'The House' safe as Ballymore relegated to Junior

Two Mile House 1-9

Ballymore 0-8

Two Mile House preserved their Auld Shebeen Athy Intermediate football status with a hard fought four point win over near neighbours Ballymore Eustace who themselves make the dreaded drop to Junior for 2025 after five years at the Intermediate grade.

In far from ideal conditions a strong gale blew into the Miltown end and it was Two Mile House's ability to deal better against the elements in that second period that saw them outscore Ballymore by 0-5 to 0-2 over those closing 30 minutes.

Ballymore, although playing against the strong breeze in the opening half were into their stride quickly as the Murphys, Niall and Simon, added two points inside five minutes.

Two Mile House were dealt an early blow as they lost one of their scoring threats in Declan Kirwan, with what looked like a knee injury. It took the House 12 minutes to register their first score throught Adam Conneely.

Conneely was operating in an unfamiliar role at half back but he showed his poachers instinct with a 30 metre effort.

The evergreen Peter Kelly leveled matters on thirteen with a fisted effort as Two Mile House threatened to make better use of the wind advantage.

It was the Murphy's again Simon with a point from play and Niall with two who stretched the lead to three with 8 minutes to the break.

Conneely then struck for the game's opening goal on 23 minutes. He took a pass from Brian Collins and when he looked like he was going to tap over he shot high into to the Ballymore net to level the game. It was a goal that proved to be crucial throughout the remainder of the game. Didier Cordonnier from a 45 and a second Peter Kelly score had The House two up with 3 minutes of injury time remaining.

Niall Murphy's late point reduced the gap to a single score 1-4 to 0-6 at the end of thirty minutes.

Ballymore had the strong wind advantage at the change of ends but it was Two Mile House who quickly added three points.

Didier Cordonnier added two and when Brian Collins converted a 42 minute free the gap was out to to a favourable four points. It was hard to believe even with the strong wind advantage we were inside the final 10 minutes before Ballymore got their first score of the second period. Two Mile House were reduced to 14 when second half sub Glen Burke picked up a second yellow.Sean Gallagher reduced the gap to two with four minutes to play.

Could Ballymore finish their season with a much needed win. Peter Kelly and Mark Sherry were ruling the play and when Kelly set up Cordonnier for his fourth it seemed to be enough.

Not for the first time The House should have been out of sight. A break from defence involving Tony O Connor and Andrew Cregg saw the later butcher a golden goal chance but Cordonnier sealed the win when he converted the resultant 45.

Not a game that will live long in the memory but that won't worry the Two Mile House contingent as they are safe at Intermediate for 2025. Peter Kelly Mark Sherry and Adam Conneely stepped up considerably for their team when the stakes were at their highest.

TWO MILE HOUSE: David Craddock; Will Purcell, Andy Cregg, PJ Cashman; Andy May, Peter Kelly 0-2, Adam Conneely 1-1; Brian Collins 0-1 (1 free), Tom Coleman; Tom Hennebry, Didier Cordonnier 0-5 (two 45s), Mark Sherry; Declan Kirwan, Michael McLoughlin, Marcus Kiely. Subs: Adam Byrne for Declan Kirwan 5; Liam Coleman for Michael McLoughlin H/T; Glen Burke for Tom Coleman 47; Tony O Connor for Brian Collins 56.

BALLYMORE EUSTACE: Stephen Foley; Tadhg Barrett, Mark Barrett, Sean O'Sullivan; Eoin Clarke, Darragh Kelleher, Kevin Kelleher; Michael Stewart Byrne 0-1, Brian Crowe; Ben Noone, Sean Broderick, Josh Burke Hayes; Simon Murphy 0-2, Niall Murphy 0-4 (2 frees), Calum Barrett. Subs: Calum Ashmore for Ben Noone 31; Stuart Byrne for Tadhg Barrett 35; Sean Gallagher 0-1 for Eoin Clarke 47; Enda Stewart Byrne for Niall Murphy 53.

REFEREE: Ken Doyle.