Killavullen survive Ballyhooly challenge to reach JAFC final

Killavullen 3-9 Ballyhooly 2-8

KILLAVULLEN Junior A footballers are through to their first JAFC semi-final in many years following their close win over Ballyhooly at Shanballymore on Saturday. The winners who are also in the Division 1 FL semi-final were strongly fancied against a Ballyhooly side that reached the Division 2 FL semi-final recently.

Ballyhooly started very well with a goal in the second minute when Seamus Roche and Gerry O’Connor worked well for Jake Mehigan who goaled. They followed with a point in the fifth minute by Cathal O’Keeffe after good play by Joe Dowling and Darragh O’Reilly. Killavullen found it hard to make any progress with the Ballyhooly full backline defending very well. They moved five points clear in the 17th minute when Fintan Linehan pointed a free.

The winners had their opening score a minute later when Liam Cronin soloed through and pointed. Further pressure by Killavullen saw David Brosnan and Colm O’Connell combine well for Bartley Hayes who goaled.

By the 22nd minute they were on level terms when Sean O’Regan worked well for Liam Cronin who made it 1-2 each. Ballyhooly recovered quickly and two rapid points by Gerry O’Connor and Cathal O’Keeffe (free) gave them the lead. Good play for Killavullen by Patrick Angland Liam Cronin, and Colm O’Connell led to a fine point by Liam Cronin. In the 29th minute Bartley Hayes levelled 1-4 each at the break.

Killavullen had the aid of the breeze in the second half. Ballyhooly moved Joe Dowling to midfield to partner Denis Kiely in the absence of the injured Peter Aherne. Fintan Linehan and Colm O’Connell swopped an early point. Colm O’Connell added another point and Killavullen led from there to the end. There was an exchange of a point with Killavullen holding a 1-7 to 1-6 lead.

The winners struck for two goals in a three-minute spell. The first came when Seamus Fox and Bartley Hayes combined to place David Brosnan who made it 2-7 to 1-6. A minute later good play by Ian O’Gorman to Colm O’Connell to Bartley Hayes led to a punched effort coming back off the post to the well placed Lukas Sheehan who put his side seven points clear 3-7 to 1-6.

David Brosnan followed with a fine point. Ballyhooly never gave up Fintan Linehan pointed a free with Colm O’Connell setting up Liam Cronin for a great point 3-9 to 1-7 after 52 minutes play. With six minutes to go a foul on Fraech McGrath led to a penalty, Killavullen keeper Michael Cronin received a black card.

Fintan Linehan goaled from the penalty In the dying moments Ballyhooly had a point by Darragh O’Reilly after good play by Joe Dowling and Jake Mehigan. Time ran out and it was Killavullen who advanced to meet either Kilworth or Glanworth in the semi final.

KILLAVULLEN: M Cronin, S Rice, P Sheehan, K Fox, P Angland, B Norris, S Fox, S O’Regan, E Buckley, L Cronin 0-5 (0-1f), C O’Connell 0-2, D Roche, D Brosnan 1-1, B Hayes 1-1, I O’Gorman. Subs: L Sheehan 1-0 for S Rice, G Sheehan for D Roche, J Magnier for B Hayes, D Howell for D Brosnan, J Angland for M Cronin (black card), J Fitzpatrick for I O’Gorman (black card).

BALLYHOOLY: A O’Driscoll, M O’Connor, C O’Keeffe 0-2 (1f), R O’Driscoll, D O’Reilly 0-1, J Roche, M Hanrahan, P Aherne, D Kiely, F Linehan 1-4 (1-0 pen, 0-3f), G O’Connor 0-1, J Mehigan 1-0, S Roche, J Dowling, E O’Riordan. Subs: S O’Driscoll for E O’Riordan, F McGrath for P Aherne (inj) T Crowley for D Kiely.

REFEREE: Dave Farrell (Mitchelstown)