Ballinagar battle back to earn share of the spoils in big local derby

Tullamore Court Hotel Senior 'B' Football Championship Round 1

BALLINAGAR 1-19

CAPPINCUR 2-16

BALLINAGAR battled back twice in the final quarter to earn a share of the spoils with neighbours Cappincur after a very entertaining game of football in the opening round of the Tullamore Court Hotel Offaly Senior B football championship played in Ballinagar on Friday evening.

In the end neither side was able to claim the bragging rights over their close neighbours and a draw will be considered by many as a fair result as it would have been tough in either side to have lost after a very good contest.

Cappincur led for much of the game but a very good third quarter saw Ballinagar claim a three point lead heading into the final quarter but within four minutes they were four points down again. However they showed great will and determination to hit back to level and although Cappincur immediately regained the lead, the home side had the final say with a late leveller that ensured both sides were home with a point each.

That final quarter reflected much of the game as a whole. The sides exchanged goals inside the first three minutes and after Ballinagar had taken the lead for the first time, Cappincur responded to lead by four midway through the first half. Ballinagar stuck with it and although they saw a penalty saved they kept in touch and were three behind at half time, 1-8 to 1-5.

Cappincur stretched the lead to five points early in the second half but Ballinagar outscored them 0-8 to 0-1 over a 12 minute spell to go three in front. Cappincur hit four in quick succession to regain the lead and when they netted for a second time they were four ahead heading into the final 10 minutes and looked set for victory but Ballinagar had other ideas and fought back to level matters before the final whistle.

At the end of the day both will probably feel happy enough with the point gained but will reflect on the game and feel they should have won. Ballinagar will look back on that missed penalty in the first half and also a number of other misses. They sent at least three placed balls wide and had eight wides as compared to just one for their opponents. But having fallen four behind late in the game, they will be pleased with the spirit they showed to fight back to level.

Cappincur made more of the opportunities that came their way and that one wide over the hour shows they maximised their chances. They hit four two pointers as against just two for their opponents. They will probably be disappointed that having gone four up in the last quarter they didn't manage things better and hold onto the lead to the end.

Diarmuid Finneran, Adam Joyce, Brian Malone, Adam Strong, Aaron Gorman, Morgan Tynan and Robbie Gallagher all contributed immensely for Ballinagar while David Graham, Sean Flynn, Sean Graham, Ciaran Farrell, P.J. Daly and Ger Treacy made strong contributions for Cappincur.

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The start of the game was held up briefly as there was a strong similiarity in the two sets of jerseys so Ballinagar changed to their sky blue jerseys before proceedings got under way. There was a dramatic start to the action with two early goals. Inside the second minute, a Ballinagar defender sent a loose pass across his own goalmouth and Sean Courtney pounced to first time the loose ball to the net.

Just a minute later Ballinagar were level when Morgan Tynan's delivery was fielded by Conor McGuinness, who transferred to Conor Bracken and he steered his shot to the net. Robbie Gallagher added a point to give the home side the lead. Peter Norris levelled from a free and then Adam Galvin lofted over a two pointer. Ciaran Farrell kicked two in quick succession and Cappincur were four ahead after 15 minutes.

Morgan Tynan and P.J. Daly exchanged points before Aaron Gorman was fouled and a penalty awarded. Morgan Tynan's well struck shot was well saved by David Graham and as the ball ran loose Tynan pulled on the loose ball but Graham was back up quickly to pull off another terrific save and foil the danger.

Morgan Tynan did point a free but Ger Treacy replied with a two point free for Cappincur. Geordi O'Meara hit one from play ane one from a free for Ballinagar but also missed a brace of other frees and Cappincur went in at half time leading 1-8 to 1-5.

Half time sub Eoin Carroll made an instant impact for Cappincur kicking a two pointer a minute into the second half to put them five clear again. Robbie Gallagher fired a shot low across the goals and wide but Ballinagar were taking a grip on the game. Adam Joyce and two Robbie Gallagher points gave them momentum. Sean Flynn pointed for Cappincur but Ballinagar came again and Morgan Tynan kicked a great two pointer and Robbie Gallagher levelled the game. The same player then kicked a two point free from 45m, which had been moved up 50m for not giving the ball back quickly enough, and Morgan Tynan added another point to leave Ballinagar three points up entering the final quarter.

Cappincur realised they were in a battle and two points in quick succession from Ger Treacy got them going again and then he pointed a two point free to put them back in front. From the kick out they went back on the attack and when Ballinagar lost possession near their own goals, David Carroll collected and his low shot went into the net off the far post and they were four clear with 11 minutes left.

