Ballinrobe 0-12
Kilmaine 1-7
Report by Mike Finnerty
Southern Comfort
THE romance of sport will mean precious little in the
this week after last Sunday’s County U-21 Final.
At St. Coman’s Park, Hollymount, having led for fifty-eight minutes,
Kilmaine suddenly found themselves behind as the match ticked into
injury-time. Then it was over and Ballinrobe were champions.
Just like that.
In stifling heat this was a match of intrigue. There were spectacular
scores, a missed penalty, mistakes, plenty of honest effort and some
wonderous individual performances. Michéal Keane, Ballinrobe’s
spring-heeled full-forward, was a popular choice for the man-of-the match
but this was a game and a title that was not won by individuals. It was won
by sheer character, determination and belief.
As the game ticked towards its 53rd minute, Kilmaine’s assured full-forward
Andrew Casey strolled away from a long-range free that he had just dropped
over the black-spot. Kilmaine led by 1-7 to 0-8 and the Gods seemed to be
willing them home.
Then they lost their way.
Ballinrobe had been clinging to their neighbours coat-tails for so long
that their knuckles must have been grazed. From the moment the ball was
thrown-in, Kilmaine looked sure-footed and powerful. Nobody epitomised this
more than Andrew Casey. He had gunned 1-3 by half-time, the goal a
wonderfully taken effort from close range after the ball spilled into his
lap. He was kicking for flags irrespective of angles and distance. He
looked sharp.
Outside him, Pat Kelly and Alan Burke constituted a midfield partnership as
mobile as they were informed. Hardly a ball was wasted in the quest for
scores.
When Casey’s shot rippled the net on 17 minutes Kilmaine had opened up a
1-4 to 0-2 lead. Up on the terraces, 2,000 souls moved a little uneasily.
Ballinrobe’s Keith McTigue had already seen his penalty-kick saved in the
10th minute. The finely-balanced final was unfolding into a procession.
Sensing the trend, Ballinrobe threw Alan Murphy into the fray and they
suddenly found their stride. The impish corner-forward took some of the
attention away from Michéal Keane and the attack spread its wings.
Murphy arced over two points from 35 yards in the space of two minutes and
Ballinrobe were buzzing. With Michéal Keane enjoying the game of his life,
Kilmaine’s defence creaked and swung open. Just enough time for their
tormentor to muscle his way through and pop over another score. At
half-time: 1-4 to 0-5 and the move was on.
Andrew Casey needed just three minutes of the second half before he
shrugged his shoulders and drilled another point after Alan Burke, who was
outstanding, had been the provider. At the other end, Alan Murphy and
Michéal Keane combined for the latter to spin away from his man and reply
instantly.
Keane found freedom again four minutes later and the gap had been sliced to
the minimum. Now it was Ballinrobe that were attacking in waves. Anthony
O’Toole, David Colleran, Sean Grimes and Harry Murphy were all pouring
forward as Padraig Costello, Paul Finnerty and Ruairí Keane endeavoured to
mind the house. Keane’s marking job on Brian Maloney was suffocating.
His brother was enjoying himself at the other end also.
Fittingly, Alan Murphy, straining every muscle and sinew in the process,
levelled the match in the 47th minute. The crowd roared their approval as
the teams swung for home. Murphy punched the air – after he had got his
breath back.
Then Paul Doherty fired over an inspirational point for Kilmaine before
Casey’s free, after a string of misses, looked like settling the issue once
and for all. Two points between them.
A minute later, another substitute Ronan Macken, stepped into the breach.
He will never kick a more important point in his life and the fact that it
clipped the post served to heighten the drama. It kick-started the
avalanche.
Michéal Keane levelled the match once more after 57 minutes and then, for
only the second time in the game, Ballinrobe got their noses in front. Mark
Walkin stabbing over a free after Alan Murphy had been fouled.
In injury-time things became blurred. Kilmaine’s Joey Maloney shot wide
from a narrow angle as the goalmouth beckoned; Michéal Keane ran the ball
into the corner before it reappeared in front of the posts and Sean Grimes
hammered over the final point three minutes into stoppage-time.
The final whistle came soon after.
Ballinrobe: P. Tiernan; P. Costello, P. Finnerty, A. O’Toole; C. Killeen,
R. Keane, D. Colleran; S. Grimes (0-1), H. Murphy (0-1); L. Butler, A.
Golden, M. Walkin; K. Feerick, M. Keane (0-3), K. McTigue. Subs: A. Murphy
(0-3) for Feerick; R. Macken for
Kilmaine: E. O’Loughlin; J. Donnellan, J. McDonagh, D. McDonagh; K. Coyne,
M. O’Brien, D. Murphy; P. Kelly, A. Burke; C. Maloney, B. Maloney, D. Kyne;
D. Heneghan, A. Casey (1-5), P. Doherty (0-1). Subs: D. O’Dea for Murphy;
J. Maloney for Kyne.
Referee: V. Neary (Bonniconlon)
