JFC final: Brave Ballinlough fall short

Curraha's Conor O'Farrell with Tom Shine Ballinlough during the JFC final at Simonstown

Ballinlough 1-01-10(15) Curraha 3-00-15 (24)

Ballinlough and Curraha met in a pristine Simonstown on Friday night and great credit must be given to the host club who had the place looking immaculate with plenty of stewards and facilities in top order.

When the ball was thrown in Curraha started fastest with a point and a crucial goal inside the opening three minutes but Ballinlough who had plenty of the ball early on, finally made it stick on the scoreboard as Seanie Geraghty fired over in the fourth minute.

A Curraha point from play was cancelled out when an excellent driving run from Darren O’Higgins saw Tom Shine slot over before Curraha hit a purple patch notching three scores without reply to leave them leading by six points with 14 minutes played.

Ballinlough responded ever so well though with the excellent Oisin McDermott to the fore, as he nailed a 45’ and seconds later he struck beautifully for a two point free for Ballinlough after Jack Connell was felled.

A point from play and a converted free for Curraha extended their lead back to five points but Ballinlough were boosted when another driving run from Darren O’Higgins saw the ball offloaded to Kit Óg Lynch and he fired to the net from close range to make it a two point game.

A Curraha free in the 25th minute left one score between the sides but the game was to be turned on its head in a matter of seconds as Brandon Brunton saw his goal chance denied and following a period of play the game was stopped as Referee Ian Dowdell went in to speak to his Umpires about something.

Nobody in the ground seemed quite sure what was going on but Dowdell marched the length of the field and flashed the red card at Ballinlough’s Darren O’Higgins on the advice of his umpires for an alleged off the ball incident.

To add salt to the wound Ballinlough were denied a clear penalty in the 29th minute when Conor Fleming was hacked down which should have resulted in a black card and a penalty but Ballinlough had to make do with a 45’ which Oisin McDermott duly sent over.

A point for Curraha in the 31st minute was canceled out when Daire Shine converted for Ballinlough, so when Referee Ian Dowdell blew the half time whistle Ballinlough trailed by three on a scoreline of 1-07 to Curraha’s 1-10.

Upon the restart Ballinlough came out like men possessed and when Oisin McDermott and Mark McCullen combined, Harry Ryan was the benefactor as he fired over in the opening seconds of the second half.

A glorious goal chance went abegging for Ballinlough when Kit Óg Lynch just couldn’t get enough purchase on the ball to direct it goal wards, but a point from Daire Shine seconds later left just a point between the sides.

From there though Curraha took control of proceedings and with the extra man they caused damage to the Ballinlough rearguard hitting 1-02 without reply by the 43rd minute.

A Tom Shine free in the 45th minute from the trickiest of angles reduced the deficit and Ferghal Gibney left four points between the sides with a well taken score in the 50th minute.

Another goal chance for Ballinlough was left behind in the 52nd minute when Harry Ryan bore down on goal and while Kit Óg Lynch was ahead of him but static, Ryan took the right decision to take the shot on himself only to be denied by an excellent save from the Curraha net minder.

With that Curraha found a new lease of life and rattled off a further 1-03 to put this game to bed with Harry Ryan adding a late consolation point for Ballinlough in the 62nd minute.

Colm Finlay said before the game that the bet of the day was Curraha -9 and and a nine point victory is want they ended up with, but this was by no means a nine point defeat as the men from Ballinlough stood up and despite serious obstacles put in their way they pushed Curraha to the pin of their collars and who knows on another day the Peter McDermott Cup could have being heading for North Meath.

As a club we couldn’t be prouder of the lads for the effort they gave all year round, the commitment and resilience they showed while all the odds were against them, we couldn’t have asked for more and we know this group of fine men will bounce back and go onto bigger and greater things.

For Curraha we would like to wish them well done and we sincerely hope they go on now and live up to the favourites tag of Leinster Champions elect, we will be shouting for ye and hope you do Meath football proud. 

Ballinlough team: Senan McDermott, Conor Fleming, Ferghal Gibney (0-01), Conor Rennicks, Jack Connell, Oisin McDermott (0-04, one 2ptF, two 45’)), Sean Geraghty (0-01), Mark McCullen, Eoin Briody, Brandon Brunton, Daire Shine (0-02), Darren O’Higgins, Harry Ryan (0-02), Tom Shine (0-02(1f)), Kit Óg Lynch (1-00)

Subs: Luke Harte for Brandon Brunton H/T, Robbie Farrell for Conor Rennicks 34’, Mick Geraghty for Mark McCullen 48’

Referee: Ian Dowdall