An ending we will never, ever forget
NOT too many people who have access to social media won’t have seen the ending to the Intermediate football final of 2016 in Wicklow.
The stuff of nightmares for the players and supporters of Ballinacor, it was the GAA equivalent of Roy of the Rovers stuff for the AGB men in a 1-11 to 1-10 win. A last second goal from Cal Kelly delivering the title in a buzzing and raucous Aughrim.
There is a story to be told about how we got to those final few and by now viral seconds. In a championship that is always well contested, 2016 didn’t disappoint. There was every possibility that these two would deliver a classic after their meeting in the first round also brought plenty of drama.
On that night in July, the Glenmalure men, under new manager Joe Murphy, came from 10 points down to win by five in a 3-15 to 3-10 humdinger.
Ger Byrne slotted two penalties to cancel out Cathal Kelleher’s two-goal blast for AGB in a remarkable turnaround in the second half.
Both would progress from the group along with Donard-The Glen. Carnew, Stratford and Ballymanus were the three teams not to make it.
AGB, managed by Damien Redmond, posted good wins over Carnew, Ballymanus and Stratford but lost to Donard-The Glen to finish in third place and nail a place in the quarter-final.
Ballinacor looked strong all through the group. An impressive win over Ballymanus followed a hard-earned draw with DonardThe Glen, although they did have a blip of sorts against Stratford.
Finishing off with a big win over Carnew sent a message to all that they were a serious outfit. Once again Donard-The Glen made the last four but found Ballinacor too strong for them on the day.
In the other group, Dunlavin were looking really good. Playing in Division 1 had been a big help to them, Baltinglass, An Tochar and Rathnew all fell to the west side.
The holders, Rathnew, were feeling the loss of players as the group came to a close as Kilmacanogue were settling in very well to Intermediate ranks and they pipped Dunlavin to top spot in the group after a good win over the west men in Valleymount.
Blessington struggled to fulfil their fixtures and this was to further derail Rathnew as the non-playing of the final group game resulted in suspensions carrying to the quarter-final where they surrendered their crown to a clinical Ballinacor.
AGB pipped Dunlavin in the other quarter-final in a tight and tense finish in Aughrim.
AGB were to prove too good for Kilmac in the other semi-final, another solid display from a lot of their young players catching the eye.
So, to the final, and that crazy finish. Sport can be both cruel and kind sometimes and this was certainly one such occasion. The elation of the Arklow lads as they ran amok in celebration played out in stark contrast to the dejected Ballinacor bodies strewn all over the Aughrim pitch.
A grade that always keeps good on its promise of drama and excitement had delivered again.
In Junior ‘ A’ Ashford pipped Kilcoole in another final that went right to the wire in Arklow, only two points separating them at the end, 0-11 to 0-9.
They had drawn when they met in an earlier group game so it was always going to be close. A brilliant last minute save from Lee Fitzpatrick broke Kilcoole hearts and offered Ashford a return to Intermediate ranks in 2017. Ashford were helped in no small way by the scoring exploits of Aaron Nugent all through the campaign who is well deserving of the player of the year accolade.
Ashford had recovered from a loss to Valleymount in the first group game to get through and they were joined by Kilcoole who had shown promising form themselves. Laragh faded after a good start and lost out on progression along with Valleymount and Shillelagh. Ashford pipped Eire Óg in a quarter-final before seeing St Pat’s off after a replay in the semi-final.
In the other groups, St Pat’s, Éire Óg and Carnew got the better of Bray and Baltinglass who were struggling to compete.
Coolboy were looking good along with Barndarrig in a difficult group where Newcastle and Kilbride made the going very tough.
Kilcoole beat a depleted Barndarrig in the quarter-final before also needing a replay to get the better of Coolboy who had won the south derby with Carnew in their own quarter-final. With plenty of young talent coming through the ‘ Goosebankers’ will make a bold bid to go one better in 2017
Knockananna made a welcome return to Junior ‘ A’ football for 2017 when they got the better of Enniskerry in a brilliant final and another thrilling finish in Arklow score in this 1-14 to 3-7.
Recovering from a bad start a last-minute Paddy Byrne point got them home. They had looked the strongest team in the grade from the beginning of the championship with wins over Kiltegan, Dunlavin, Newtown and Rathnew.
New manager Eugene O’Brien and trainer Pat Bracken had teamed up once again to deliver another championship after guiding Aughrim to Intermediate honours in 2014.
Enniskerry had impressed defeating Avondale, Avoca, Blessington and Kiltegan on their way and can count themselves very unlucky not to have won after a super display in the final. Plenty of good work being done in Enniskerry it would seem.
An Tochar took home the Junior ‘C’ cup after a win over Kilcoole in the final played in Ashford. They had looked like winners from early in the championship with wins over Aughrim, Annacurra and a draw and a win over Donard the Glen when they met for a second time in the semi-final.
Kilcoole suffered a second championship final defeat but it was a great achievement by their second string in getting to the final.
They had come through a group of Fergal Óg, Stratford, Valleymount and Coolkenno who they also beat in the semi-final. The good work of some members in the Kilcoole club reviving the second team.
So, all the championship finals in 2016 were full of drama and excitement right to the final whistle. Most of the teams that eventually lifted the cup would not have been favoured by many at the start and it goes to show that any team can win a championship with a break or two along the way.