Ballymote-Bunninadden shine in U-21 ‘A’ decider
BALLYMOTE-Bunninadden have finally broken the St Molaise Gaels hex. Last Sunday’s deserved victory in the Sligo U-21 ‘A’ Football Championship, with the Ballymote-Bunninadden combination winning by eight points, 2-14 to 1-9, was the third successive final involving these sides – and the first time that Ballymote-Bunninadden triumphed. Two years ago, at Minor ‘A’ level, St Molaise Gaels won and the north Sligo side were also victorious in last year’s U-20 ‘A’ decider.
In difficult weather conditions at Kent Park, Ballymote-Bunninadden were inspired by joint-captains Jack Lavin and Oisin Gorman, with Patrick McDonagh proving an unsung hero as he was given the daunting task of keeping tabs on Michael Langan, the St Molaise Gaels star forward who was Player of the Match in last month’s Connacht Gold Intermediate Football Championship decider. Ballymote-Bunninadden, who led 0-8 to 0-5 at half-time after a breeze-assisted opening period, gained a crucial edge when substitute Matthew Clavin goaled from close-range within five minutes of the restart. This goal put the eventual winners, for whom Luke Marren shot six points, 1-9 to 0-5 ahead.
Although St Molaise Gaels replied with a goal from a converted penalty by James Heraghty, one of only three scorers for the beaten finalists, St Molaise Gaels were on the back foot midway through the second period when Oisin Gilmartin was sent off after picking up a second booking. Indeed, poor discipline would hinder St Molaise Gaels, who had two players black-carded in the first-half, Micheál Gillen and John Kerins. BallymoteBunninadden, who had Roland Scanlon sent to the sin bin in the firsthalf, also benefitted from the fact that St Molaise Gaels attacker Jack Davitt was unavailable because of injury. Both teams were brimming with stars from the Sligo panel that won this year’s Connacht U-20 title – a first for the county. In the BallymoteBunninadden ranks were U-20 players Jack Lavin (who captained Sligo in their memorable provincial final defeat of Mayo and scored a sensationally dramatic winning goal), Oisin Gorman, Cian Kilcoyne and Luke Marren.
St Molaise Gaels had six players in the panel and, with Jack Davitt absent, the other five on duty at Kent Park were Luke Casserly, Marc Heraghty, Joseph Keaney, John Kerins and Michael Langan.
It has been a contrasting season for these players in this year’s Intermediate grade – St Molaise Gaels won the title and Ballymote were relegated to next year’s Junior ‘A’ tier. But last Sunday Ballymote-Bunninadden combined superbly, even though things were evenly-contested for the first 25 minutes or so, with BallymoteBunninadden leading 0-5 to 0-4.
Luke Marren, Cian Kilcoyne, Zak O’Dowd and Luke Hogge, who pointed from long-range, were among the scorers for Ballymote-Bunninadden, with St Molaise Gaels relying on John Heraghty, James Heraghty and Michael Langan for their first-half points.
Three points in the closing stages of the opening half, including a fine score from Oisin Brennan, helped give Ballymote-Bunninadden a three-point cushion ahead of the second-half.
But St Molaise Gaels, who finished the first period with 14 players due to a black card, would have the wind in their favour for the second-half. Ballymote-Bunninadden’s excellent start to the second-half, when they scored 1-1, turned matters. Matthew Clavin’s goal stemmed from a Jason Dwyer ball into the goalmouth.
Zak O’Dowd scored BallymoteBunninadden’s second goal in stoppage time with a looping shot over
St Molaise Gaels goalkeeper Tristan Watters – Tristan Regan, who also did well for BallymoteBunninadden, was involved in this attack, the game’s final action.
BallymoteBunninadden: Aaron Brennan, Ronan Keenan, Conor Mitchell, Patrick McDonagh, Shane Murray, Jack Lavin (jointcaptain), Tristan Regan, Jason Dwyer, Luke Hogge (0-1), Roland Scanlon, Oisin Gorman (joint-captain) (0-3, 1f), Cian Kilcoyne (0-1, 1 ‘45’), Oisin Brennan (0-1), Luke Marren (0-6, 4f), Zak O’Dowd (1-2)
Subs used: Matthew Clavin (1-0), Jim Sweeney
St Molaise Gaels: Tristan Watters, Tola Carway, Ethan Watters, Micheál Gillen, Oisin Gilmartin, Luke Casserly, Marc Heraghty, Joseph Keaney, Oisin Sheridan, John Kerins, Daniel O’Connor, Josh Fallon, John Heraghty (0-2, 1f), Michael Langan (0-5, 3f), James Heraghty (1-2, 1-0 pen)
Subs used: Jack McGovern, Shane Towey Referee: Ronan Hynes
CONTEST: Ballymote-Bunninadden midfielder Luke Hogge wins possession ahead of Joseph Keaney of St Molaise Gaels during last Sunday’s decider at Kent Park.