Fast improving Ballinagar hold on for dear life to make Leinster final after titanic struggle

A SENSATIONAL year for Ballinagar moved into fairytale territory when they held on for dear life to make the final of the Leinster Club Junior Football Championship with a nail-biting win over Kildare visitors Ellistown on Saturday – Meath's Dunsany denied them off a mouth watering local derby final by beating Kilcavan of Laois on Saturday.

AIB Leinster Club Junior Football Championship semi-final

Ballinagar 0-9

Ellistown 0-8

O'Connor Park was no place for the faint hearted as a dogged, titanic type struggle emerged with every ball fiercely fought and no hiding place for anyone. Ballinagar just about did enough to win, they were ever so slightly the better side but the margins were incredibly tight here and they really scraped into the final.

With defences on top, Ballinagar showed great composure and character to advance with just a point separating the sides at the end. Twelve and a half minutes of injury time were played as there was a ten minute delay at the start of the second half because of a bad concussion injury to Ellistown centre half back Darragh Watson after a collision with Adam Strong as both chased a breaking ball.

Ballinagar were four points ahead going into injury time and it looked like Ellistown had to get a goal to rescue it but instead they almost got there with points. Three points between the 62^nd and 66^th minutes brought the gap back to a point, 0-9 to 0-8 and the hearts of Ballinagar's supporters were in their mouths.

They then engaged in a great bout of keep the ball that kept Ellistown at bay for almost three minutes. Ballinagar's composure and ability to do the right thing in this spell showed how far they have come as a team this year and they should have rounded it off with a point but the very lively and hard working Conor Bracken was wide from 20 metres.

This left the door open for Ellistown but Bracken's miss was cancelled out when their best player Pat Martin angled his shot wide. Ellistown couldn't get into range again, though they did have the ball in an advanced position. Ballinagar were close to fouling but didn't and the final whistle came as a great relief to them.

It was a tremendous win for Ballinagar who staged a great rally to capture the intermediate championship in Offaly. They have embraced the Leinster championship and the improvement of some players has been noticeable. It all augurs very well for the future for Ballinagar and this game was all about heart and trying to do the right thing. It wasn't their best, most free flowing performance of the year but it was a serious win for them and it really the great strides forward they have made this season.

The first half was a real dogged affair with scores at a premium and not much open, attacking football. It was 0-2 each after 13 minutes and points from Morgan Tynan and Aaron Gorman gave Ballinagar a 0-4 to 0-2 interval lead. Ellistown looked very mediocre at times in the first half and six wides did not help their cause.

A Steven Dwane free and excellent point from play extended the gap to 0-6 to 0-2 by the 46^th minute – just six minutes had been played at this stage because of that injury.

Conor O'Loughlin's 47^th minute point was Ellistown's first since the 13^th minute and the goalposts changed when Ballinagar's superb midfield Adam Strong got a 48^th minute black card for blocking a run. Ellistown took advantage with two points to bring it back to a point, 0-6 to 0-5 and with Strong still having eight minutes to serve in the sin bin, the momentum was very much with them.

Somehow, Ballinagar turned the tide, Robbie Gallagher curled over a beauty and followed up with a mark and Geordi O'Meara slotted over a free to put them back 0-9 to 0-5 ahead as Strong came back on.

Ellistown did very well to get back into it with the next three points but Ballinagar just held on, much to the delight of their support.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Morgan Tynan (Ballinagar): A tight call between Ballinagar centre back Brian Malone and midfielder Morgan Tynan. Tynan gets the nod as the quality of some of his midfield play and passing took the breath away. He scarcely wasted a ball, was able to find space and he had the vision to pick out runs of team mates well away from him. Tynan's importance to Ballinagar is considerable and this was a huge game from him – Adam Strong gave great support beside him.

Full credit to Brian Malone who marshalled the defence superbly and was the rock on which many a Ellistown attack floundered. He just did the simple thing so effectively. Declan Crombie and Aaron Gorman were tremendous in a very good Ballinagar defence while goalkeeper Ryan Kinahan, an unsung hero for them, deserves a mention for his composure on the ball.

Ballinagar's forward line found the going tough. Robbie Gallagher was often isolated and tightly marked but he still showed very well, fought with great tenacity and played his part while Geordi O'Meara put in a great shift, breaking tackles and using the ball so efficiently – O'Meara was also a consideration for man of the match. Conor Bracken also did very well as he worked his socks off and dug so deep.

THE SCORERS

Ballinagar: Robbie Gallagher 0-3 (2 marks), Geordi O'Meara (2f) and Steven Dwane (1f) 0-2 each, Aaron Gorman and Morgan Tynan 0-1 each.

Ellistown: Eoin O'Loughlin 0-2, Pat Martin, Conor Lindy, Ciaran Lindy, Conor O'Loughlin, Max Lennox and David Dunne 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

BALLINAGAR: Ryan Kinahan; Declan Crombie, Diarmuid Finneran, Adam Joyce; Jack Gorry, Brian Malone, Aaron Gorman; Adam Strong, Morgan Tynan; Geordi O'Meara, Conor McGuinness, Jack Sheil; Conor Bracken, Robbie Gallagher, Steven Dwane. Subs – Jamie Ballesty for Dwane (61m), Jacob Beatty for McGuinness (66m),

ELLISTOWN: Oran Donnelly; Sean Lindy, Andrew McLoughlin, James Neilson; Oisin McLoughlin, Darragh Watson, Pat Martin; Conor Lindy, Shane Maughan; Evan Donnelly, Ciaran Lindy, Eoin O'Loughlin; Tadgh Watson, Conor O'Loughlin, Leo Lennox. Subs – David Dunne for Darragh Watson (40m), James Sutton for Conor O'Loughlin (59m), Darren Kelly for Tadgh Watson (59m), Max Lennox for Oisin O'Loughlin (62m), Callum Donnelly for Ciaran Lindy (70m),

Referee – James Foley (Carlow).

REFEREE WATCH

James Foley had a very good game and it is a good sign when there are very little complaints from either side, though Ballinagar were certainly happy with a couple of late calls that went in their favour. Adam Strong couldn't complain much at his second half black card as he seemed to block a run. Robbie Gallagher's point in the 55^th minute looked to have been awarded for a mark but if it wasn't for a free, the referee was wrong as Conor Bracken was well inside the 40 metre line when he kicked it in.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Robbie Gallagher's 53^rd minute point was crucial. It came after Ellistown had got the gap back to a point and Ballinagar looked in bother. Gallagher was tightly marked but found the space to float it over from out on the right. It stopped Ellistown's momentum and Ballinagar got the next two points to open up a winning gap.

VENUE WATCH

On a much better than predicted day, the O'Connor Park pitch was in fine order and there were no issues. The wet conditions did mean that the steps on the stand were slippy but PA announcer Eamon Cusack regularly warned supporters to be careful.

WHAT'S NEXT

Ballinagar go into the final against Dunsaney of Meath.

STATISTICS

Wides: Ballinagar – 3 (1 in first half); Ellistown – 9 (6 in first half).

Yellow cards: Ballinagar – 0; Ellistown – 1 (Andrew McLoughlin).

Black cards: Ballinagar – 1 (Adam Strong); Ellistown - 0

Red cards: 0