Ballinagar make hard work of booking semi-final berth as Kilcormac-Killoughey flounder after black card

CLEARLY the better side, Ballinagar made very hard work of seeing off a dogged Kilcormsac-Killoughey in an engrossing Intermediate Football Championship quarter-final at Durrow on Sunday.

Tullamore Court Hotel Intermediate Football Championship quarter-final

Ballinagar 0-11

Kilcormac-Killoughey 0-8

0-6 to 0-4 ahead at half time, Ballinagar generally looked like winning in the second half but missed way too many chances as they didn't put their opponents away. They could have been caught late on and if they had, Ballinagar would have had only themselves to blame.

In particular, they somehow failed to score a goal despite regularly opening up the K-K defence but a mixture of poor finishing and option taking meant that they didn't hit the net. They were, however, full value for their semi-final place and they played most of the best football here.

They almost shot themselves in the foot early in the second half, missing a handful of chances while K-K got two points to draw level but the game turned with a 44th minute black card for losing full back Colm Leonard. Teams often don't take advantage of an extra man in these situations but Ballinagar certainly did, creating overlaps, and attacking with intent. By the time Leonard came back on, Ballinagar were 0-10 to 0-6 clear, soon to be extended to five, and on their way to victory.

There was an appetising background to this game with a fancied Ballinagar coming into it on the back of two very poor performances in defeats by St Brigid's and Tullamore and a lot of questions surrounding them.

Kilcormac-Killoughey had played solidly in the weaker of the groups but their desire for success at this level was questionable. There was no doubt about their commitment on the field of play but K-K didn't have a number of very good footballers who would make a big difference to them. With hurling priority in the club they were without the injured Leigh Kavanagh while players such as Ter Guinan, Cathal Kiely, Daniel Hand and Adam Screeney weren't togged out.

Football is the only game in Ballinagar but they knew this was going to be a tough battle. Joint Offaly senior football managers Declan Kelly and Mickey Harte were present and Ballinagar midfielder, Morgan Tynan was the main focus of their interest. A very talented player, he opted out of the Offaly senior football in mid campaign this season and he started very well as Ballinagar hit the ground running.

Tynan got the opening two points, one from play and one free while Geordi O'Meara tapped over a good point as Ballinagar went three clear in the first seven minutes. They should have got in for a goal but Robbie Gallagher under cooked his pass to the un-marked Conor Bracken – Jacob Beatty misplaced a pass with Bracken raiding inside and a goal on later in the half and Ballinagar really should have got a first half goal.

Mark Mulrooney pointed a free with K-K's first shot in the 10th minute and they improved after this. They were 0-4 each after 21 minutes with Peter Geraghty getting their first and only first half score from play in the 21st minute. Ballinagar found form again coming up to half time and points from Tynan and a beauty from Ray Daly gave them a 0-6 to 0-4 interval lead.

Ballinagar should also have got a goal at the start of the second half with the fast moving Robbie Gallagher taking a step too much with a great chance in the 36th minute. Ballinagar did not help their own cause early in the second half, dominating but kicking four wides while Morgan Tynann went for goal when he should have taken his point in the 41st minute. As so often happens in these cases it was K-K who drew blood with Mark Mulrooney scoring a fine point seconds later and Alex Kavanagh levelling it up by the 43rd minute.

The wheel turned for Ballinagar in the 44th minute when Colm Leonard received a black card for pulling down Robbue Gallagher and Tynan converted the free. Robbie Gallagher, Geordi O'Meara and subs Steven Dwane and Jamie Ballesty added points to put Ballinagar five up with five minutes left and they should have been further clear as Gallagher and O'Meara miscued decent chances.

It was Ballinagar's to lose but K-K almost got a lifeline when Tom Spain was very unlucky when his rocket hit the post as it went into injury time.

Peter Geraghty and Thomas Geraghy got points to bring it back to a goal but a relieved Ballinagar held on.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Robbie Gallagher (Ballinagar): Most of the contenders were on the Ballinagar side, though Jordan Quinn had an excellent game at midfield for Kilcormac-Killoughey, Mark Mulrooney moved very well up front at times and they had other players who performed well.

Ballinagar's key players did what was needed from them here. Morgan Tynan floated in and out of the game, as he tends to do, but he still played very well, oozing quality at times, giving pinpoint passes and scoring two of his four points from play. Adam Strong put in a powerful shift at midfield while Geordie O'Meara did some great work and Diarmuid Finneran, Adam Joyce and Aaron Gorman impressed in defence – Gorman in particular had an outstanding game and was a consideration. He defended competently and raided frequently, doing the simple thing very well and knowing his strengths by not shooting when in the scoring zone.

Robbie Gallagher gets the nod on this occasion. He had a very good game and it would have been a great one had his finishing been more clinical as he overplayed the ball a few times and took wrong options – one point was a poor reward for the volume of possession he had in close to goal. However, his movement and running was super, his ability to win hard ball commanded respected and he was a livewire the whole afternoon. K-K never came to terms with him and he was involved in a lot of Ballinagar scores.

THE SCORERS

Ballinagar: Morgan Tynan 0-4 (2f), Geordi O'Meara 0-3 (1f), Robbie Gallagher, Jamie Ballesty, Ray Daly and Steven Dwane 0-1 each.

Kilcormac-Killoughey: Mark Mulrooney (1f), Alex Kavanagh (1f) and Peter Geraghty 0-2 each, Colin Spain (mark) and Thomas Geraghty 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

BALLINAGAR: Ryan Kinahan; Adam Joyce, Diarmuid Finneran, Jack Gorry; Geordi O'Meara, Brian Malone, Aaron Gorman; Adam Strong, Morgan Tynan; Jacob Beatty, Conor McGuinness, Jack Sheil; Ray Daly, Robbie Gallagher, Conor Bracken. Subs – Steven Dwane for McGuinness (46m), Jamie Ballesty for Beatty (49m),

KILCORMAC-KILLOUGHEY: Barry Leonard; Karl Guinan, Colm Leonard, Charlie Bracken; Tadgh Donoghue, James Geraghty, Colin Spain; Tom Spain, Jordan Quinn; Dan Murray, Shane Guinan, Thomas Geraghty; Alex Kavanagh, Mark Mulrooney, Peter Geraghty. Subs -

Referee – Ciaran Groome (Bracknagh).

REFEREE WATCH

A mixed bag by Ciaran Groome. The quota of debatable decisions was a bit high but these did balance out. Some of the contested decisions were correct but some of them did frustrate both sides.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Colm Leonard's black card changed the game. K-K were level at that time but Ballinagar got four points in his absence and that was always likely to be a winning haul in a tight game of this nature.

VENUE WATCH

It was easy to manage the small crowd but Durrow had sufficient stewards on duty and their pitch was in good condition.

WHAT'S NEXT

Ballinagar go into the semi-finals while Kilcormac-Killoughey have to battle the relegation play offs.

STATISTICS

Wides: Ballinagar – 10 (5 in first half); Kilcormac-Killoughey – 10 (5 in first half).

Yellow cards: Ballinagar – 1 (Geordi O'Meara); Kilcormac-Killoughey – 1 (Shane Guinan)

Black cards: Ballinagar – 0; Kilcormac-Killoughey – 1 (Colm Leonard).

Red cards: 0