RADLEY ENGINEERING WESTERN INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

MCGOVERN ‘S GOAL SEALS DUNGARVAN WIN

DUNGARVAN 2-8 BALLINAMEELA 1-9

There was precious little between the teams in this first round Western IFC game at the Fraher Field last Saturday afternoon but it could have been different if Ballinameela had their shooting boots on as they kicked nine first half wides to Dungarvan’s one and they had one player more on the field for a vital ten minutes in the final quarter.

Ballinameela started well but Dungarvan goalie Mark Boland made a brilliant save from Rob Shine in the fourth minute to deny them a crucial score in what turned out to be a very close contest.

Dungarvan were first to score when the Curran brothers Cathal and Colm both found the target in the 8^th minute followed by a third Dungarvan point one minute later by the opening scorer.

Eddie Walsh got Ballinameela off the mark in the 11^th minute with a well taken point from play before Joe Allen restored  the Blues 0-3 advantage at the end of the first quarter. All the while, Ballinameela were wasteful in front of the country end goal and they were made pay when Eoin O Callaghan and Cathal Curran combined to provide for a Michael Kiely  19^th minute goal from close range at the other end of the field.

Two of the best scores soon followed and both came from the boot of Ballinameela’s Jason Morrissey. The in form striker kicked 20^th minute contender for score of the match and then he brought the game back to 0-2 when he unleashed a strike off the ground into the top corner of the country end goal, 1-4 to 1-2. This deficit was reduced further when Eddie Walsh pointed a 24^th minute free and all to play for.

Ballinameela goalie Donagh Looby made a timely save in the 27^th minute while Dungarvan finished the half the stronger with a pointed free by Joe Allen and a score from play by Eoin O Callaghan.  Half time score was 1-6 to 1-3 with Ballinameela’s nine wides making all the difference on the scoreboard.

SECOND HALF

Ballinameela won the second half by 0-6 to 1-2. Six minutes in, the sides were level after three scores in a row by Jim Curran and a further 0-2 from play by Jason Morrissey. His team took the lead for the first time with a score by captain Mikey Phelan with Dungarvan yet to score in the second half. A Jason Morrissey free gave the opportunity to double that advantage but he was wide of the target for once.

It may have been a long wait for the winners to score, all of fifteen minutes into the half but when it came, it was the most important one of the half and probably the game. A high ball into the Ballinameela goal was not dealt with and Dungarvan sub Gabriel McGovern was quickest to react to the breaking ball and squeeze it past players from both sides into the net, 2-6 to 1-7.

Two minutes later Dungarvan were reduced to fourteen men but they played this handicap perfectly in keeping possession of the ball and then breaking forward to good effect with wing back Kealan Daly scoring points in the 52^nd and the 55h minutes, 2-8 to 1-7.

Ballinameela finished strong, Mikey Phelan kicked a 57^th minute point and Paul Curran scored a point from a near impossible possession on the endline in the 59^th minute to leave just 0-2 the difference at the final whistle.

There is usually little difference between these two teams and such was the case again on Saturday last. Next up for Dungarvan is a local derby against Ballinacourty while Ballinameela will play Colligan.

Dungarvan’s Top Three : Colm Curran, Michael Kiely, John Curran.

Ballinameela’s Topo Three : Jason Morrissey, Brendan Phelan, Davy Phelan.

Observer’s Man of the  Match : Jason Morrissey.

Number of Scorers : Dungarvan : 7. Ballinameela : 5.

Scores From Play : Dungarvan : 2-6. Ballinameela : 1-7.

Frees For : Dungarvan : 13. Ballinameela : 15.

Wides ; Dungarvan : 3. Ballinameela : 10.

Score of the Match : Dungarvan’s  19^th minute goal engineered by Michael Kiely, Eoin O Callaghan and Cathal Curran and executed by Michael Kiely.

Scorers :

Dungarvan : Michael Kiely and Gabriel McGovern 1-0 each, Cathal Curran and Kealan Daly 0-2 each, Joe Allen 0-2(1f), Colm Curran and Eoin O Callaghan 0-1 each.

Ballinammea : Jason Morrissey 1-3, Eddie Walsh and Mikey Phelan 0-2(1f) each,Jim Curran and Paul Curran 0-1 each.

Teams :

Dungarvan : Mark Boland; Sean Hyslop, Conor Sheridan, Eoin Buenaventura; Kealan Daly, Jack Fitzgerald, Michael Kiely; Jack Lacey, John Curran, Joe Allen, Colm Curran, Jamie Nagle; Cathal Curran, Darren Duggan, Eoin O Callaghan. Subs :  Mikey Burke for Eoin Buenaventura(34), Gabriel McGovern for Eoin O Callaghan (40).

Ballinameela : Donagh Looby; Brendan Phelan, Colin Walsh, Jack Sullivan; Paul Curran, David Phelan, Kealon Looby; Mikey Phelan, Brian Phelan; Rob Shine, Jim Curran, Eddie Walsh; Henry Griffin, Jason Morrissey, Jack Griffin. Subs : Robbie McGrath for Jack Sullivan(32), Eamonn Walsh for Jack Griffin(37), Michael Kiely for Eddie Walsh(41), Cian Culloo for Brian Phelan(56).

Referee : Tommy Sullivan (Affane/Cappoquin).

MERCY HOSPITAL WALK

The first walk to raise funds for the Mercy Hospital Cork Cancer Appeal, organised by our Club Chairperson Grace O Callaghan takes place this Saturday October 1^st leaving from our club Grounds at 10am.

The first walk is 5.3k but any distance will do to cater for all levels of fitness. The aim for some will be to walk 165km in the month of October and the big aim is to raise money to help the Hospital in their continuing work with cancer patients.

By joining the Mercy “Walk or Run 165Km” Challenge, YOU will be making an incredible difference. You will be making a difference to the lives of those living with a cancer diagnosis under the care of the Mercy.

Hail, rain or snow, we are on the road on Saturday. Bring a friend if you have one!