Overdue win for Bective in tight A FL Div 4 final

Bective produced a battling performance on their way to victory in the A FL Div 4 final against this year's JFC title-winners Ballivor at Dunsany on Sunday. Bective were worthy winners of a game that ignited slowly and finished in a welter of excitement with Bective substitute Brian Kearns scoring two late points following his introduction with only seven minutes remaining. Bective's grip on the trophy was strengthened midway through the second-half when referee Gerry Skelly, who had a good game, brandished a straight red card to Ballivor's Sean Heavey following an off-the-ball exchange only yards from where the Oldcastle official was standing. What was even more surprising about the dismissal was the fact that scarcely a minute earlier Heavey received a yellow card. Then there was a heated debate over the direction of a sideline ball and with no official linesmen on duty this was understandable, although regrettable. Ballivor claimed it was their ball, but it clearly wasn't and the subsequent red card certainly contributed to Ballivor's inability to add another trophy to their haul for 2011. The defeat will hardly do too much to inspire any great degree of confidence ahead on this weekend's opening game in the Leinster Club JFC away to Laois side Spink at Crettyard next Sunday, 2.30. Ballivor were also without the injured Mairtin and Derek Doran while Tony Fox was also an absentee and some of the more prominent players who started didn't perform to their full potential. However, take nothing away from Bective's victory. Ian Kearney's charges rounded of a very successful year and this victory provided some compensation for the disappointment of failing to qualify for the knock-out stages of the JFC on scoring difference and losing the Tailteann Cup final to Kilmainham. The opening half was a fairly low-key affair with Bective adrift by 0-4 to 0-5 at the interval against wind-assisted Ballivor. The teams managed nine scores and nine wides, with Bective faring worse in that department with five. Paul McCabe had Bective ahead after four minutes, but Fergus McMahon replied instantly at the other end. The respective top scorers then traded frees with Marty Mulhall on target for Bective, an effort that was cancelled by Adam Gannon. Ballivor dominated the remainder of the opening quarter with Clayton Keegan and Gannon (free) on target before Brian Cantwell left the minimum in it. A barren spell on the scoreboard was broken close to the interval when Gannon and Mulhall again exchanged points from frees. Mulhall managed his only score from play 38 seconds into the second-half when he drew the sides level for the third time. With goalkeeper Shane Breslin handling well under some high balls, Bective began to take control and points from Ciaran McConnell, Jack Grant and a long-range free from Mulhall gave them a 0-8 to 0-5 advantage. Reviving points from Heavey and Gannon got Ballivor moving again, but Bective substitute Ruairi Russell was on target. After Heavey saw red McCabe split the posts for Bective, but substitute Calvin Ryan was an instant success when he finished to the net for Ballivor with 12 minutes remaining. Ballivor were unable to hold out against a spirited Bective surge that produced a Mulhall point followed by that precious brace from Kearns. Bective - S Breslin; B Malone, G Brennan, C Barry; J Brennan, C McConnell (0-1), C Roche; C Reilly, M O'Brien; P McCabe (0-2), B Cantwell (0-1), J Davis; P Lyness, J Grant (0-1), M Mulhall (0-5). Subs - R Russell (0-1) for Grant 44 mins, B Gaffney for Reilly 40m, B Kearns (0-2) for Davis 53m. Ballivor - K McKeown; D Raleigh, B McLaughlin, S Corrigan; T Raleigh, S Heavey (0-1), C Canavan; B Perry, N Kirby; R Sherrock, J McLaughlin, P Geoghegan; F McMahon (0-1), C Keegan (0-1), A Gannon (0-6 five frees). Subs - C Ryan (1-0) for McMahon 46 mins, P Kelly for Sherrock 47m, K Kelly for T Raleigh 59m. Referee - Gerry Skelly (Oldcastle).