Baltinglass and Tinahely left standing
BALTINGLASS: Mark Jackson (0-2, 1f, 1 45’); David Gothings, Kevin Murphy, Cian Lee; Patrick Burke, Billy Cullen, Tom Burke; Michael English, Sean Duffy (0-1); Stephen Heaslip, Johnny Keogh (0-2f), Jason Kennedy (0-1); Daniel Kelly (0-1), Adam McHugh (1-4), John McGrath (0-1). Subs: Christopher Heaslip (0-1) for S. Duffy (47), Karl Furlong for S. Heaslip (57), Patrick Whelan for A. McHugh (57), Tadhg O’Toole for D. Kelly (60+1).
FOR the first time in four years, Baltinglass will contest the final of the senior football championship, after seeing off the stiff challenge of Arklow Geraldines-Ballymoney in a scintillating semi-final on Sunday evening.
Both sides went hell for leather in a thrilling contest that saw Baltinglass take a healthy lead into the final few minutes thanks to a goal from the electric Adam McHugh. Despite a brave fightback from last-year’s county finalists that saw Ciarán O’Shea score a major and JP Hurley have a shot dramatically cleared off the line, it was Baltinglass who came away with the priceless win that now sets them on a collision course with Tinahely.
On a bumper day of football, AGB vs Baltinglass was the heavyweight main-event, one pitting the side that last won a county title in 2016, against the team that made the jump from intermediate that very same year. It all made for a tantalising prospect and was played with a blistering, reckless abandon from the outset.
While the frantic tempo played into their hands, Baltinglass were clever with their approach. When AGB went long, Baltinglass committed numbers to break the play down, at which point Johnny Keogh would so often be on hand to tidy up possession and set them on their way. As for when AGB played short, Balto would either press high when the ball was in the Arklow half or allow their opponents try to break them down when they crossed the half-way line, timing their tackles diligently.
They raced into an early threepoint lead through Daniel Kelly, Adam McHugh, and Jason Kennedy. AGB responded with a Phil Healy goal that levelled matters, but further scores from McHugh (2) and a well taken Sean Duffy effort meant that Baltinglass led 0-6 to 1-0 with just ten minutes gone.
The two sides continued to exchange blows as the water-break came and went in the blink of an eye, with AGB making inroads in managing the tempo. Phil Healy very nearly scored a second goal,
only for his shot to be saved by Mark Jackson and eventually cleared away.
Their intricate style was on show for one of the scores of the day shortly thereafter. Andy Maher did phenomenally to rise above the pack and claim a Baltinglass clearance. The ball was worked to Ciarán Tyrrell, who sent a good pass down the right-hand side, where Stephen Hurley and the typically lively Peter Hempenstall traded possession before it was eventually worked across the face of the 21-metre line to Billy Cullen. He feigned to shoot and instead laid-off Darragh Fitzgerald, who put the ball between the posts
AGB ended well but were found wanting in front of the posts. Billy Cullen and Phil Healy both sent shots wide, while Tadhg O’Callaghan got the final score of the shortest half hour of football this season with a fine score up from corner-back.
The longer the game was played with such frenetic energy, the better off Baltinglass were. AGB were at their best when they could manipulate the tempo, which they did in the early stages
of the second half.
In the absence of Chris O’Brien, AGB were relying on the striking expertise of Phil Healy, which paid dividends when he slotted three consecutive frees to bring them level early in the second-half as the pace slowed.
Despite their bright start, that last Healy free, coming on 39 minutes, was their last score before the frantic end of the game. In the meantime, Baltinglass were settled down by a free from the tremendous Johnny Keogh and proceeded to dominate. A few minutes later, their position was made all the more formidable. Ciarán Tyrrell looked to have set AGB on the counter with a turnover. However, as AGB tried to move the ball out from the back, Baltinglass’ high press told as they won the ball back, ultimately leading to Adam McHugh scoring the vital goal.
Further scores from Keogh (free) and Chris Heaslip saw them 1-13 to 1-6 in front in time for additional time. AGB, forced into urgency, threw caution to the wind. They almost had the first goal they needed when Mark Jackson,
caught out of his goal as he tried to work the ball out, was out of position when JP Hurley sent a shot towards goal. David Gethings dove to his left-hand side and clawed the ball away. Arklow managed to get a goal through Ciarán O’Shea, but it was not enough, as Baltinglass claimed the scalp that gets them one step closer to being back atop the Wicklow footballing mountain.
ARKLOW GERALDINES-BALLYMONEY:
Ben Fennell; Tadhg O’Callaghan, Tom Maher, Jack Hamilton; Ciaran Tyrrell, Karl Kirwan, Danny O’Hare; JP Hurley, Andy Maher; Peter Hempenstall, Stephen Hurley, Darragh Fitzgerald (0-1); Cathal Kelleher, Phil Healy (1-5, 3f), Cormac O’Shea. Subs: Ciaran O’Shea (1-0) for D. O’Hare (36), Tiernan McBride for C. O’Shea (50), Cal Kelly for C. Kelleher (54), Philip Gleeson for S. Hurley (54).
REFEREE: John Keenan (Aughrim)