Drawn game in Q-final of Junior A Football championship
August 03, 2019
Killavullen spurned numerous goal scorer chances and Ballyclough grimly hung in there, and equalised with a wonder point from Damien Buckley to force a draw, in a very entertaining Junior A Football championship Quarter Final, last night in Mourne Abbey.
Killavullen opened the scoring with a Billy Norris point in the 1st minute and Charlie Lillis added another point from a free in the 3rd. Ballyclough got on the score sheet in the 5th minute and drew level in the 9th with a Tom O Neill free. We went ahead again with a lovely Padraig Looney point, when his pace was a decisive factor in getting away from his man, only for Ballyclough to equalise again, with another free. Liam Cronin put us back in front with a fine point, and Gary Lane cut in from his wing, and shot over a refined point to push out our advantage to 2 points. Ballyclough manufactured another scoring free that was converted in the 22nd minute. Padraig then sent a booming free of his own over the bar, from an awkward angle to put us 2 points ahead again. Charlie Lillis was fouled heavily, the free was awarded and taken quickly by Jack O Connor who found Billy Norris is front of goal, and his pile driver clipped the top of the cross bar and registered a white flag, when a green one was possible. Ballyclough took advantage of the reprieve and scored two points of their own, in the 25th and 26th minutes. Eoin Buckley scored an individual score when he ran through the middle of the defence and shot over the bar.
We worked two great goal scoring chances before the interval, but sadly failed to take either, but you must also credit the Ballyclough goal keeper who stayed big, upright and menacing, and hurried the kicker. We did get a delightful score from Jack in the 31st minute to leave us leading the interval by 0-09 to 0-06.
Ballyclough got a free on the resumption in the 1st minute but Kevin Fox sent a nice point over the bar in the 3rd to keep out lead intact. Ballyclough got another point in the 4th minute but Padraig scored another for us, in the 6th. Another converted free for Ballyclough kept them in touch, but Charlie Lillis scored a mesmerising point after a great team exchange of hands in the 9th minute. Damien Buckley was instrumental in a lot of good Ballyclough play, and he scored a good point for them, in the same minute.
Padraig had to leave the field when the lines man should have picked up an off the ball incident and Fionn Magner came into the affray. Jack scored another point for us in the 14th minute, but again Ballyclough, as they had been doing all night, got a point back from their very effective half back, Shane Buckley. We got another point from a free, from Liam Cronin after Charlie was scythed down but only a yellow card ensued. Charlie had to leave the field shortly afterwards, and Mike Fresh introduced.
We had three more glorious chances of goals when we were one on one with their keeper, but our shots were either straight at him or fizzled narrowly wide. Ballyclough got a point from Damien Buckley in the 30th minute and the same player despite being pressed very hard made it a one point lead with another point in the 3rd minute of injury time. The referee played on, and in the 5th minute of injury time, that man Buckley scored a phenomenon point with his left boot, his normally kicks with the right, that was worthy of drawing this very entertaining, though uncompromising game.
The team and those who scored were;
- James Angland
- Pa Sheehan
- Sean O Regan
- Ian O Gorman
- Patrick Angland
- Paul O Sullivan
- Eddie Cotter
- Eoin Buckley (0-01)
- Liam Cronin (0-02, (0-01F))
- Jack O Connor (0-02)
- Billy Norris (0-02)
- Kevin Fox (0-01)
- Charlie Lillis (0-02, 0-01F
- Padraig Looney(0-03, 0-01F)
- Gary Lane (0-01)
Substitutes.
- Fionn Magner for Padraig Looney – injured
- Mikey O Connor for Paul O Sullivan
- Mike Fresh for Charlie Lillis (injured)