Ballon and St Patricks to meet again after drawn JFC 'C' final
St Patrick's and Ballon must meet again
These two sides will have to do it all again after they played out an exciting draw in this Junior Football C Championship final at Netwatch Cullen Park on Friday.
St Patricks started as if they were going to sweep the opposition aside. The Ballon goal bore a charmed life as Kevin Healy, fired over a two-pointer from play and also added a point. When Conor Cleary and Donal Kelly also raised white flags, the Tullow side were five points clear.
St Patricks, Brian Maher, converted a free on 14 minutes. Before the half was over he had added a two-pointer from play and a two-point free. Kevin Maher also scored two points to leave the Wexford Road side 0-7 to 0-6 ahead at the break.
Ballon looked to be taking the initiative when Billy Maher, Thomas Maher and Billy Flynn pointed. The sides traded scores before Tadhg Foley swooped for a goal when his well-struck shot was blocked by keeper, Anthony Moran, but was unable to stop the ball crossing the line.
It was tense from there. Foley once again slipped past the Ballon cover and cleverly chipped the advancing keeper for another goal. After conceding the goal, Ballon came in waves and were rewarded with two Brian Maher frees and Rory O’Connor fired over the equaliser which will see the sides battle it out again at a time and date to be announced.
B Maher 0-9 (1-2pf 2, 3fs), K Maher 0-2, T Maher, R Ward, B Flynn, R O’Connor 0-1 each.
T Foley 2-0, K Healy 0-4 (1-2p), T Murphy, D Kelly, C Cleary, C Gordon Comerford, E O’Toole (f) 0-1 each.
Dan Fanning; Adam Deacon, Shane Byrne, Nick Mullins; Thomas Maher, Darren Geraghty, Robbie Ward; John Gittens, Ciaran Lewis; Rory O’Connor, Billy Flynn, Eoin Doyle; Kevin Maher, David Wilson, Brian Maher. Subs: Padraig Murphy for Gittens (23), Lorcan Moore for Murphy (h/t).
Anthony Moran; Conor Cleary, Mubat Mudawapi, Conor Murphy; Adam Denton, Kevin Healy, Cathal Lyons; Tadhg Foley, David Orbinski; Oisin Lyons, Ross Hanley, Cian Gorman Comerford; Tommy Murphy, Eoin O’Toole, Donal Kelly. Subs: Tadhg Black for Lyons (h/t), Alan O’Neill for Kelly (h/t), Conor Brophy for Murphy (h/t), Murphy for Mudawapi (47), Cillian O’Neill for T Murphy (49).
Sean McCormack (Fighting Cocks).
