Goal crazy Ballymahon/Forgney crowned U-16 kings

11.09.10 | U-16 ‘C’ FC Final | Ballymahon/Forgney 4-8 St. Francis 2-8

Ballymahon/Forgney overcame a determined St. Francis Dromard challenge to secure victory in the Juvenile (U-16) 'C' Football Championship Final at Pearse Park on Saturday last.

The game began in torrential rain and from the throw-in Ballymahon/Forgney made the more confident start to go 0-3 to 0-1 ahead after 15 minutes with Lee Masters, John Reid and Paul Keegan getting the scores while Peter Mimnagh replied with a fine point from inside the 45m line.

Mimnagh was on target again for St. Francis and Jonathan Carberry got a point for Ballymahon/Forgney before the games first goal came in the 20th minute when John Reid calmly finished to the Dromard net after running on to a pass from Paul Keegan.

Brian McCormack and Lee Masters exchanged points to leave the half-time score 1-5 to 0-3 in favour of Ballymahon/Forgney but St. Francis came out a different side for the second half and were on top in the third quarter to score a goal and five points through B McCormack (1-2), P Mimnagh (0-2) and D Masterson to lead by 1-8 to 1-6 with J. Reid getting the solitary score for Ballymahon/Forgney.

The turning point of the game came with 12 minutes to go when St. Francis lost their keeper Joseph Reynolds who was injured in trying to keep out the second goal for Ballymahon/Forgney which was finished to the net at the third attempt by Jordan Mulvihill.

With five minutes to go a St. Francis sideline kick was intercepted resulting in a point and from the kick out a Lee Masters effort from just inside the '45 deceived the Dromard defence and the ball drifted into the net.

But St. Francis kept plugging away and a fine Brian McCormack goal left them trailing by just two points, 3-7 to 2-8, with two minutes plus injury time left. But that ended the scoring for the north Longford side and Ballymahon/Forgney grabbed another goal through Paul Keegan just before the final whistle to clinch a hard earned success.

BALLYMAHON/FORGNEY: N Noonan, D Nestor, M Canavan, C Sherrin, J Reid (1-2), J Mulvihill (1-0), L Masters (1-2), J Carberry (0-1), D Steele, P Keegan (1-2), J Kearney (0-1).

Subs used:- M J Harney and N Sheehy.

ST. FRANCIS: J Reynolds, R Smith, S Kenny, R Cooke, K Hourican, N Cosgrove, N McManus, B McCormack (2-3), D Masterson (0-1), P Mimnagh (0-4), C O'Brien.

Subs used:- B Connell and L Doherty.

REFEREE: T Gaffney (Mostrim).