Donard pass tough test
DARCY SAND INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
DONARD-THE GLEN BALLYMANUS 0-13 2-6
DONARD-THE GLEN and Ballymanus both served up another battle of Baltinglass in the D’Arcy Sands intermediate football championship on Sunday evening.
This was breathtaking to watch with bonecrushing tackles throughout the game where no quarters were asked off or given. Neither side got a second on the ball with the sheer ferocity of some of the tackling throughout, goal chances galore and impressive score-taking.
With the season on the line, this was serious championship football played on the edge, sometimes over.
Alan Daly opened the scoring in the second minute with a sweet point to get Mikey Daly’s side up and running but Mark Kenny replied for Ciaran Walshe’s charges.
There was barely room to breathe out on the field given the tightness of the marking but overzealous tackling on Alan Daly gave Liam Monaghan a chance to put Donard-The Glen ahead after six minutes and he duly obliged.
The Billies rallied as Liam Byrne swept up the field and laid a sublime pass into the lively Roan Lynch who offloaded to Paddy Byrne (Moyne) to rifle the ball to the back of Brian Keogh’s net in the ninth minute, just the tonic the Billies needed to settle into this helter skelter battle.
Alan Daly replied with a pointed free to level matters as the intensity level rose up a couple of notches. Another ball into the danger zone found Paddy Byrne whose shot was blocked out for a 45 by Eoin Kelly, which was duly cleared next by the Donard backs.
John Hanbidge gathered possession and made a solo run through the middle and played a sweet one-two with Shane Daly, with John swinging over a peach of a point to put Donard back in front with 12 minutes on the clock.
Ballymanus were getting more into the game now and Paddy Byrne won a free on the 21m line on the dressing room side.
Off the ball a schmozzle took place, lasting a couple of minutes on the stand side, after order was restored both respective full backs picked up yellow cards for their troubles and a Donard substitute who entered the field of play was ordered off, back to the dugout.
Paddy Byrne duly dispatched the ball between the posts from the initial free kick to put the Billies back in front, 1-2 to 0-4, as both sides welcomed the water break in the intense heat after 20 minutes of a fierce battle.
After consuming gallons of water, things were still fiery. Heavy tackles - sometimes high - were flying in, as neither side got a second on the ball. Paddy Byrne was unlucky to see a high shot sail over the upright which was waved wide by the umpires.
Jack Grace was sweeping up a lot of ball coming in from the Billies midfield sector in the next period. Sean Brannigan equally was making some good runs into the Billies rearguard, but could not produce the end product of a score.
Up the other end, Eoin Kelly tested the elasticity of Paddy Byrne’s shorts before the whistle sounded for the free, which Paddy converted onto the scoreboard to stretch the lead out to two points.
Conor Healy swept up field and laid of a fine pass to Alan Daly who fed Liam Monaghan to harvest Donard-The Glen’s fifth point of the game going into injury time. Seven minutes of additional time was signaled.
It was a dogged period with more big tackles flying in. Padraig Byrne harvested another point for Ballymanus after great play by Roan Lynch to close out the opening period with the Billies leading 1-4 to 0-5 at this stage.
On the restart John Hanbidge collected the ball and found Shane Daly out on the wing.
Daly made a strong run goalward and curled over a fine point to bring it back to the minimum on the scoreboard.
It wouldn’t to be long before we were all square here, as, again, John Hanbidge won possession and nailed another beast of a point with 33 minutes played.
Kevin Kealy was making a great run up the field but a bruising shoulder by Brendan Whelan floored the Donard centre half-forward.
Liam Byrne put Mark Kenny through to restore the lead yet again for the Billies with a point. Immediately Donard replied with a monster of a point from a determined run by Sean Brannigan to level this high-octane battle, as you couldn’t take your eyes of it for a split second.
Paddy Byrne restored the lead again after Padraig Byrne was fouled. Moments later Ballymanus had a number of chances for a goal with the ball prevented from crossing the goal line, in a ping-pong situation for about ten seconds or so, eventually the ball was somehow cleared away.
Both sides traded chances over the next period but to no avail onto the score board. Each side introduced badly needed subs, as the wares of fatigue started to creep in, as the score board read 1-6 to 0-8.
Darragh Byrne dropped a high ball into the heart of the Donard rearguard, Mark Kenny gathered, turned on a sixpence and rifled his shot high into the roof of Brian Keogh’s net to build a four-point cushion to close out the third quarter, It was looking good for
Ciaran Walshe’s side.
Mikey Daly’s troops’ heads didn’t drop, however. Kevin Kealy bombed over two ballistic points from play on the bounce after good work by Larry Daly just before the water break, with 51 minutes played.
On the restart Liam Monaghan converted another pointed free after Brian Lennon was fouled and the game was there for the taking for whoever wanted it the most.
Craig Farrar gained possession and was fouled, the resultant free went deep into the Donard-The Glen defence, however Colm Coogan palmed down the ball instead of trying to catch it under no pressure, the ball was overturned and cleared.
Ray Halloran split the uprights from 45 out with an outrageous point to level this huge encounter with full time fast approaching.
Alan Daly thought he scored a point moments later from a free on the dressing room side on the 21m line underneath the scoreboard, however it was overturned as he gained a few extra meters inwards and the ball was thrown up.
John Hanbidge once again gathered possession and was fouled cutting through, up stepped Liam Monaghan to fire Donard-The Glen sensationally into the lead in the 63rd minute.
Donard fielded possession again, a high ball in was collected by Shane Daly whose goalvchance tailed inches wide, a huge let off for the Billies.
Ballymanus won a free on their 45m line, however a wayward kick drove the ball out over the sideline on the stand side in the 65th minute.
Brian Lennon pulled a shot wide for Donard who would hold out as the Billies could not find an equalising score.
Donard-The Glen move on into the quarter finals where they will meet An Tochar.