Division 2 League Final: Disappointment for Ballinlough/Inny Gaels

Ballinlough/Inny Gaels quest for glory was dismantled by two goals in quick succession five minutes from the end of this Division 2 minor league final in Pairc Tailteann on Sunday.

St. Finian’s……………………   ...3-8
Ballinlough/Inny Gaels………...1-9

For 55 minutes this contest was delicately poised with both sets of forwards holding sway over their prospective markers, but the dominance of the St. Finian’s midfield for the majority of the second half eventually paid dividends as their forwards capitilised on an over worked defense to register the deciding scores.

It was the North Meath outfit who made the brighter start with their forward line utilising their scoring opportunities with some excellent point taking. Mark Mc Cullen was proving an effective target man as David Lynch, Niall Farrelly, Jonathon O’ Reilly, Sean Geraghty and Oisin Kiernan were all on target in a productive period to give their side a 0-6 to 0-1 lead after 13 minutes.

However as the half wore on the St. Finian’s started to collect most of the breaking ball around midfield and their forward line started to create some good openings and indeed they could have had at least two goals but for the brilliance of goalkeeper Darragh Geraghty. Oisin Kiernan stretched the lead after 24 minutes before Coran Byrne replied to leave the Ballinlough/St. Brigids/Moylagh amalgamation 0-7 to 0-3 ahead at the switch of ends.

It was St. Finian’s who made the better start to the second half registering the first four scores, two Francis Doran points were followed by a Coran Byrne goal and then Gavin Mullen punched over to put two points between the teams, 1-6 to 0-7, after 44 minutes. But by this stage the Ballinlough/Inny Gaels management team had made a couple of astute switches most notably bringing Mark Mc Cullen and Ryan Tighe to midfield. Lively attacker David Lynch set-up Mark Mc Cullen for a point and then a minute later Lynch lofted over from 30 meters to level it, 0-9 to 1-6, after 46 minutes. The North Meath outfit was beginning to profit from their graft at midfield and they received a major boost in the 51st when Mark Mc Cullen found the net, to leave it 1-9 to 1-6. However a subsequent injury, which curtailed the number 14’s involvement, was to prove fatal and the goal proved to be their last score.

Thomas Raleigh got the scoreboard moving for St. Finian’s with a nice point and then with five minutes remaining Adam Gannon turned his marker before supplying Ryan Keenan who blasted to the net to put his side ahead; 2-7 to 1-9. The Longwood/Kildalkey/Ballivor combination sensed glory and when Gavin Mullen received the ball in space he rounded his marker and finished expertly to the bottom of the net to give his side a four point advantage. Sean Sherdian concluded the scoring with an injury time free as the St. Finian’s contingent celebrated a memorable victory.

Ballinlough/Inny Gaels: D. Geraghty, L. Galligan, E. Smith, A. Skelly, J. O’ Reilly (0-1), R. Tighe, S. Grall, T. Mc Cullen, N. Farrelly (0-1), O. Kiernan (0-2, 1f), S. Geraghty (0-1), C. Hannon, J. Tunney, M. Mc Cullen (1-1), D. Lynch (0-3, 1f). Subs: M. Geraghty for Tunney and S. Gilsenan for Galligan



Semi Final (03/05/10): Ballinlough/Inny Gaels 5-4 St. Peter, Dunboyne 3-8