinagar: 2-8
With a very strong second half showing Tullamore had to withstand a late onslaught to collect the Senior B Football Title at the expense of a gutted Ballinagar side following an enthralling encounter on Saturday afternoon last in Glenisk O’Connor Park, Tullamore.
It is fair to say this is a massive win for Tullamore who came up against the favourites in Ballinagar in what was a thrilling encounter as Tullamore who are so hard to beat in finals continued their brilliant run of fortunes when it comes to final deciders.
This was a cracking game from the off and like the Senior B Championship all year it has been a case of the gift that keeps on giving and it came right down to the wire as expected. We have witnessed so many good games at this grade this year and the final didn’t disappoint either.
Ballinagar have to be commended for not throwing in the towel. The game was slipping away from them and they kept going and it weren’t take far off pulling it out of the fire and while they will naturally be extremely disappointed and heartbroken, there is no doubt that their time will come.
Tullamore put in a massive second half shift and dominated it for twenty minutes. They had player show really stepped up to the mark and in particular a special mention has to go to Tom Furlong, Peter Fox and Jay Sheerin who when they needed leaders they were on top of their game.
Tullamore now effectively have two teams that are eligible to play top flight football, but with a bye law in the county, they will remain at Senior and Senior B for 2027, while Bracknagh as a result despite losing their relegation battle with Durrow will be able to remain at senior level for 2027.
Many will say it is not the final that was predicted and there is plenty of basis for thinking that. The group games were extremely enjoyable, but it did look like there were two teams who were that bit further ahead namely Ballinagar and Daingean.
With saying that, that is by no means taking away from the other clubs who contributed to a very enjoyable campaign since the first ball was thrown in, in July and on Saturday, both teams who took to the field were there on merit and it certainly had the makings of a great game.
Two clubs coming from totally different contrasting fortunes, one being rural the other urban, but not only that we have two clubs who have been on the top of their game for the past number of years and it is now about pushing it that slight bit further.
Ballinagar who have without doubt been the inform team for the past number of years have made amazing inroads since they came from Junior football a mere four years ago. They are a club who certainly are on the cusp of a wave and Saturday they aimed to overturn their final defeat to Clara with avengeance and make that step up to top flight football for the first time since the 1890’s.
Tullamore who overcame a fancied Daingean side in the semi final certainly proved the point that a game is never over until the final whistle. On the day it was Peter Fox who sealed the win with a monstrous two pointer that really was kicked with nerves of steel.
For Tullamore, they too certainly are a club who are flying. They have lorded a lot of what is happening at club football level across both underage and adult and to reach Senior B final in the space of year having collected the Intermediate Title in 2025 is testament to this.
Saturday’s game was always going to be a close, tense affair and from the throw in signs of this were evident with both sides loving a running game.
It is something that Ballinagar have been very good at and with the half back line in particular dominating a lot of the direction of their games before the final, but one thing is for sure they met their match with Tullamore, who to a very much accustomed with moving the ball fast from the back.
It was Tullamore who played with the aid of the wind in the opening half but it was Ballinagar who took the game’s opening score thanks to Jacob Beatty on the fourth minute.
Shane Dooley who celebrated his 40th Birthday on Saturday, levelled matters sixty seconds later with a free and then with a second free from the same player.
Robbie Gallagher has he had been all year was Ballinagar’s man target man up front and with his first of four for the half, he levelled matters nine minutes in.
It was then Tullamore started to get a lot more out of their movements and with Tom Furlong certainly they play maker, he landed a score of his own on the 10th, before Shane Dooley hit over this time from play, to give Tullamore a two point cushion, 0-4 to 0-2 twelve in.
Once again Robbie Gallagher was on the mark for Ballinagar and with two on the trot, he levelled up matters at 0-4 each on the 17th minute.
Ben Connolly edged Tullamore ahead two minutes later and then they attacked and it came with the best possible outcome for the Blues.
