GAA Game of the Week: Ballinlough lose out to high-scoring Saints

SUSAN FARRELL

Ballinlough put in a battling display but lost out 1-6 to 3-6 to St Colmcille's in the the Reserve Cup Div 2 Cup final at Ballinlough over the weekend.

Ballinlough welcomed St.Colmcille's to their home base but the visitors showed no signs of jet lag having made the long trip to north Meath as they opened the scoring with a well taken goal in the third minute.

The ball was worked swiftly and accurately through the hands before being finished to the net. That score was followed up by two points to extend their lead to five points before Ballinlough finally got on the scoreboard in the ninth minute with Niall Farrelly firing over from a free.

A second score from the home side came from Mark McCullen as Jamie Casserly played a lovely ball in his direction, but just as Ballinlough were gaining a foothold in the game, the young Seasiders kicked into gear again and waltzed their way through the Ballinlough defence to hit the back of the net again in the 15th minute.

Indeed they could have had a third goal to their haul shortly after only for the reflexes of Mattie Farrelly in the Ballinlough net who saved from point blank range to deny the Colmcille's effort.

Unfortunately for Ballinlough while their defence was beginning to get to grips with their opposite numbers, the forward unit were struggling to make the ball stick at the other end, sending the ball wide on a couple of occasions.

An excellent Mark McCullen pointed free from distance gave Ballinlough their third point of the game, but it was St Colmcille's who took the last score of the half when they pointed from play in the 29th minute.

So when referee Peter O’Halloran blew the half time whistle Ballinlough trailed by those two early goals on a score line of 0-3 to St.Colmcille's 2-3.

Following the restart Ballinlough, with the introduction of a number of substitutes, attempted to up the intensity and they did get the first score of the half when Niall Farrelly was accurate from the placed ball in the 35th minute.

However St.Colmcille's hit back with two quick points from play and then the sucker punch when they hit the net for the third time in the 41st minute, Mattie Farrelly pulling off a fine save initially but unfortunately he was found lacking help for the rebound as the ball was tipped to the net from close range to extend the visitors lead to ten points.

That goal seemed to finally draw a reaction from what had being a lacklustre Ballinlough performance up to that point, and Séan Tunney led the charge with two pointed frees by the 45th minute to reduce the deficit.

Ballinlough should have clawed back the gap even further moments later when great work from Mark McCullen saw him play the ball across the face of the goal, but Conor Fleming opted to collect the ball rather than palm it to the net, allowing the Colmcille's rearguard to get their defensive line together to deny the shot.

That chance was a sign of things to come though as Ballinlough rallied again and were rewarded for some great team work as McCullen was released and made no mistake from close range, his goal lowering the gap down to five points in the 50th minute.

The work rate and intensity from Ballinlough in the final stages of this game cannot be questioned as they hassled and harried for every ball, putting the St Colmcille's defence under severe pressure.

A close range free for McCullen saw him aim low for goal but the ball thumped off the crossbar in the 51st minute, and even though he managed to get in on goal twice more subsequently, both times his effort hit the side netting much to the chagrin of the Ballinlough faithful.

After those few minutes of madness around the goalmouth the St Colmcille's lads finally found an out ball and on the counter attack they added a final point to their tally in the 54th minute.

That score seemed to knock the wind out of Ballinlough sails and try as they might to create scoring chances, the men in blue sensed they had done enough with a healthy six point lead and marshaled their lines admirably to see the game out. So when referee O’Halloran blew the full time whistle St.Colmcilless were deserving winners.

After the final whistle there was a bittersweet moment that puts all things into perspective as both teams gathered for the presentation of the Greg Hogge Memorial Cup and Greg's father said some lovely words before he handed the Cup over to the St Colmcille'ss captain.

It’s a credit to both Greg’s family and the Bective club to have their son honoured and remembered with such a fitting tribute for a great Gael.

Ballinlough - M.Farrelly, B.Jordan, H.Briody, F.McDonnell, J.Lynch, L.Maguire, N.McDonnell, P.Byrne, E.Briody, L.Finnegan, N.Farrelly(0-2(2f)), J.Reilly, N.Reilly, M.McCullen(1-2(1f)), J.Casserly. Subs - K Óg Lynch for N.Reilly, S.Tunney(0-2(2f)) for J.Reilly H/T, M.Farrell for N.McDonnell H/T, J.Connell for F.McDonnell H/T, C.Fleming for J.Casserly 38’, J.Smith for N.Farrelly 38’, R.McGuinness for L.Finnegan 45’, K.McGuinness for M.Farrelly 50.