Ballymote comeback
BALLYMOTE 4- 5 OWENMORE GAELS 1- 14
A last minute goal claimed a crucial draw for Ballymote in their Kennedy’s Intermediate championship opener against Owenmore Gaels in Bunninadden on Sunday.
Both sides came into this game knowing that a win was crucial for them to avoid relegation to junior football next year with three teams facing the cull.
After a disastrous league campaign which saw Ballymote relegated to Division 3, they came out of the blocks flying with Conor Meehan finishing into the back of the net.
Owenmore Gaels struggled to find a foothold in the game and a number of wides and missed opportunities were punished, with Mark Irwin in fine form in front of goals.
The Collooney- based outfit finally began to convert chances but a mix up at the back resulted in Ballymote’s second goal and a six point lead going in at the break.
Owenmore Gaels started the second half strongly scoring five points without reply to bring the game down to one point with Flynn and McCormack beginning to find their range.
Ballymote who were struggling to counteract this newfound confidence scored their third goal out of nowhere as Irwin won a high ball on the 21’ and converted to again extend the lead to four.
Soon after the third goal Ballymote found themselves reduced to 14 men as Robbie Flannery saw the line for a yellow and a black.
This rejuvenated Owenmore Gaels and they pounced almost immediately as a high ball over the Ballymote backline was caught by Glen McCormack and he finished with aplomb into the top of the net and drew the side’s level.
Owenmore Gaels kicked on with ten minutes to go opening up a three point lead with Sweeney, McCormack and Casey all pointing.
The game turned scrappy with Owenmore Gaels trying to hold on but Ballymote were pressing for one final opportunity to get something from the match and sure enough it came three minutes into injury time.
A quick free from Ballymote was worked onto the 21’ and with nearly every Owenmore Gaels man behind the ball Daniel Clarke rifled the ball into the only place where a hand couldn’t reach it, the top left hand corner.
That goal turned out to be the last kick of the game with Ballymote relieved and Owenmore Gaels disheartened.
Both sides will go on to face Geevagh and Castleconnor in the coming weeks with both knowing the draw leaves both sides aiming for a quarter final place in the coming weeks. BALLYMOTE: G Feely, K Meehan, P Mullin, C Scanlon, M Flannery ( D. Tighe), R Flannery, C Maguire ( S. Stagg), P Ward, M Rafferty ( C. McGettrick) M Healy, D Clarke 1- 0, G Brennan, C Meehan 2- 0, D McTernan 0- 01, M Irwin 1- 4 OWENMORE Gaels: G Phelan, G Lavin, J Farrell, K Bolton, P Wynne ( S Harte), K Taheny, P Murphy, N Hodgins ( 0- 2), A Nicholson ( B Mahon), C Davey ( 0- 1), M Casey ( 02), G McCormack ( 1- 2), R Philips ( 0- 2) ( R Sweeney ( 0- 1)), P Hannon ( 0- 1), A Flynn ( 0- 3)