Late goals give Ballacolla the winning edge against Knock in Roinn 5 Shield final

St Pius X NS Ballacolla produced a powerful second-half display to see off a spirited Knock side in a goal-filled Roinn 5 Boys Shield Final.

The game started slowly on the scoreboard thanks to some excellent goalkeeping from Knock’s AJ Brophy, who pulled off a series of early saves to deny Brian Coonan and Kian Delaney. Knock opened the scoring through Cian Tully, followed by a brilliant point from the sideline by Tiernan O’Dea.

Ballacolla 8-8

Knock 4-6

Ballacolla soon found their rhythm, however, as Kian Delaney got them off the mark before Coonan struck for two quick goals to put his side ahead. Davin Cregan made a crucial stop for Ballacolla to deny O’Dea, and further scores from Sean Kehoe and a Delaney free gave Ballacolla a solid cushion.

O’Dea brought Knock right back into it with a well-taken goal, and after Delaney added another point, O’Dea struck again just before half-time to leave it finely poised at 2-4 to 2-3 in Ballacolla’s favour.

Ballacolla exploded out of the blocks in the second half. Goals from Aoife Hanlan and Conor Delaney, plus a point from the latter, gave them momentum. Knock hit back through Lucy Lalor, but Coonan completed his hat-trick moments later to extend the lead once again.

Points from Hannah O’Connor and O’Dea kept Knock battling, while Hanlan and Cian Tully exchanged scores. Knock got a lifeline when O’Connor found the net for their fourth goal, but Hanlan hit back with Ballacolla’s sixth.

Coonan then turned provider, setting up Kian Delaney for a seventh Ballacolla goal before Delaney added an eighth himself and finished his outstanding performance with a final point from play, bringing his tally to 2-5. Ballacolla’s clinical finishing proved the difference in the end, as they pulled away late on to secure a well-deserved shield title. TEAMS AND SCORERS BELOW PICTURE.

SCORERS– Ballacolla: Kian Delaney 2-5 (0-2 frees), Brian Coonan 3-1, Aoife Hanlan 2-1, Conor Delaney 1-1 (0-1 free). Knock: Tiernan O’Dea 2-2, Hannah O’Connor 1-1, Lucy Lalor 1-0, Cian Tully 0-2, Sean Kehoe 0-1.

St Pius X NS Ballacolla: Davin Cregan, Harry McEvoy, Brian Coonan, Conor Delaney, Kian Delaney, Aoife Hanlan, Álana Hayes. Subs: Peyton Mooney, Tyler Cregan, Rachel Hanlon, Jack McGann, Kieran John Campion, Daria Pushkarova, Veronika Vaschieniuk.

Knock NS: AJ Brophy, Orlaith Headen, Sean Kehoe, Cian Tully, Hannah O’Connor, Tiernan O’Dea, Lucy Lalor. Subs: Padraig Farrell, Éabha Brady, Lyia Miller, Aislinn Miller, Margaret Butler, Étaine Palmer, Noah Curley, Ryan Doran.