Ballycommon victory never in doubt as Walsh Island give it their best shot

THERE was almost an air of inevitability about the way Ballycommon sauntered into the semi-finals of the Tullamore Court Hotel Senior “B” Football Championship with a fairly easy win over Walsh Island in O'Connor Park on Saturday afternoon.

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

Ballycommon 1-12

Walsh Island 1-4

The impression that this quarter-final would be a bridge too far for an ageing Walsh Island team proved to be entirely correct as Ballycommon ran them off the pitch for a few minutes in the first and had their semi-final berth against Clonbullogue or Cappincur booked from a very early stage.

It was a reasonably professional performance by Ballycommon, even if it was very much a mixed bag at times. They played some very good football on the day but also had spells of mediocrity. They killed the game off quickly and played with a level of pace and intensity that Walsh Island couldn't get up to but the killer punch, or instinct, was missing for them.

It was one of those games where there was a significant disparity in the fitness and standard of the sides and the scoreline does not fully reflect this. As usual Walsh Island gave it everything they had, they fought the whole way but they were always swimming into a strong incoming tide. You had to admire the way they battened down the hatches and an eight defeat was probably as well as they could have done.

There was no shame at all in this defeat for Walsh Island but the impression remains that they wouldn't have won this game if it went on until Christmas. They were solid and they worked hard but never threatened the run of scores they needed – feeding in high ball to Alan Mulhall with Willie Mulhall feeding off him has served Walsh Island well for years but that is not going to win big games at this level any more and without pulling fully away, Ballycommon's superiority, their place in the semi-finals was never in threat.

Willie Mulhall went for goal from an early 14 metre free and it was 0-1 each after ten minutes but then Ballycommon took complete control, playing some incisive attacking football. They should have got a goal in the 14th minute but Tom Mealiffe's pass to Stephen Conneely was cut out by Ian Duffy. They made no mistake in the 15th minute when Conor Dunne blasted home after Ryan Kenny's pass to put them 1-3 to 0-1 ahead.

Ballycommon were 1-7 to 0-1 ahead after 21 minutes, were in complete control and it threatened to get really bad for Walsh Island. They had Duffy again to thank as he made a breathtaking 25th minute save to keep out Christopher Kenny's pile driver.

Oisin Murphy got a fine 27th minute goal at the other end to make it 1-7 to 1-1 at the break but even though Walsh Island had the wind to come, you couldn't make any case whatsoever for them winning it.

Ballycommon won't be entirely happy with their second half performance. They went through the motions to an extent and 1-12 was an average return but they were as good as they needed to be and won't waste too much time analysing it before the semi-final.

Walsh Island got three of the first four second half points to reduce arrears to 1-8 to 1-4 after 36 minutes but even that didn't raise any anticipation that an upset was possible. Instead, Ballycommon knuckled down in defence to keep the Island attack at bay and midfielders Tom Mealiffe and Dylan Martin got points to put them 1-10 to 1-4 ahead after 42 minutes.

A six point cushion was always going to be sufficient and Ballycommon only added two more points, both from Ryan Kenny who is a great addition to them this year – but they will be very concerned at a late injury that saw influential midfielder Tom Mealiff stretchered off and if it is serious, it will be a huge blow to them. Walsh Island didn't score from the 36th minute as it petered out into something of a damp squib.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

David Dempsey (Ballycommon): David Dempsey showed his value to Ballycommon with an excellent display. The Offaly player was hungry and consistently broke the line at pace. A lot of ball went through his hands, nearly all of it used flawlessly and he was one of the players to keep driving when some of his team mates got lethargic in the second half – he also made some great runs to offer an option to the man in possession and it wasn't his fault that a few of these were not spotted by team mates or the ball wasn't moved quick enough. Karl Dunne also did very well for Ballycommon, moving a lot of good ball in his new wing forward role. Ryan Kenny was very good in attack early on and Michael Conneely very solid in defence for Ballycommon, who are title contenders.

THE SCORERS

Ballycommon: Conor Dunne 1-1, Ryan Kenny 0-4 (2f), Christopher Kenny 0-3 (1f), Tom Mealiffe, Dylan Martin, Karl Dunne and Stephen Conneely 0-1 each.

Walsh Island: Oisin Murphy 1-0, Alan Mulhall 0-2 (1 '45' and 1f), Jack Haverty and Willie Mulhall 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

BALLYCOMMON: Paul Scally; Chulainn Boland, Matthew Dempsey, David Dempsey; Aidan Bracken, Barry Bracken, Michael Conneely; Tom Mealiffe, Dylan Martin; Karl Dunne, Brian Todd, Stephen Conneely; Ryan Kenny, Christopher Kenny, Conor Dunne. Subs – TJ Bermingham for Martin (42m), Donal Scally for Matthew Dempsey (42m), Jack Kenny for Christopher Kenny (54m), Killian Owens for Mealiffe, inj. (64m).

WALSH ISLAND: Ian Duffy; Dylan Mahon, Evin Galvin, James Gallagher; Tommy Brereton, Emmet McKenna, Rory Galvin; Colm Gavin, Thomas O'Connor; Jack Haverty, Oisin Murphy, Reece Cuddihy; Willie Mulhall, Alan Mulhall, Sean McCloskey. Subs – Michael Brereton for Cuddihy (45m), Jack Duffy for Haverty (58m), Killian Duffy for Rory Galvin (58m), Adam Duffy for Mahon (58m), Jamie McKenna for McCloskey (67m).

Referee – Adam Kinahan (Clodiagh Gaels).

REFEREE WATCH

Adam Kinahan had a very good game and there were no issues. He was always in control.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Conor Dunne's 15th minute goal ended the match as a contest at an early stage as it gave them a 1-3 to 0-1 lead.

VENUE WATCH

There was a very small crowd in O'Connor Park with most of the people at the preceding Gracefield and Ballycumber quarter-final leaving after their match. With Ballycommon killing the game off early, it meant there wasn't much of an atmosphere here.

WHAT'S NEXT

Ballycommon play Cappincur or Clonbullogue in the semi-final.

STATISTICS

Wides: Ballycommon - 12 (8 in first half); Walsh Island - 7 (5 in first half).

Yellow cards: Ballycommon – 1 (Matthew Dempsey); Walsh Island – 1 (Thomas O'Connor).

Black cards: 0.

Red cards: 0.