Ballyfin 2-7, Killeshin 0-9
A CLASH of colours meant the start of this game was delayed for 20 minutes, but the change to the red of Timahoe was to prove a lucky omen for Ballyfin. In fact not only had we the Timahoe red represented but also that of Man U and Liverpool.
But all that matters little to Ballyfin who find themselves in the MFC’B’ final after a very gutsy display against Killeshin. For much of the hour they found themselves playing catch-up but two final quarter goals eventually killed off a very resolute Killeshin outfit.
This game ebbed and flowed as Killeshin held the upper hand at the start of each half but on each occasion Ballyfin finished the stronger and in the end deserved their victory. And in fact the gap should have been greater at the end but for a missed penalty late in the game from John Joe McHugh.
Ballyfin opened the scoring in the third minute when Willie Phelan found the mark. But by the end of that opening quarter they found themselves two points in arrears thanks to scores from Philip Shanahan, Gavin Deering and Sean Brennan.
Scott Connolly narrowed the gap but this was cancelled out by Shane Coakley’s free. However by the break the sides were together as Connolly and Dermot McGill raised the green flag.
It was all to play for on the restart and by the end of the third quarter it looked as though Killeshin would be the team advancing to the final. First Sean Brennan, then Deering and Cathal Brennan landed points to give their side a three-point advantage.
But all that counted for nothing when McHugh rounded off a good move to slip the ball past Peter Ryan.
Connolly’s point gave Ballyfin the lead in the 47th minute but they were together again a minute later thanks to a Shanahan point.
In a thrilling climax Killeshin retook the lead in the 50th minute with a great point from Deering. But once again Ballyfin responded as Connolly yet again found the target. By the 53rd minute Ballyfin had their noses in front after McGill landed a point.
It was now end to end stuff as both sides created but fluffed opportunities, no more so than Ballyfin when Brennan was hauled to the ground by Ryan but McHugh drove his penalty shot to the left and wide.
Any doubt as to the final outcome was quashed when, in a goalmouth scramble, Sean Lowry managed to find the back of the net.
Ballyfin can now look forward to the final and will be hoping that they can once again showed the form and resilience that saw them through this encounter. In defence Colm Connolly, Ronan McGrath and John Joe McHugh impressed while Dermot McGill and Eoin Kearns won the battle of midfield. Up front they had lively forwards in Scott Connolly, Willie Phelan and Eddie O’Connor.
Killeshin will be bitterly disappointed at losing this game but can take heart in that there was little to choose between the sides. They were well served in defence by Gary Brennan, Ronan McGrath and Fiach Gaffney. Cathal Brennan battled hard in the middle of the field while up front the pick were Gavin Deering, Philip Shanahan and Sean Brennan.
Ballyfin: Barry Meades; Peter Lowry, Colm Connolly, Ronan McGrath; Alan Strong, John Joe McHugh (1-0), Eoin Dunphy; Dermot McGill (0-2), Eoin Kearns; Gary Dunne, Willie Phelan (0-1), Scott Connolly (0-4); Eddie Brennan, Paddy Kirwan, Eddie O’Connor. Sub: Sean Lowry (1-0) for E. Brennan.
Killeshin: Peter Ryan; Paddy O’Rourke, Gary Brennan, Paudge Fitzpatrick; Padraig Bolton, Daniel Bolton, Fiach Gaffney; Cathal Brennan (0-1), Barry Ryan; Paddy Fitzpatrick, Gavin Deering (0-3), Arnold Mahon; Shane Coakley (0-1), Philip Shanahan (0-2), Sean Brennan (0-2). Subs: Michael Brennan for P. Fitzpatrick, Nigel Dooley for B. Ryan.
Referee: Liam Territt.
