Ellistown face tough challenge in Ballinagar for Leinster Junior final

While Caragh will be doing their utmost to reach a Leinster final on Saturday at Intermediate grade, at the same time not too far away Kildare Junior champions, Ellistown, will be hoping to do a similar feat when they travel to The Faithful County of Offaly where they will take on their Junior counterparts, Ballinagar, a game that throws in at the same time — 1.30.

Ellistown came through what was, rightly or wrongly, perceived to be the weakest of the two groups in the Kildare JFC but after defeating Rheban 3-20 to 1-1; Ballykely 1-14 to 0-6; Robertstown 1-18 to 2-11 they went straight through to the semi-final and a date with Castlemitchell.

Gavin Holligan's side were fancied to defeat Castlemitchell and they duly did that, 2-9 to 1-8 and set up a meeting with Kill who had defeated Grangenolvin by three points in the second semi.

Kill went into the Junior decider fancied by man and while they led at the break by two points (0-6 to 0-4) Ellistown took charge on the resumption and with wing-back and captain, Pat Martin getting an excellent goal early on they were on their way.

Despite Eoin O'Loughlin firing in a second goal, Kill did not go away quietly and in the end there was just two points separating the sides, Kill finding the net late on.

And so on to a Leinster campaign that saw they travel to Kinnegad to take on their Westmeath counterparts, Castletown-Finea-Coole-Whitehall and a game that will not live too long in the memory — a very low scoring affair, 0-3 to 0-2 at the break with the Kildare boys advancing to the quarter-final on a 0-5 to 0-4 score line.

However, like all games, and especially at this level it is all about the result, all about winning and so their next opponents, this time in Manguard Park, Hawkfield, where they took on Grattan Óg of Longford.

Ellistown were in control for long periods of this one but had to withstand a late and determined comeback from Grattan Óg as Ellistown did what we have seen on a few occasions this season, fade out somewhat with the line in view.

With some 18 minutes on the clock and leading by four the Kildare champions looked all but home and hosed but the Longford got it back two, Ellistown pushed it back out to four but it was here the scores dried up for Ellistown, who conceded three points and it was certainly nervy stuff with six minutes of extra time but in the end they (Ellistown) held on for a one point victory, setting up Sunday's semi-final clash with their Offaly counterparts.

Ballinagar had two points to spare over Wolf Tones of Louth, the Offaly boys having got the better of Ballon (Carlow) in the earlier round 2-17 to 1-11.

So now it's all down to Sunday to see who will make it to the final and play the winners of Dunsany (Meath) and Kilcavan of Laois.

No doubt Ellistown have been strengthened considerably in the last two games with the return of former county man Andrew McLoughlin, he has used his experience over and over again and it is a real plus to have him back fully fit.

Sean Lindy at full back stood tall in the last game when Ellistown came under pressure. Eoin O'Loughlin at wing forward is scoring regularly and added two points in the last outing to add to his 1-1 in the county final.

Pat Martin is certainly playing a captain's role and his three points against Grattan Óg were vital while no 6 Darragh Watson was another who stood up when the pressure come and he was once again on the score sheet.

It took extra time before Ballinagar got the better of Wolfe Tones by two points in the end — 0-16 to 1-11 — and that will certainly give the Offaly boys a real boost of confidence.

The sides were level 1-3 to 0-6 at half-time and at the end of 60 minutes the sides were still locked at 1-9 to 0-12.

Ballinagar won the game in the first period of extra time, scoring three points while keeping Wolfe Tones scoreless.

That was pushed out to four in the second half and while Tones did tack on two late points it was not enough as Ballinagar held on for a deserved victory with their two men being Robbie Gallagher with seven points and Morgan Tynan with four.

So no doubt Ellistown will face their stiffish test of the season against this Offaly side, described as a “young, emerging side.”

So it will all to play for at Glenisk O'Connor Park, Tullamore, on Saturday with the junior kings of Kildare take on the junior kings of Offaly in a game that throws-in at 1.30