Aaron Gorman had the ball in midfield but somehow lost it and with a lovely move between Ben Connolly and Tom Furlong, Furlong left it on a plate for Shane Dooley who made no hesitation in hitting the net and Tullamore led 1-5 to 0-4 with twenty three played.
In reality Tullamore really should have pushed on from there. They had ample amounts of possession, but they were extremely wasteful in front of goal and one thing you don’t give Ballinagar is a gap to expose you and that is exactly what they did.
Robbie Gallagher brought it back to a three point game and then with thirty minutes on the clock the same player attacked again.
Donnacha Keoghan did well to tighten the angle but with the Ballinagar number 14 using the upright brilliantly he landed the ball to the net and with that the sides were level 1-5 each at the break and a game all to play for.
The second half certainly was a tight affair with neither side giving an inch and a lot of uncharacteristic mistakes started to creep in on both sides.
It was Tullamore who had the opening score of the restart with Shane Dooley edging them in front, but with a fine score from Morgan Tynan the sides were level again at 1-6 each and thirty seven played.
The scoring was few and far between and it was Peter Fox who had Tullamore edged in front again on the 38th minute and remarkably we had to wait until the 46th minute to see the next score.
It was Tom Furlong again who started the move for Tullamore and with a lovely end to end move with him, Ryan Sheerin and Patrick Fahey, they paved the way for Jay Sheerin to point and hit Tullamore two clear 1-8 to 1-6.
Jay Sheerin added a second to his tally and it was from there that Tullamore pushed on more and more. They really came into their own and they didn’t allow Ballinagar to get into any rhythm at all.
Tullamore hit the next four scores on the bounce from Peter Fox (2), Ryan Sheerin and Tom Furlong and they suddenly found themselves with a seven point lead 1-13 to 1-6 with fifty five on the clock.
But this game was a far cry from being over and Ballinagar certainly pushed hard in the final ten odd minutes.
Morgan Tynan and Ryan Strong reduced the gap to five, 1-13 to 1-8 by the 57th minute and then with a moment of magic Conor Bracken hit the net and in the blink of an eye we had a two point game, 1-13 to 2-8.
It was frantic to say the least from there as Ballinagar hunted for the goal to win, or the two pointer to bring it to a replay, but in the end it was Tullamore who held on and took home the Title. The final scores reading 1-13 to 2-8.
The Scorers
Tullamore: Shane Dooley 1-4 (0-2 Frees), Peter Fox 0-3, Jay Sheerin 0-2, Tom Furlong 0-2, Ben Connolly 0-1, Ryan Sheerin 0-1.
Ballinagar: Robbie Gallagher 1-4, Conor Bracken 1-0, Jacob Beatty 0-1, Morgan Tynan 0-2 (0-1 Free), Ryan Strong 0-1.
The Teams
Tullamore: Donnacha Keoghan; Jake Moore, Dylan Hensey, Shane Enright (Capt.); Jack Daly, Kevin O’Brien, Patrick Fahey; Jay Sheerin, Shane Horkan; Tom Furlong, Ryan Sheerin, Martin Keogh; Peter Fox, Shane Dooley, Ben Connolly.
Subs: Paul McConway for Jack Daly (37 mins), Daire Foley for Kevin O’Brien (49 mins), Dan Fox for Ben Connolly (49 mins), Sean Afolabi Joseph for Martin Keogh (49 mins).
Ballinagar: Ryan Kinahan; Kevin Beirne, Declan Crombie, Oissinne Troy; Adam Joyce, Brian Malone, Jack Gorry (Capt.); Aaron Gorman, Alex Cuddy; Adam Mangan, Morgan Tynan, Conor Bracken; Jacob Beatty, Robbie Gallagher, Jamie Ballesty.
Subs: Adam Strong for Alex Cuddy (34 mins), Diarmuid Finneran for Kevin Beirne (36 mins), Ryan Strong for Jamie Ballesty (38 mins), Jack Sheil for Jacob Beatty (46 mins).
Referee: Eamon O’Connor (Ballycommon).
By Offaly Secretary Sat 26th Sep
