Eoghan Power dashed back from Tipp duty to score five points for Ballina in their league semi-final defeat to JK Brackens. PHOTO: ODHRAN DUCIE
GAA: FBD Insurance County Football League Division 1 Semi-Final
JK Brackens 2-16
Ballina 1-18
(after extra time)
Report: Liam Hogan in Ballina
MATCH DIGEST
Player of the Match: Jack Kennedy (JK Brackens)
SCORERS – JK Brackens: Jack Kennedy 1-13 (0-3 frees, 0-1’45); Cian McDonnell 1-0; Darragh Doyle, Diarmuid Delaney, Jack Nevin -1 each.
Ballina: Eoghan Power 0-5 (2 frees); Charlie King 0-4; Cathal O’Donnell 1-1; Daniel Tighe, J Hanley (1 free, 1’45) 0-2 each; David Kelly, Matthew Power, Conor Power, Zack Egan 0-1 each.
A Ciaran McDonnell goal in the 81st minute sealed a place in the final for JK Brackens who defeated Ballina in a very entraining County Football League Division 1 semi-final on Saturday evening.
The game, which was level seven times, looked to be heading for a Ballina victory as they led 1-17 to 1-15 following an Eoghan Power free in the 75th minute. However, JK Brackens came forward again and after the brilliant Jack Kennedy was off target with an angled free in the 78th minute, the resulting kickout by Ballina was delayed and referee Pat O’Mahony decided to throw up the ball on the twenty metre line. When play resumed Ballina were penalised for overcarrying and Kennedy converted to leave the minimum between the teams.
The Mid men came once more where Jack Nevin won a lengthy first time clearance before fining Cian McDonnell off the shoulder for the latter to find the net. Brackens were in front and with another ninety seconds played Ballina could only muster a Conor Power point before the final whistle came.
Close contest
Under the watchful eye of Mayo native John Maughan who is an adviser with Ballina with monthly visits, the lakesiders started solidly but, if anything, JK Brackens were shading matters in terms of possession with Patrick Moloney, Michael Egan, Adrian Bourke, David O’Shea, Cathal Scully, Darragh Doyle and Jack Kennedy prominent but both sides could only share the four points by the thirteenth minute.
But that soon changed as Ballina wing forward Eoghan Power (quickly back from Pairc Ui Chaoimh with Tipp where he was an unused sub against Waterford earlier in the day) began to strike terror every time he gained possession and his score plus one each from James Hanley (45) and corner back Daniel Tighe it was the North men 0-5 to 0-2 in front by the eighteenth minute.
Daniel Tighe covered a lot of ground as did his fellow corner back David Coughlan as Ballina were in full gear in terms of possession while Harry Byrne, George Kiely and Eoghan Power showed plenty power in the air as they won a few marks with high fielding.
But at the other end, Bracken full forward Jack Kennedy was equally terrorising his opponents as he shaped up to a man of the match performance with 1-13 from the edge of the square. When Ballina led 0-5 to 0-3 the Bracken number fourteen scored three unanswered points between the 25th & 29th minutes (each one better than the other) before Eoghan Power’s free levelled matters 0-6 each at half time.
Jack Kennedy gave Brackens the lead with a point in the third minute of the second half following good link-up play with Darragh Doyle who was also a threat at corner forward. Thirty seconds later Ballina were back in front with a goal by Cathal O’Donnell at the second time of asking after goalkeeper Tom Bourke initially saved.
The response at the other end had the hallmarks of danger but the veteran Jerry O’Brien made one of many saves as he denied Kennedy from close range. Ballina did concede a free in the aftermath and Kennedy scored before county under 20 Charlie King did likewise to see Ballina 1-7 to 0-8 in front after 37 minutes.
One minute later, Brackens were a man down when midfielder David O’Shea was yellow carded for a second time. The extra man clearly helped Ballina and with Hanley (free), Charlie King, Tighe, and the brilliant Eoghan Power each scoring the lead stretched to four at 1-11 to 0-10 and five minutes remaining.
However, Brackens had other ideas and manager Kevin Mulryan pressed his men for a response and it came with Lyndon Fairbrother going on a run before parting company to Darragh Doyle who then found Jack Kennedy free in front of goal and gave Gerry O’Brien no chance.
Brackens had shored up their defence as the free-moving David Kelly was now operating at full back, but Kennedy pointed a 45 to level. Ballina hit back with Power and Kiely linking up with Kelly who edged the home-side in front with a minute of added time gone. It was end-to-end and Brackens came once more as Jack Fogarty put corner forward Jack Nevin through for the equaliser, 1-12 each, with extra time now required.
Eddie Bergin was introduced by JK Brackens restore them to fifteen men. However, Ballina looked the fresher side in the first period as they opened a two point lead through Charlie King and Cathal O’Donnell. There was no let up by Brackens as Jack Kennedy and Ballina substitute Zack Egan swapped points before two Kennedy scores had scores level 1-15 each for the final changeover.
Similar to the first period, it was Ballina on the front foot for the second as Matthew Power and an Eoghan Power free had the Shannonsiders two in front with five minutes left.
Brackens kept their heads and with another Kennedy free bringing them closer it was all down to super sub Cathal O’Donnell to find the winning goal.
For Ballina, the return of county players Steven O’Brien (if fit) and Teddy Doyle plus Michael Grace will enhance their chances come championship.
TEAMS – JK Brackens: Tom Bourke (7); Patrick Moloney (7), Michel Egan (7), Martin Delaney (7); Stephen Cahill (7), Adrian Bourke (7), Eoin Fitzpatrick (7); Diarmuid Delaney (7), David O’Shea (6); Jack Fogarty (6), Cathal Scully (6), Lyndon Fairbrother (6); Darragh Doyle (8), Jack Kennedy (9), Jack Nevin (7).
Subs: Tadgh Nolan (6) for Moloney (60+2 inj); Cian McDonnell (7) for Fogarty (HT ET); Brian Roche (NR) for Cahill (16 ET)
Ballina: Jerry O’Brien (8); Daniel Tighe (7), Paddy O’Donovan (7), David Coughlan (7); Conor Power (7), James Hanley (7), Harry Byrne (7); Matthew Power (7), George Kiely (7); Charlie King (8), Thomas Lee (7), Eoghan Power (9); Cathal O’Donnell (7), David Kelly (7), David Grace (6).
Subs: Darragh King (7) for D Grace (22 inj); Zack Egan (7) for Byrne (43); Finn Looney (6) for C Power (54); Conor Power for Egan (HT ET inj); Terry O’Halloran (6) for Looney (12 ET).
Referee: Pat O’Mahony (Kiladangan).