Niall Murphy stars as Ballymore relegate Ellistown

The Auld Shebeen Athy IFC Relegation Final

Ballymore Eustace 0-14

Ellistown 1-5

Ellistown got off to the proverbial flyer in this Auld Shebeen Athy IFC Relegation final, with Tadhg Watson raising the first white flag following a free but two minutes later, a kick-out from Tommie Archbold saw Ellistown regain possession and with the keeper still out of position, Callum Donnelly had a simple task of filling the empty net to leave it Ellistown 1-2 Ballymore Eustace 0-0 after just three minutes.

Ballymore had an early goal chance when Simon Murphy's punched effort failed to find the empty net.

It took Ballymore until the tenth minute to open their account, Caolan Halpin converting a free.

Wides from both sides kept the score board static before Simon Murphy, from a very acute angle, split the posts.

Slowly but surely Ballymore gained more possession and it was Niall Murphy, with a fine effort who reduced the lead to two.

Two more points, Niall Murphy and Simon Murphy tied it at the break as the sides went to the dressing room with the score board reading: Ballymore Eustace 0-5 Ellistown 1-2.

Ellistown took control early on the resumption with Niall Murphy proving a major thorn in the side of Ellistown, Two points from the no. 14 and a fine point from Callum Barrett after winning a real 'dirty' ball.

Yellow cars for Ellistown's Pat Martin and Eoin Clarke of Ballymore followed as conditions deteriorated with the mist turning to heavy rain.

Another yellow for Tadhg Watson (E) before Niall Murphy made it 00-9 to 1-2 after 42 minutes.

On 43 Pat Martin got Ellistown's first point since the third minute.

Niall Murphy replied with another fine effort before James Neilson was shown a black card by referee Owen Murphy for a foul on Callum Barrett; Caolan Halpin popped over the resultant free.

Pat Martin got his second of the game and Danny McGarvey added another for Ballymore.

David Dunne added a free for Ellistown but another free, this time from Caolan Halpin again was the final point of the game as Ballymore retained their intermediate status while Ellistown return to the junior ranks for the first time since 1999.

Scorers: Ballymore Eustace, Niall Murphy 0-7 (1 free), Simon Murphy 0-2, Caolan Halpin 0-3 (3 frees), Callum Barrett 0-1, Danny McGarvey 0-1.

Ellistown, Callum Donnelly 1-0, Pat Martin 0-2, Darragh Watson 0-1, Tadhg Watson 0-1 (free), David Dunne 0-1 (free).

BALLYMORE EUSTACE: Tommie Archbold; Sean O'Sullivan, Kevin Kelleher, Joe Broderick; Des Horan, Caolan Halpin, Callum McClintock; Eoin Clarke, Mark Barrett; Tadhg Barrett, Gareth Clarke, Enda Sewart Byrne; Callum Barrett, Niall Murphy, Simon Murphy. Subs: Michael Stewart-Byrne for Des Horan (20 minutes); Danny McGarvey for Tadhg Barrett (48 minutes); Patrick Murphy for Mark Barrett (51 minutes).

ELLISTOWN: Oran Donnelly; Sean Lindy, Kevin Martin, James Neilson; Pat Martin, Andrew McLoughlin, Darragh Watson; Conor Lindy, Max Lennon; Dean Frahill, Tadhg Watson, Ciaran Lindy; David Dunne, Tom Waters, Callum Donnelly. Subs: Cillian Barry for Max Lennox (40 minutes); Andy O'Neill for Ciaran Lindy (44 minutes); Michael Kelly for Darragh Watson (55 minutes); Brian Tyrrell for Kevin Martin (64 minutes).

REFEREE: Owen Murphy.