Murphy leads the way in Barndarrig fightback
the next three kick outs to keep the ball in the Barndarrig 45 and fire over three more points.
Paddy Byrne, Ger Byrne and Chris Murphy kicked those points with Ger Byrne having a wonderful goal chance thwarted by good goalkeeping and defending that forced him to shoot high and over the bar.
Martin Cullen fisted over a point for Barndarrig before the Byrnes kicked another point each, Paddy’s effort destined for the top corner only for Jamie Roe to get a fingertip and deflect it over the bar.
A long range Michael Murphy effort made it double scores, 8-4, coming near the end of the first half but for a third time Ballinacor sliced through the Barndarrig defence for a goal chance.
Unfortunately corner back John Paul Byrne isn’t the man for these situations and blazed the ball over the bar. Paddy Byrne added the tenth and there were six points between the teams at half time.
It was a slow enough start to the second half with Barndarrig looking to use the wind to their advantage but couldn’t judge it at all, their first couple of balls into Jimmy Waldron were too long and went over the end line. Ger Byrne at the other end converted a free to increase the lead to seven.
It was all Barndarrig however without an end result, from seven shots they only kicked one point and looked like they were letting the match slip away.
Insert Michael Murphy into full forward to cause havoc – like his namesake.
Martin Cullen launched a high ball in and Murphy beat two Ballinacor defenders in the air to pop the ball off to John Andrew Kinsella who splits the post. Another ball came in, Murphy took the score himself. The score line looked respectable now.
Another ball went in but was cleared again. Niall Devereux did well to win back possession and Jimmy Waldron curled over a little beauty, three between the teams. Hughie Doyle kicked another, down to two points in the final ten minutes. Ballinacor couldn’t get their hands on the ball and it didn’t pass their 45.
Score by score, Barndarrig began to believe. Murphy lorded it over Denis Heffernan inside. He kicked another two, level. Ballinacor needed a remedy, fast.
They moved James Byrne back to mark him and he won the first ball between the two of them and Ballinacor launched an attack.
It had all the hallmarks of Ballinacor snatching victory at the end after a gallant Barndarrig effort to level the match but Paddy Byrne kicked the chance wide.
Jimmy Waldron received the kick out, played a quick one-two with Martin Cullen and got a bit of space to launch another ball on top of Murphy. He won it, twisted one way, then the other, and fired Barndarrig into the lead.
There was still time for Ballinacor to find an equaliser. Chris Murphy was fouled and Ger Byrne had a free. Wide. They come again, but Barndarrig were in no mood to lose and hold on for a deserving victory.
Scorers – Barndarrig: Michael Murphy 0-06; Jimmy Waldron (1f) 0-03; Martin Cullen, Hughie Doyle, John Andrew Kinsella 0-01 each.
Ballinacor: Ger Byrne (1f), Paddy Byrne 0-04 each; John Paul Byrne, Conor Parsons, Chris Murphy 0-01 each.
Barndarrig: Jamie Roe; Johnny Devereux, James Quinn, Michael Cullen; Niall Devereux, Jacques McCall, Shane Whelan; Martin Cullen, Michael Murphy; Patrick Byrne, Hughie Doyle, Paul Ryan; John Andrew Kinsella, Jimmy Waldron, Nicky Sinnott. Sub: Tom Doyle for Hughie Doyle (61 mins).
Ballinacor: Ciaran O’Neill; Denis Heffernan, Christopher Kennedy, John Paul Byrne; Philip Byrne, James Byrne, Peter Kennedy; Danny Dowling, Conor Parsons; Chris Murphy, Paddy Byrne, David Carter; Jamie Nolan, Ger Byrne, Brian Hanlon. Sub: Martin Byrne for David Carter (HT).
Referee: Kieron Kenny.