Morgan Tynan pointed a free and Aaron Gorman added two more to leave the minimum in it again. Geordi O'Meara fisted over to level it with three minutes to go but from the kick out David Carroll won the ball and passed to Sean Courtney who found Peter Norris and he kicked them into the lead again. Ballinagar came back quickly and Ryan Strong levelled again with just over a minute left.

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Both sides attacked as the game went into three minutes of injury time. Cappincur had the best chance from a free but Ger Treacy's effort from out on the right hit the post and Ballinagar managed to avert the danger. The sides were still deadlocked when the final whistle blew and both sides could feel satisfied with the outcome.

MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

BALLINAGAR: Ryan Kinahan; Declan Crombie, Diarmuid Finneran, Eoin McGuinness; Adam Joyce, Brian Malone, Aaron Gorman; Adam Strong, Alex Cuddy; Jacob Beatty, Geordi O'Meara, Conor McGuinness; Morgan Tynan, Robbie Gallagher, Conor Bracken. Subs. Ryan Strong (for Alex Cuddy, 39 mins), Jamie Ballesty (for Jacob Beatty, 47 mins), Adam Mangan (for Conor McGuinness, 47 mins).

CAPPINCUR: David Graham; Michael Fitzgerald, Diarmuid Carroll, Brion Carroll; Sean Graham, P.J. Daly, Sean Flynn; Ciaran Farrell, Adam Galvin; Andrew Strong, Sean Courtney, Niall Minnock; Ger Treacy, Jason Gethings, Peter Norris. Subs. Darragh Norris (for Michael Fitzgerald, half time), Eoin Carroll (for Niall Minnock, half time), David Carroll (for Andrew Strong, 37 mins), Ollie Hayes (for Diarmuid Carroll, 56 mins).

REFEREE: Marius Stones (Clara)

MAN OF THE MATCH

There were strong contenders on both sides. Captain Ciaran Farrell led the Cappincur side well and Ger Treacy and P.J. Daly were also very much involved in the action, while for the home side the two leading contenders were Morgan Tynan and Robbie Gallagher and I've gone with the latter by a narrow margin. He scored four points from play, was involved in a lot of Ballinagar's best moves and was lively throughout.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

In a game of fluctuating fortunes which ended in a draw there was no decisive moment as such but one of the highlight moments was a brilliant double save by David Graham in the first half from Morgan Tynan. Initially he made a fine save from his well struck penalty but the follow up save when he reacted quickly to save the rebound was probably even better and definitely a moment to remember.

REFEREE WATCH

Marius Stones handled the game well. He let things flow as much as possible and allowed some good hard challenges. There were a few debateable decisions but nothing major and Cappincur felt at times that Ballinagar were getting frees a little easier. However he did show a lot of leniency in not booking Cappincur's Diarmuid Carroll for a high challenge in the second half, and as he had been black carded in the first half it would have been a red for a second booking. He also punished dissent on a number of occasions.

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WHAT’S NEXT

Cappincur host Tubber in round 2 on Friday August 1^st, while Ballingar have a bye in round 2 and their next outing will also be against Tubber in Tubber on Friday August 15^th.

VENUE WATCH

Ballinagar pulled out all the stops for their return to the second tier of Offaly football and a big local derby meeting with Cappincur. There were loads of stewards on duty, they marshalled the parking very well and did well to ensure there were no major hold ups on the road with passing traffic as cars entered the pitch and they looked after the traffic leaving as well. Everything else was well organised, the pitch was in good condition and everything ran smoothly.

STATISTICS

Wides; Ballingar 8 (5 in first half) Cappincur 1 (0 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Ballinagar 1 (Adam Strong) Cappincur 3 (Niall Minnock, Sean Graham, Adam Galvin)

Black Cards: Ballinagar 0 Cappincur 1 (Diarmuid Carroll)

Red Cards: None

THE SCORERS

Ballinagar; Robbie Gallagher (0-6, 1 x 2pf), Morgan Tynan (0-6, 1 x 2p, 0-2 frees), Conor Bracken (1-0), Geordi O'Meara (0-3, 0-1 free), Aaron Gorman (0-2), Adam Joyce, Ryan Strong (0-1 each).

Cappincur; Ger Treacy (0-6, 2 x 2pf), Sean Courtney, David Carroll (1-0 each), Ciaran Farrell (0-2), Peter Norris (0-2, 0-1 free), Adam Galvin (0-2, 1 x 2p), Eoin Carroll (0-2, 1 x 2p), P.J. Daly, Sean Flynn (0-1 each).

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