Ballaghaderreen find form in time

Ballagh’ come late to win derby


SFC GROUP 3
Ballagh’1-12
Charlestown0-12

Mike Finnerty
Charlestown

NOW this was more like it. A championship derby match worthy of the name and a day when reputations and form counted for nothing and everybody just emptied the tank.
Two lesser teams might have let this first round match be spoiled by the wind and blighted by the slippery conditions; but not these two recent Moclair Cup winners and pretenders to Ballintubber’s throne.
The East Mayo heavyweights served up a rip-roaring contest which swung one way, and then the other, before Ballagh’ reeled off four unanswered points in the last ten minutes to deny fourteen-man Charlestown a famous ‘against-all-the-odds’ victory.
Consider these facts and figures if you will: the 2008 champions started with all their customary confidence and a typical ‘shock and awe’ blitz saw them streak into a 1-5 to no score lead after eleven minutes.
Remarkably, they then switched off again and waited for Charlestown to catch up.
The 2009 title winners (who lined out without the injured David Caffrey and Richie Haran) warmed to their task eventually and what unfolded was a high-tempo game that was as exciting as it was absorbing.
Between the 17th minute of the first half and 22nd minute of the second half, Charlestown outscored their high-profile guests by 0-12 to 0-3 as they rolled back the years and made light of the wind, rain and Ballagh’ game-plan.
Even the 39th dismissal of centre-half back Patrick Walsh for a second booking (after repeatedly fouling Andy Moran) seemed a minor inconvenience for the Sarsfields for a while.
So when Martin Mulvaney clipped over his seventh point from a free on 52 minutes to ease the homeside ahead by 0-12 to 1-8, the ‘Group of Death’ looked ready to claim its first victim.
However, Ballagh’ were never likely to be found wanting in terms of fitness, strength or conditioning and their ‘free man’ David Drake made his presence felt in the closing stages.
Kieran Gallagher’s decision to pitch in Andy Hanley and Barry Solan also made an impact and as Charlestown tired, Ballagh’ picked off points from a subdued Andy Moran (free), Hanley, Dessie Keegan and Barry Regan to time their run to perfection.
Still, even allowing for the result, their performance (which was video-taped by former full-back Joe McCann) will be analysed in some detail by the Ballagh’ backroom team this week.
They played the game beautifully in the first ten minutes and played at breakneck pace as Cormac Doohan (2), Barry Regan (2 frees) and James Kilcullen all posted points before Andy Moran lashed in a goal after his initial shot was parried by David Sloyane.
At that stage the Charlestown crowd must have been fearing the worst; but once Darragh McMeel, Patrick Walsh, SeΡn Morris, Tom Parsons, Aidan and Dermot Higgins, Mark Caffrey and Anthony Mulligan got the blood flowing, the comeback began to take shape.
Three frees from Martin Mulvaney and well-taken scores from Paul Mulligan, Dermot Higgins and Mickey Divilly meant that the gap was sliced to four points at the break (0-6 to 1-7) and Charlestown were right back in contention.
They also had all the momentum with them after the restart and five points without reply in the third quarter from the unerring Mulvaney (3), Paul Mulligan and Mark Caffrey meant they went in front for the first time on 47 minutes.
Ballagh’ were clearly rattled but, to their credit, just stuck to their masterplan and Barry Kelly landed a crucial score minutes later to tie the game up.
The two points were there for the taking at that stage and it looked like Charlestown’s experience and know-how might just sneak it when Martin Mulvaney popped them back in front.
However, Ballagh’ eventually got their groove back and did just enough to take the spoils, and the bragging rights of course, back over the road on Sunday evening.

Ballaghaderreen
O Flanagan; K Rogers, P Rogers, S Drake; D Drake, D Kilcullen, Gary Conway; B Kelly (0-1), J Kilcullen (0-1); D Keegan (0-1), Gavin Conway, A Moran (1-1, 1f); C Doohan (0-3), B Regan (0-4, 2fs), R McGrath.
Subs used: A Hanley (0-1) for Gavin Conway; B Solan for McGrath.

Charlestown
D Sloyan; E Casey, D McMeel, K Deignan; D Warde, P Walsh, D Higgins (0-1); S Morris, T Parsons; M Divilly (0-1), M Caffrey (0-1), A Higgins; M Mulvaney (0-7, 7fs), A Mulligan, C Maye.
Subs used: P Mulligan (0-2) for Maye (inj); O Conway for Caffrey.

Referee: E McAndrew (Claremorris