Impressive Ballycommon send struggling parish rivals packing

FIRST things first and the quality of Ballycommon's display, the professionalism they showed, must take precedence in any reflection on their surprisingly easy win over parish rivals, Cappincur in the Senior “B” Football Championship semi-final in O'Connor Park on Saturday.

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

Ballycommon 1-13

Cappincur 0-6

It was an excellent all round performance by Ballycommon, who controlled the game from start to finish and won cruising along in third gear for the final quarter.

Second things second: They were assisted by what was very close to a horror show by Cappincur, who endured one of those days when almost everything that could go wrong, did go wrong – a display best reflected by the fact that they not only didn't score from play but very rarely looked like doing so.

A final place against Clonbullogue is Ballycommon's reward and on the basis of this convincing win, they are very well equipped to make the jump from intermediate to senior in successive years, even if they will be the slightest of underdogs for the big game in two weeks time.

The manner in which Ballycommon dominated this game, their control in all sectors, their confidence and competency on the ball is a tribute to the way they played. They had superb displays at each end of the field from county star David Dempsey and Conor Dunne, a man who has a good few of the attributes to go to that level but has not shown that desire so far. They performed at a higher level than everyone else on the field but Ballycommon had several more who played very well, never putting a foot wrong.

Relegated from senior last year, Cappincur were as well beaten as you can be, yet they could have been a lot closer – it would take a huge leap of imagination to suggest that they could have won this game but they certainly could have asked much more serious questions of their opponents had they converted a few of the frees they missed while they almost got in for two second half goals. The way Cappincur were beaten does suggest that they are on a downward spiral and it is far from inconceivable that they could find themselves back in intermediate in the next few years as Peter Daly and Ger Treacy retire and Eoin Carroll progresses into his 30s.

Playing with the wind in the first half, Ballycommon played very patient, composed football. They teased and probed for the right openings but when gaps emerged, they went straight through them. Conor Dunne had a fantastic four point haul in the first half and the winners had five points on the board before Cappincur had their first shot, an underhit free from Ciaran Farrell in the 12th minute.

That free set the tone for Cappincur's first half display. They lived on scraps and relied on frees for scoring opportunities but when they did emerge, they couldn't take advantage. Farrell, Sean Courtney and Peter Norris all missed frees that were tricky into the wind but still could have been scored before Farrell eventually found the range in the 25th minute – Ger Treacy also missed one early in the second half before county man Bill Carroll took over and converted three.

Farrell's free was their only first half point and a 0-9 to 0-1 deficit left them with a mountain to climb but the door still slightly ajar. They needed something extraordinary to happen and they weren't fully gone but their forwards just never going going.

In the second half, the closest Cappincur could get was seven points but Ballycommon deserve praise for the professionalism they displayed as they kept the ball and ran down valuable time before breaking at pace. Cappincur's work rate was not high enough to prevent this and a comeback never looked on.

It was 0-12 to 0-4 after 45 minutes and Cappincur were unlucky not to get a 49th minute goal when Chulainn Boland made a spectacular clearance off the line – video evidence would be needed to dispel the impression that it could have been even over it – to deny a PJ Daly rocket. Ballycommon swept straight into attack and Conor Dunne crowned his sensational display with an excellent individual goal.

After this Cappincur's heads dropped and Ballycommon eased home – Ballycommon goalkeeper Paul Scally made a very good 52nd minute stop from Bill Carroll but even a goal would not have consoled Cappincur for what was a very substandard display.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Conor Dunne (Ballycommon): A two horse race between David Dempsey and Conor Dunne. There is merit in going for David Dempsey, who is having arguably his best campaign in the Ballycommon colours. His influence was profound as he did his defensive duties with surpreme efficiency and attacked superbly, getting two points, the second of which probably should have been a goal in the second half but Peter Daly did well to get his finger tips to it. It would be wrong, however, not to give it to Conor Dunne. 1-5 from play tells its own story but he also handled a lot more ball, using most of it very well while he also helped Ballycommon retain a vice like grip on it when drifting back to the midfield third in the second half.

THE SCORERS

Ballycommon: Conor Dunne 1-5, David Dempsey, Gareth Mann, Christopher Kenny (2f) 0-2 each, Ryan Kenny (f) and Karl Dunne 0-1 each.

Cappincur: Bill Carroll 0-3 (3f), Ciaran Farrell 0-2 (1f and 1 '45'), Ger Treacy 0-1 (f).

THE TEAMS

BALLYCOMMON: Paul Scally; David Dempsey, Aidan Bracken, Mathhew Dempsey; Chulainn Boland, Barry Bracken, Michael Conneely; Brian Todd, Dylan Martin; Karl Dunne, Gareth Mann, Stephen Conneely; Ryan Kenny, Christopher Kenny, Conor Dunne. Subs – Sean Conway for Mann (45m), Jack Kenny for Christopher Kenny (55m), TJ Bermingham for Ryan Kenny (57m), Donal Scally for Dempsey (60m).

GER TREACY

CAPPINCUR: Peter Daly; Tommy Leavy, Adam Galvin, Ollie Hayes; PJ Daly, Brion Carroll, Sean Graham; Sean Courtney, Eoin Carroll; Ger Treacy, Ciaran Farrell, David Carroll; Peter Norris, Bill Carroll, Kevin Minnock. Subs – Jason Gethings for Leavy (HT), Eoin Hickey for David Carroll (43m), John Colgan for Galvin (44m), Luke Carey for Norris (56m).

Referee – Kevin Williamson (Tullamore).

REFEREE WATCH

Once again Kevin Williamson exuded efficiency and there were no issues. He didn't dish out cards softly but he did show them when he felt they were merited while he allowed play to run.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

There was no big moment as such but the frees Cappincur missed in the second quarter really knocked the stuffing out of them. Three different players missed with the result that they had only one point on the board at half time, which was soul destroying. They should have had four, could have had five points, and it would have been a much different game then.

VENUE WATCH

This was the third game in O'Connor Pak on Saturday and the pitch held up very well but heavy rain just after the final whistle was the last thing officials wanted to see ahead of two big games on Sunday.

WHAT'S NEXT

Ballycommon play Clonbullogue in the final.

STATISTICS

Wides: Ballycommon - 4 (4 in first half); Cappincur – 9 (5 in first half).

Yellow cards: Ballycommon – 1 (Sean Conway); Cappincur – 2 (Sean Courtney and Eoin Carroll).

Black cards: 0.

Red cards: 0.