Referee corrects original error and declares share of spoils

A ONE-POINT victory for Ballyhogue - ‘That’s what I am putting on my report,’ declared referee James Flood as he dismissed pleas from officials of the defeated St. Fintan’s side that the result was, in fact a draw, in this Amber Springs/Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship Group B game on Sunday.

At some stage early in the second-half of this always competitive fixture, the keepers of the scoreboard at Bellefield were directed to add a point to the Ballyhogue tally, and at the end of the hour’s play this phantom, unexplained cúilín was all that separated the teams.

The man in charge was adamant on the issue after the queries were raised, but mentors with the men in green left the venue vowing to review the video footage seeking support for their contention that they were entitled to a share of the spoils.

And at the time of going to press on Monday, it emerged that the game now has, in fact, been declared a draw, after the referee amended his scoreline to read 0-16 to 2-10.

However, this might not necessarily be the end of the matter, and it will be interesting to see how Ballyhogue react.

The unsatisfactory confusion at the end should not take away from the game of football which preceded the debate over the score, as the players did a decent job of keeping the spectators entertained with a contest which was always close.

The Hogues hit the ground running, putting two points on the board inside as many minutes as the ball never left the opposition half in the opening stages, but a superb point from the left touchline by Donal Shanley lifted the siege.

The early pace-setters had an energetic trio of lean and hungry set of predators in midfield to put the Fintan’s on the back foot in the form of Conor Byrne, Peter Kelly and Dylan Dalton, with Noel Roche and Eddie Galavan ready to feed off the opportunities created.

Nevertheless, it was the Wexford District side which led by an undisputed 2-4 to 0-9 at the break thanks to a couple of goals delivered just as they were in danger of going worryingly behind.

The first was the result of an enterprising run from half-back Pádhraic Rossiter who handpassed the ball into the square for full-forward Cathal O’Brien to bundle it over the line.

The second followed a raid forward by Kevin Day, who celebrated his introduction as substitute by hoofing the ball high into the danger area for Eoin O’Callaghan to catch and convert.

After the changeover, the exchanges became increasingly fragmented.

At the end of the day, Ballyhogue had just four players on the scoresheet, with excellent centre-back Shane Doyle and substitute Shane Roche joining Galavan and Noel Roche (top point-getter with nine) in compiling 0-16.

Donal Shanley was sharpest shooter for St. Fintan’s with one free in his five-point tally on the afternoon when they were left calling for a re-count which was duly granted by referee Flood.

Ballyhogue: Myles Roche; Tomás Moriarty, Graham Parker, Colm Parnell; Enda Minogue, Shane Doyle (0-2), Tony Ryan; Conor Byrne, Peter Kelly; Dylan Dalton, Seán Rochford, James Parle; Dean Doyle, Eddie Galavan (0-2), Noel Roche (0-9, 4 frees). Subs. - Syl Byrne for Dalton (41), Darragh Byrne for Minogue (51), Denis Leacy for D. Doyle (51), Shane Roche (53).

St. Fintan’s: Patrick McDonnell; Paul Cummins, Eoin Cummins, Shane Sinnott; Peter Goldsmith, Frank Staples, Pádhraic Rossiter; Paddy Keane, Joey Wadding; Eoin O’Callaghan (1-0), Donal Shanley (0-5, 1 free), Robert Coakley; Conor Sinnott (0-2), Cathal O’Brien (1-0), Adam Devereux (0-2). Subs. Kevin Day for Cummins, black card (20), Niall Moore for O’Callaghan (41), Jamie Sinnott for Rossiter (44), Adrian Murphy for Goldsmith, temp. (59), David Moore for Coakley (60).

Referee: James Flood (St. Mary’s, Maudlintown).