Despite this league success, consistency was proving elusive in the first couple of years of intermediate football, Shane Mc Entee drafted in as team manager in 1991 and a sense of belief was once again starting to develop within the squad. The group stages were successfully negotiated and Simonstown were defeated in the quarter-final, a clear sign of intent was issued when championship favorites Dunboyne were toppled in the semi-final. St. Patrick’s provided the opposition in an epic final, despite falling behind early-on Ballinlough recovered to win by the narrowest of margins 1-8 to 0-10, the wheel had turned full circle. A battle hardened outfit was evolving and a senior semi-final was reached in 1993, eventual winners Navan O’ Mahony’s proved too strong on front of a large crowd in Kells.
In 1996 the Division 2 A-League title was attained after St. Patrick’s were defeated in Walterstown. The following year Ballinlough defeated many of the counties top teams as they weaved their way in to the Division 1 A-League final against Simonstown Gaels. Pairc Tailteann was the venue on a wet and windy November day as Ballinlough prevailed by 0-9 to 0-6. |