Junior 'A' FC Final 2010
Early goal sinks Carrickedmond as
Ballymahon claim Junior title
17.09.10 | Junior ‘A’ FC Final | Ballymahon 1-8
Carrickedmond 0-10 | By Emmet Masterson
A Thomas Mulvihill goal in the fifth minute
of the game proved to be the decisive score as Ballymahon edged a narrow one
point win over
Man-of-the-match Mulvihill ended up with
1-5 to his credit as Ballymahon won the Junior title for the first time since
1960.
Played as a Friday night floodlit fixture
at the excellent Cashel grounds, the attendance enjoyed a fast free-flowing
game of football from start to finish. Indeed the crowd of about 300 did not
have long to wait for the first score, corner-forward Keith Maguire tapping
over a simple free after Gareth Flower had been fouled in the 3rd minute.
But this was the only time that
Carrickedmond held the lead in the entire encounter as Ballymahon's response
was immediate and devastating. Longford county minor Pedro Byrne managed to win
the ball forty yards out from goal before embarking on a trademark run towards
the Carrickedmond goal and his delightful fisted pass found the inrushing
Thomas Mulvihill who dispatched the ball brilliantly into the left corner of
the net.
Despite being pitched in the Carrickedmond
half, Ballymahon spurned several opportunities in the next ten minutes,
managing only two points through a Thomas Mulvihill free and an Eddie Noonan
effort from play.
A Michael Cunningham point in the 16th
minute helped re-ignite the Carrickedmond effort as his delightful turn took
out two markers before blasting the ball over the bar. Cunningham then laid on
the ball for Keith Maguire and he finished confidently for another point.
A fabulous David Quinn point was followed up by a Pat Egan score in the 25th minute but an excellent Pedro Byrne point brought an end to the strong Carrickedmond spell. Byrne started another of his penetrating runs through the Carrickedmond defence 60 yards out and after playing a one-two with John Nevin, recollected the ball before driving it over the bar for the best score of the game.
Frees were then exchanged between
Thomas Mulvihill and Michael Cunningham as the first half drew to a close,
Ballymahon holding a slender 1-4 to 0-6 lead at the break.
Thomas Mulvihill continued his fine
free-taking form at the start of the second half to leave two between the sides
again. Carrickedmond manager Gerry Belton decided to bring on two substitutes in
response, Mel Yorke and the inspirational figure of Eugene McCormack. Indeed,
McCormack had an immediate impact in doing well to win a free which Michael
Cunningham converted.
Michael Cunningham then knocked over
another pressure free to leave the sides level for the third time in the match.
At this stage Carrickedmond seemed the most likely to take the honours with
momentum and the midfield duo of Dermot McCormack and especially John Burns
proving dominant in this sector.
However, this scenario did not materialise
as a James Farrell inspired Ballymahon attack started to take the initiative.
Farrell (a close contender for
man-of-the-match) got his name on the scoresheet with a fine point, retrieving
the ball near the corner flag before cutting in and fisting over the bar. This
score put Ballymahon back in the lead and which was extended to 3 points inside
the next 8 minutes through two Thomas Mulvihill frees.
But with five minutes to go Ballymahon
midfielder Charlie Byrne was issued a straight red card by referee Pauric
McGee. Byrne's moment of petulance was punished as Keith Maguire's close range
free left two between the sides as the game entered the closing stages. Rallied
on by the vocal Carrickedmond support, the game adopted a frenetic pace as
normal time elapsed.
Another free by Michael Cunningham left
just one point between the sides as the tension mounted in Páirc Chiarán. After
David Quinn wasted a decent chance for Carrickedmond, they appeared to be thrown
a lifeline in the 3rd minute of stoppage time when they were awarded a 35 metre
free.
Surprisingly, Michael Cunningham who was
right-footed and flawless on the frees in the final was relieved of free taking
duties by Keith Maguire who elected to strike the ball with the outside of his
left boot. However, the corner forward did not connect as he would have wished
and Carrickedmond's last opportunity of the equaliser was gone.
In what was a very exciting encounter, a
young Ballymahon side emerged victorious but Carrickedmond can hold their heads
high after a spirited performance which almost saw them bridge a 48-year gap
since they last won Junior honours back in 1962 and claim an historic double
after their first-team claimed the Intermediate crown the previous Sunday.
Most prominent for the gallant losers were
Barry O'Farrell, John Burns and Michael Cunningham while best for Ballymahon
were Matthew Daly, who was a rock at centre-half-back and the ply to play no.15
James Daly as a 3rd midfielder worked well as he foraged for lots of ball in
the defence and midfield area while the skill of James Farrell, Pedro Byrne and
Thomas Mulvihill helped keep the scoreboard ticking and secure victory for the
jubilant Ballymahon side.
BALLYMAHON: James McCormack; Gareth
Murtagh, Jamie Noonan, Ian Mulvihill; Niall Dowler, Matthew Daly, Graham
Forbes; Dan Carberry, Charlie Byrne; Thomas Mulvihill (1-5, points from frees),
James Farrell (0-1), Eddie Noonan (0-1); Pedro Byrne (0-1), John Nevin, James Daly.
Sub used:- Shane O' Neill (43 mins).
CARRICKEDMOND: Gareth Higgins; Joe Breslin,
James Teague, David Lenehan; Barry O' Farrell, Shane Mulvey, Paul Yorke; Dermot
McCormack, John Burns; David Quinn (0-1), John O' Rourke, Michael Cunningham
(0-5, 4 frees); Keith Maguire (0-3, 2 frees), Gareth Flower, Patrick Egan
(0-1).
Subs used:- Eugene McCormack and Mel Yorke
(33 mins).
Referee: Pauric McGee (Fr. Manning Gaels).
The Ballymahon team celebrate after winning the Junior 'A' Football Championship against Carrickedmond at the Cashel grounds
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