Venue: Longwood
Opposition: Ballinabrackey
Competition: Junior A – Division B
Half Time: Ballivor 2-3 Ballinabrackey 0-5
Full Time Score: Ballivor 2-9 Ballinabrackey 1-11
Ballivor Team: C. Martin; M. Keogh; B. Perry; K. Kelly; R. Sherrock; B. McLaughlin; P. Ryan; P. Kelly; J. McLaughlin; T. Raleigh (0-1); C. Keegan (0-4); K. Canavan; C. Ryan; R. McKeon (1-3); A. Gannon (1-1) Subs: D. Raleigh for R. Sherrock; R. Massey for P. Ryan
Report:
Ballivor travelled to Longwood for the final game of Division B knowing that victory was needed to progress to the quarter finals of the Junior A Championship. Their opposition, Ballinabrackey were playing for the same prize – this was a ‘winner takes all’ match.
Ballivor started well with a good point from R. McKeon and Ballinabrackey soon drew level. Ballivor soon pulled ahead with a penalty by the same player after he was brought down in the box. As the half progressed, A. Gannon added an excellent goal and point to leave the half time score 2-3 to 5 pts in favour of Ballivor.
Ballivor were first out of the blocks in the second half with a good point from C. Keegan but Ballinabrackey were still battling hard and added a couple of points. Then they scored a goal to narrow the margin to just 2 points. C. Keegan and R. McKeon added a couple of valuable points for Ballivor in reply, but Ballinabrackey replied with 2 of their own. With 5 minutes to go Ballinabrackey had pegged ballivor back and the teams were equal 2-7 to 1-10. Then C. Keegan and T. Raleigh added 2 valuable points to go clear. A. Gannon worked his way through on goal but a very good last minute challenge prevented him from scoring. Ballinabrackey attacked and took a point – but this was the last kick of the game and Ballivor emerged victors by a single point. It was a fitting finale to what had been a highly competitive group and Ballivor have booked their place in the quarter finals.
While this was a very solid team performance, there were some performances throughout the park that stood out. C. Martin in goals made a telling save to stop a certain score. The entire back line of M. Keogh, B. Perry and K. Kelly were very solid throughout the game. The midfield of P. Kelly and J. McLaughlin controlled the game well. And in the forwards A. Gannon, R. McKeon and C. Keegan deserve a mention for their scoring and general strong play throughout.
