Ballinlough 1-14 Clann na nGael 3-09

Ballinlough and Clann na nGael met on a gorgeous Tuesday evening in Ballinlough for Round 7 of the Meath All County A’League and it was the home side and birthday boy Harry Ryan who kicked off the scoring with a pointed free in the first minute before patient play allowed Mick Geraghty to add a second for the Lough two minutes later.

The visitors opened their account in the fourth minute with a point from play but Ballinlough had started brightly and Mick Geraghty doubled his tally with a well taken point from a tight angle in the sixth minute.

Clann na nGael added a free a moment later to leave just a point between the sides and they could have put their noses in front with a goal chance shortly after only to be denied expertly by Mattie Farrelly in the Ballinlough net. They did however begin to exert more control on the game, winning the midfield battles and 90% of the breaking ball to set up attack after attack, adding three points to their score tally by the 15th minute to leave them leading by two points despite Ballinlough’s good opening period.

A Harry Ryan free in the 17th minute was Ballinlough’s first score for over ten minutes but the next couple of minutes were dominated by the visitors as they hit two Majors in quick succession, Ballinlough guilty of losing possession easily in the middle of the field and with the Clann na nGael wing backs attacking at pace repeatedly it was only a matter of time before the shaky Ballinlough rearguard were breached significantly with two goals in two minutes the outcome by the 20th minute.

The home side were lucky to add a goal of their own in the 22nd minute when Harry Ryan floated a free into the square and amongst the mad scramble, the ball somehow ended up crossing the goal line, I don’t think any Ballinlough attacker can actually claim credit for it as it appeared to come off a Clann na nGael man last, but it mattered not as the goal stood and Ballinlough got themselves back into the game.

Two further points from Clann na nGael by the 28th minute saw them leading by six but Ballinlough finished the half strongly with points from Oisin McDermott and Eoin Briody reducing the gap to four, so when Referee Gerry Skelly blew the half time whistle the scoreboard read Ballinlough 1-06 to Clann na nGaels 2-07.

The second half started brightly for both sides with Colm Mallen having an early goal chance denied before Mattie Farrelly was called into action to repel a Clann na nGael attack in the 32nd minute.

Early points were traded with Clann na nGael pointing from the placed ball while Collie Mallen added one for Ballinlough from play.

The home side were playing with much more vigour now and they had a wonderful goal chance following an excellent team move that saw the ball come back off the crossbar in the 36th minute.

Another chance presented itself after great work from Conor Fleming who played the ball onto the onrushing Mick Geraghty, and so many times the ball has ended in the back of the net from that position but unfortunately tonight Micks effort blazed agonisingly wide of the post in the 38th minute.

With plenty of possession and opportunities it was disappointing that Ballinlough did not make it count on the scoreboard and the next score of the game came in the 41st minute with a free for Clann na nGael. Yet another goal chance for Ballinlough in the 42nd minute was fired over the bar from Declan Galligan to leave the gap remaining at four points.

But Ballinlough were playing much better football now and creating plenty of attacking chances causing the Clann na nGael rearguard to panic a bit and concede the fouls, two of which Harry Ryan dispatched over the bar with ease by the 49th minute to leave it a one score game.

A massive chance for Ballinlough to take the lead came in the 50th minute when Ronzer McGuinness was fouled in the square and with Referee Gerry Skelly pointing to the spot up stepped Harry Ryan.

Unfortunately his spot kick was hit directly at the keeper who parried the ball away from danger but a Ballinlough score did come when Conor Fleming pointed in the 52nd minute.

In a great show of maturity Ryan shook off the disappointment of missing the penalty kick and added a super point from play in the 53rd minute to level the sides, and another free followed by an even better point from play for Ryan gave Ballinlough a two point lead in the 59th minute.

All Ballinlough had to do was see this game out with whatever time was remaining on Referee Gerry Skelly’s watch but there was time for one last Clann na nGael attack. Perhaps Ballinlough minds had switched off abit but the ease that Clann na nGael worked the ball forward at such a late stage of the game was worrying, and when the ball was played across the face of goal you just knew it was only going to end up in one place, a vital last gasp goal to give Clann na nGael the victory in what was a topsy-turvy game from start to finish.

So after allowing the visitors to dominate the first half, then working their way back into the game and reclaiming the lead, Ballinlough were left to rue some wasted chances as victory was snatched from the jaws of defeat for Clann na nGael on a scoreline of Ballinlough 1-14 to Clann na nGaels 3-09.

Ballinlough Team: M.Farrelly, J.Connell, R.Farrell, B.Smith, J.Lynch, L.Maguire, D.Caffrey, M.Geraghty (0-02), T.McCullen, E.Briody (0-01), O.McDermott (0-01), D.Galligan (0-01), H.Ryan (0-07(5f)), C.Mallen (0-01), C.Fleming (0-01)

Subs: R.McGuinness for J.Lynch H/T

Referee: Gerry Skelly

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