Offaly-based Ballingar put an end to what has been a dream journey for Dunsany in 2024 on Sunday afternoon in the final of the Leinster Club Junior FC at Pairc Tailteann. After a sluggish start, Dunsany never looked like troubling the Offaly Intermediate champions and the men from Tullamore were good value for their seven-point victory. It brings the curtain down on a fine year for Kevin Cahill’s men who followed up their Meath JFC final victory with an impressive run in this competition.
Dunsany were slow out of the blocks and the men from Offaly sprinted to an 11-point lead after only 22 minutes. Dunsany really struggled to get any sort of momentum particularly in the middle third. On the flank, Ballingar captain Geordi O’Meara was proving to be a handful, securing 1-2 in the first half. As too was full forward Robbie Gallagher. Gallagher was constantly breaking tackles and making good progress on the ball in Dunsany territory. Ironically, Gallagher is the grandson of Dick Mee from Trim, who won an All-Ireland with Meath in 1954.
It wasn’t until the closing stages of the first-half, that Dunsany really settled into the contest. Kevin Cahill’s lads rattled off the final three points of the first-half to reduce Ballingar’s lead back to eight at the break. Once again, Eoin Harkin was at the forefront of Dunsany’s successful attacks and he secured three out of Dunsany’s four points in the opening 30 minutes.
Dunsany came out in the second half with more intent and did create a lot more opportunities for themselves. However, they were lacking in the scoring department and 10 wides in the second half told its own story. Ballingar had two goal opportunities in the final ten minutes to rub salt into the wounds, but these chances went array for the Offaly men. Ultimately Ballingar cruised to victory and ended Dunsany’s hopes of winning the Sean Eiffe Cup.
Full match report and reaction available in this week's copy of the Meath Chronicle.
Ballingar – Ryan Kinahan; Jack Gorry, Diarmuid Finneran, Declan Crombie; Adam Joyce, Brian Malone, Aaron Gorman; Adam Strong, Morgan Tynan (0-2); Geordi O’Meara (1-5, three frees, one 45’) Conor McGuinness (0-1), Jack Shiel; Conor Bracken, Robbie Gallagher, Stephen Dwane (1-1, one free). Subs – Jamie Ballesty for Dwane 34m, Eoin McGuiness for Malone 47m, Jacob Beatty for C McGuinness 60m, Dean Pierce for Bracken 62m.
Dunsany – Niall Flynn; Alexander Smyth, Gavin Byrne, Pauraic Byrne; Cian O’Sullivan, Harry Cahill, Decan Smyth; Shane Brennan, James Cahill; Mark Horan (0-1), Eoin Harkin (0-6), Lorcan Byrne; Luke Horan, Kris Gorman, Jack Cottrell (0-1) Subs – Cathal Bourke for G Byrne 14m, Cathal Murphy for Brennan, Alex Brady for L Horan both HT.