PREVIEW: Grange' tackle Munster champs Ballymacelligott for place in All-Ireland final

If you had told players from Grangenolvin, and indeed their management, that they would have a lot more on their minds over Christmas besides Santa Claus and turkey and ham, they would have probably laughed at you.

But after capturing the Kildare JFC title, going on to lift the Leinster crown they now find themselves in the AIB All-Ireland Junior Football semi-final, a game fixed for Saturday 3 January, in Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale, Co. Limerick against the Munster champions, Ballymacelligott of Kerry.

Really it is the stuff dreams are made of but have no doubt, these Grange' boys are there on merit.

They defeated The Righting Cocks of Carlow in the Leinster decider, a game played in The Fighting Cocks backyard in Carlow and while they led all the way they certainly had to withstand a big fight-back in the second half when the Carlow lads had the elements in their favour.

Playing with the aid of a strong wind in the opening Grange' took command and dominated the early exchanges.
Star man, Conall Bergin opened the scoring and that great servant, Timmy Doyle, added a second.

Incredibly Timmy had played in the Leinster final of 2005 when Grangenolvin went down by two points to Westmeath champions, Ballinagore, and here was two decades on, still raising white flags, a mighty achievement indeed.

Grange' dominated with the opening half, and vital score of the game, a well-worked goal from Conall Bergin and with Nathan Doyle, Brian Cullen and Fionn Bergin they led at the break 1-9 to o-1 and while that score line looked more than decent, there was still a worry when The Fighting Cocks got the elements in their favour in the second half.

That worry was justified as within five minutes the Carlow boys had hit 1-3 without reply to put themselves right back into the game.

Grangenolvin settled, got a much needed point but they were in one mighty battle with the lead cut back to four, and it could have been less, a goal chance went abegging from their opponents.

However much to the delight of their fans and all who supported them they held on to win by four, and a book a place in Saturday's All-Ireland semi-final.

So what of the opposition, — Ballymacelligott?
A small rural club, some five miles outside of Tralee it was formed back in 1884.
In the early days they won three senior titles, fell away they were disbanded before returning around 1948 and returned to the senior ranks in 1950.

They have enjoyed a great championship in 2025, winning the Munster title when defeatinh Buttevant of Cork on a comprehensive score line of Ballymacelligott 3-12 Buttevant 0-8, impressive or what.

Played in Mallon, The Kerry side were deserving winners and once they took the lead against the wind, they never looked like losing.

The game was just 20 seconds old when Buttevant scored their first two-pointer, with Mark Lenahan raising the orange flag.

The strong wind was at the backs of the Cork side, and they made it count again in the third minute when David Hanlon scored their second two-pointer, this time, from a free.

It took nine minutes for Ballymacelligott to get off the mark, with Aidan Breen scoring from a free to make it 0-4 to 0-1. They got their second two minutes later when Micheál Reidy split the posts as Ballymacelligott started to settle.

Buttevant’s lead was soon down to one with Breen pointing another free, to make it 0-4 to 0-3, with 15 minutes played. The sides were level when Darragh Broderick scored as the Kerry side were now dominating possession.

They took the lead for the first time after 23 minutes when Donal Daly goaled. A defensive mistake by Buttevant let him in and he made no mistake from close range, going on to lead 1-6 to 0-4 at the break.

With 50 minutes gone, an uphill task became virtually impossible as Ballymacelligott got their second goal. Broderick played McKivergan in and he made no mistake to make it 2-10 to 0-7 to effectively end the game as a contest.

In the final minute, Ballymacelligott were awarded a penalty for a foul on Joy, which he duly dispatched himself to the net to see his side run out winners by 3-12 to 0-8.

Grangenolvin will be more than aware that any team that can score 3-12 in a provincial final must be more than decent, no doubt they will travel to Limerick full of confident.

However, Grangenolvin will not be short in that regard, that win over The Fighting Cocks will have done them an enormous amount of good. Their confidence will be sky high, they are playing some excellent football, putting up some top class scores, they will be more than aware of the threat Ballymacelligott will bring to the table and if they (Grangenolvin) can keep it tight at the back, they certainly have the midfield and the forwards to get them over the line.

Manager David Conway is confident his side are as fit as they could be, he was full of praise for them after that win over The

Fighting Cocks and if the Bergin boys, the Doyles, the Cullens, Dylan Costigan, Paul Hungtindon and the rest can bring their 'A' game they will not be too far away for advancing to the All-Ireland decider.

Throw-in at Rathkeale on Saturday is 2 pm.

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