Gracefield let their football do the talking as Ballycumber go out with heads held high

GRACEFIELD let their football do the talking as they advanced to the semi-finals of the Senior “B” Football Championship with a deserved win over Ballycumber in Tullamore on Saturday afternoon.

Tullamore Court Hotel Senior “B” Football Championship quarter-final

Gracefield 1-8

Ballycumber 0-9

Having engaged in a very questionable objection that left this game and the following quarter-final between Walsh Island and Ballycommon shrouded in doubt until late on Friday night, Gracefield did what they should have done the whole time and played the game in the right way when it did go ahead.

Gracefield had objected to new rules about the way scoring difference is applied in groups, going to the Disputes Resolution Authority on Friday evening to seek a postponement after Leinster Council ruled against them earlier in the week. The new rules had taken them from first place to third place in the group and while the DRA have the plans in place for a full hearing of the case next week, it remains to be seen if Gracefield will pursue that now that they have advanced.

They took to the field here without three of their best players, Ruari Allen, who is in Australia, Niall Smith and Jamie Evans here with Evans coming on before half time and playing a very significant role in their win.

It wasn't a vintage performance by Gracefield and Ballycumber asked serious questions of them the whole way but ultimately, the Laois border side were better. It was good that the game went ahead, for both clubs and Gracefield will be hoping to have Ruari Allen back home for the semi-final against Cappincur or Clonbullogue – unless they pursue and win their appeal, which would result in new quarter-finals having to be played.

Questions are being asked in some quarters about the status of Allen as well as Cappincur's Eoin Carroll - both have transferred back to their home club this year from Australia but if they played championship in Australia earlier in the year, then they may not be eligible to play championship in Offaly this year. If they didn't play championship in Australia they are okay but if they did, the rule states that they play only play with their new club in a "non championship competition that year".

Gracefield have turned a corner this year but will have to improve on this display to win the championship. Ballycumber pushed them hard and were not far away but missed too many chances to win it.

Once they settled into the game shortly after the fifteen minute mark, Gracefield were the better team. They didn't put them fully away but never really looked like they would lose during the second half and it was a very satisfactory win for them.

For whatever reason, Gracefield made a very sluggish start to the game and were fortunate that Ballycumber didn't put them under severe pressure in the first quarter.

Playing with the advantage of a swirling wind, Gracefield struggled to break out of their own half in the first ten minutes but Ballycumber's only reward was a Cormac Quinn free. Ballycumber had five poor wides in this spell and one of those was from a Cormac Quinn goal chance in the sixth minute.

Gracefield eventually broke and Tom Walsh almost got in for a goal but Oisin Carroll saved well. Joe Lowry pushed Ballycumber two clear before Gracefield took the lead with a 15th minute penalty goal from Stephen Flanagan, after Jack Walsh was held back.

Dan Hanlon added a point as Gracefield played better in the second quarter and at half time, they held a tender 1-3 to 0-4 lead.

Without being brilliant, Gracefield were effective in the second half, exerting an understated but considerable hold on the pace of the game. They used the ball well and there was never a minute that you thought they would lose.

Jamie Evans and Dan Hanlon gave them a four point lead, 1-5 to 0-4 after 39 minutes and that was a huge advantage in a tight match. Ballycumber had the gap back to two points on a couple of occasions but never looked like breaking through for the goal they needed. A Jack Walsh free and excellent Jamie Evans point put them back four in front with five minutes left.

A Gary Larkin free brought it back to three and an excessive looking seven minutes injury time gave them a chance to salvage it. As Gracefield ran out of legs, Larkin's free left two in it with two minutes of injury time left.

That was the way it remained as Ballycumber pushed hard in the closing minutes and Gracefield had to survive some dangerous moments – a spectacular catch from Jack Walsh back in his goalmouth finally lifted the pressure as they held on for a merited win.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Jamie Evans (Gracefield): Jamie Evans made a huge contribution when he came on in the 26th minute. His presence immediately lifted his team mates and they possessed a much more potent attacking threat with him on the field. He kicked three crucial points and they may not have won without him. Stephen Flanagan also had a great game for them, getting on a lot of ball at centre half forward and using most of it well.

THE SCORERS

Gracefield: Stephen Flanagan 1-1 (Goal from a penalty), Jamie Evans 0-3, Dan Hanlon 0-2 Jack Walsh (f), Ciaran Byrne (f) 0-1 each.

Ballycumber: Gary Larkin 0-5 (3f), Joe Lowry 0-2 (1f), Cormac Quinn (f) and Keith Lawler 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

GRACEFIELD: Jonathan Knight; Patrick Hurley, Gavin Smyth, Conor Storey; Corey McEvoy, Philip Hurley, Ciaran Conroy; Jason Slattery, Paddy Dempsey; Dan Hanlon, Stephen Flanagan, Jamie Hanlon; Ciaran Byrne, Jack Walsh, Tom Walsh. Subs – Jamie Evans for Dempsey (26m), Cian Murphy for Hanlon (46m), David Hickey for Flanagan (65m),

BALLYCUMBER: Oisin Carroll; Alan Flanagan, Jamie Cornally, Clive Keena; John Egan, Colin Daly, Adam Daly; Tom Corcoran, Ethan Keena; Keith Lawler, Cormac Quin, Dylan Daly; Adrian Kelly, Gary Larkin, Joe Lowry. Subs – Sean Hackett for Kelly (37m), Cathal Guinan for Dylan Daly (47m), Shaun Creevy for Corcoran (51m), Harry Champ for Egan (53m),

Referee – Fergal Smyth (Kilclonfert).

REFEREE WATCH

Fergal Smyth had a good game and he was 100% right to award Gracefield a first half penalty – Jack Walsh brilliantly fielded a long ball, opted against taking a mark and was clearly held as he advanced on goal. He was observant and up with the play, noticing an off the ball foul on a Gracefield player at one stage in the first half. Ballycumber did appear to get a couple of soft frees in the closing minutes but they may have been fouls and neither side could blame the referee. There was a brief melee that thankfully didn't escalate and Smyth was in quickly to restore order.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Stephen Flanagan's penalty goal and Jamie Evans' introduction were the big moments here.

VENUE WATCH

O'Connor Park was in great condition and the game was well hosted.

TALKING POINT

It was great that this game went ahead after Gracefield's less than glorious attempt to get it postponed in an argument over the group placings. Gracefield took their case to the DRA on Friday evening with clubs only notified that the quarter-finals were proceeding close to 11pm that night. For a proud club with a long and distinguished record, Gracefield's appeal did not reflect well on them as the rule was there and trying to get such things overturned in the board room is always questionable – every club is entitled to appeal but unless there is a clear miscarriage of justice, then people are entitled to wonder and the other clubs involved were done a disservice by not knowing where they stood until so late on Friday evening. There was no miscarriage of justice in this case but you had to admire the Gracefield players as they walked into O'Connor Park before this and then the way they played the game – they were just a group of young lads who wanted to play football and it was good that this is what they did. Gracefield still have the option of a full hearing next week and it will be interesting to see if they go ahead with that now.

WHAT'S NEXT

Gracefield play Cappincur or Clonbullogue in the semi-final.

STATISTICS

Wides: Ballycumber - 12 (8 in first half); Gracefield – 10 (6 in first half).

Yellow cards: Ballycumber – 1 (Gary Larkin); Gracefield – 1 (Patrick Hurley).

Black cards: 0.

Red cards: 0.