Craigbane hold off Ballerin fightback

Craigbane repelled a late Ballerin comeback to get their championship game off to a winning start on Friday night.

Last year’s junior champions trailed 1-4 to 0-2 after Cormac Canning’s early goal but were level by half-time and 10 clear after a dominant third quarter.

Paul Ferris his a second Ballerin goal that looked like a mere consolation score. It was anything but. It ignited the home side who won six consecutive Craigbane kick-outs to storm back within four points.

As they pressed, they were caught by a not having three in their own half and with the ball carried forward 50 metres, Fergal Mortimer kicked a 63rd minute insurance point.

Craigbane lost retired duo Rory Moore and Bliain Gormley from last year’s Ulster final team. Jude Óg Moore is in Australia while Lee Moore is on the injured list.

Ballerin won the toss and took advantage of the wind and kicking down the hill. They adapted well with the pace of Shane Ferris mixed with a kicking game inside.

After Kosta Papachristopoulos landed a two-point free, Ballerin failed to add a goal after a misplaced kick-out from O’Kane was cut out by Cormac Canning.

Papachristopoulos added a second two-pointer as the home side settled into the game before Christopher Lowry opened the Craigbane account after a patient move.

A first three-man infraction handed Jude McLaughlin a handy free before Ballerin struck for goal. A Shane Ferris pass cut Craigbane open with Cormac Canning hitting the net for a 1-4 to 0-2 lead.

Aaron Sharkey made it three for Craigbane as the game began to swing. Ballerin were snatching at two-point chances instead of working the ball to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Craigbane got a handle on the game. Liam Crossan, Oisin O’Donnell, James McLaughlin and Eoin Coll all took turns to drive them forward.

When the busy Niall Feeney blasted over a goal chance, it cut the margin to a single point. Paul Ferris ended an 18-minute scoreless Ballerin spell but it was Craigbane who were level at half-time, 1-5 to 0-8. Lowry with the run and Feeney with the equaliser.

Brian Rainey had the ball in the net in the first attack of the second half with Craigbane taking a grip of the game, with Conor McLaughlin influential. Caolan Conway also fielded a kick-out as Ballerin were squeezed out of contention.

Lowry added a second point of the night before James McLaughlin raced through to blast to the Ballerin net for a 2-10 to 1-5 lead.

Mortimer added a free before Oisin O’Donnell’s high effort was deemed a point by referee Doherty after a difference of opinion from the umpires.

Substitute Shea McKillop added pace to the home attack and would finish with two points to his name.

Paul Ferris gave Ballerin a glimmer of hope with a well-finished goal, leaving seven points between the teams with 11 minutes of normal time to play.

Fintan Lynch got forward to notch a Craigbane point but it was Ballerin who had a hold at midfield. If only they’d had more composure in the first half when it was their time.

Callum Bradley had a shot tipped over. Ferris and Christopoulos converted frees. McKillop added his second.

Time wasn’t on their side and when their aggressive chase led to a 50-metre penalty for only having two players back, Mortimer eased any Craigbane worries with the last kick.

Scorers:

Craigbane: Fergal Mortimer 0-5f, Niall Feeney 0-3, James McLaughlin, Brian Rainey 1-0 each, Jude McLaughlin (1f), Christopher Lowry 0-2 each, Conor McLaughlin, Aaron Sharkey, Oisin O’Donnell and Fintan Lynch 0-1 each

Ballerin: Kosta Christopoulos 0-5 (tp, tpf, 1f), Paul Ferris 1-2 (1f), Cormac Canning 1-0, Shea McKillop 0-2, Callum Bradley and Simon McGinley 0-1 each

Craigbane: Ben O’Kane; Fintan Lynch, Eoin Coll, Liam Crossan; Oisin O’Donnell, James McLaughlin, Caolan Conway; Jacob McElhinney, Conor McLaughlin; Niall Feeney, Christopher Lowry, Brian Rainey; Fergal Mortimer, Jude McLaughlin, Aaron Sharkey

Sub: Oisin McCloskey for Lowry (53)

Yellow card: C Conway (22)

Ballerin: John McGinley; Dylan Mullan, Shea Doherty, Stephen Mullan; Shane Ferris, Odhran Canning, Bobby Mullan; Darren Robinson, Jarlath Bradley; Tomas McCann, Paul Ferris, Shane McIntyre; Cormac Canning, Ryan Doherty, Kosta Christopoulos

Subs: Callum Bradley for McInytre (37), Shea McKillop for O Canning (39), Simon McGinley for C Canning (50), Hugh O’Connell for D Mullan (60)

Referee: Cathal Doherty (Limavady)

Game at a glance

MAIN MAN - Shane Ferris was Ballerin’s ticking centre. Niall Feeney was a scoring link man for the winners. The main contenders were on the Craigbane side but Conor McLaughlin was their vital cog. Having lost both midfielders from last season, he stepped up to lead the way. Covered a serious amount of grass.

SCORE OF THE GAME - Ballerin’s first goal typified their grasp on the game early on. Turning ball over, getting play to midfield and looking for a kick. Shane Ferris pinged the perfect diagonal ball that was won inside with Cormac Canning timing his run before slotting to the net.

TURNING POINT - Craigbane were level by half-time but it was Brian Rainey’s goal, made by Conor McLaughlin that put them ahead for the first time. It kicked them into a rampant 17-minute spell that put them 10 points up. It was the cushion they needed to absorb Ballerin’s comeback.