Heartbreak in Croker
Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be in Croke Park for us last Saturday in the Junior Club All-Ireland final, but it took till the dying minutes of injury time for Mooncoin to secure the win. There was an unbelievable red and white army there to cheer the lads on and we fought an amazing battle to the bitter end and although it ended in heartbreak what an incredible achievement to see the Ballygiblin jersey take part in such a cracker of a game in Croke Park.
I think I speak for everyone in the community when I say that we are so proud of the players and management team they have brought such joy and excitement to the parish over the last number of months. They have been unbelievable ambassadors for the club in the way they have conducted themselves on and off the field and have inspired the next generation of hurlers. It might be the end of one chapter, but we look forward to the 2022 season and who knows we could be back in Croke Park again. They have definitely put Ballygiblin on the map. Ballygiblin Abu.
Ballygiblin 1-18 Mooncoin 0-22
We opened the scoring with a point from play from Darragh after the ball went short, but we battled to retain possession. Mooncoin responded with their own from play before both teams swapped wides and then Mooncoin took the lead with another from play. Ryan cancelled it out immediately after getting on the end of a pass from Joseph O’Sullivan. Mooncoin would then get 4 on the trot, 2 from frees, both silly to give away and they then tagged on 2 from play as we struggled to win possession. But we didn’t panic and pointed a free after Kieran Duggan won a high catch and turned in on goal with 2 defenders on his tail, the ref initially giving advantage but then called the play back. We got a further pointed free after great defensive work by Barry Coffey earned us a free for overcarrying.
Michael Walsh then brought their lead to 1 after intercepting their clearance and slotting over. The play was end to end with neither backline giving an inch and Darragh showing some unbelievable catching at midfield. Mooncoin got another pointed free before getting a fantastic score from a tight angle out near the Cusack stand side-line. Darragh got a lovely point on the run on the 17th minute after Mark found him when clearing after tidy work by Brian O’Gorman. Christopher was then called on in the 19th minute when their corner forward got in behind our backline and in on goal, Christopher was quick off his line to block and stormed out with the ball before earning a free out. And we followed this play up with 2 wides, Darragh unlucky to not slot over and Joseph unlucky to see a free in our backline go narrowly wide.
Mooncoin also had 2 wides in the next two plays before Sean O’Sullivan got one from play after a long ball from Christopher was flicked on by Michael Walsh and Sean was quick to pick it up and flick it over the bar. We would then level matters on the 27th minute after great work in the middle from Ryan, Darragh and Brick finding Colin English on the wing with a fine pass. Colin took on his man down the end line and was headed for goal, the angle was tight and the keeper was quick to close off the threat, Colin’s rasper going narrowly over. Mooncoin would again take the lead from long range. Brick won the resulting puck out and gave a fine pass to Sean for his second from play on the 29th minute. Sean would then be involved again when he showed a burst of pace to win possession one on one with his man and like Colin before him the angle was tight and he tried to kick the ball to the net, the ball passed the keeper but the defender was unfortunately there to clear for a 65 which Joseph slotted over for the final play of the half. Ballygiblin leading 0-10 to 0-09 at half-time in a thrilling first half.
THE SECOND HALF ACTION
Mooncoin started the second half like a train and had 3 points from play in as many minutes. We did have a chance on goal when Sean passed to Colin on the D but he was expertly hooked and a free out was then awarded and he was unlucky shortly afterward when his shot at a point was eventually waved wide after the umpire initially looked to be going for the flag. We then scored the only goal of the game to again take the lead on the 37th minute when a long clearance from Mark dropped in behind the Mooncoin fullback line and Dean Barry was quick to pull on the ground to the back of the net. Mooncoin though won the ball from the puckout to level matters again. Mooncoin would then pull away again with a pointed free and another from play. Joseph would get one back from a placed ball and Darragh would level matters from play after dispossession the Mooncoin defender after some great work from our forwards to stop them clearing.
Mooncoin again took the lead after intercepting a clearance and looked in on goal a minute later only for a fantastic interception from Fionn but the clearance ended back in the square again and Christopher blocked a shot out for a 65 which they converted. We swapped a point each, before Mooncoin extended their lead to 3 with 10 minutes to play. But again we kept plugging away and had a point back from a free after Darragh was fouled and another 2 minutes later when Mark Keane who had moved to full forward was blatantly fouled in possession and his man was lucky not to see red after practically pulling Mark’s helmet completely off.
We then had a chance to level matters after Brick was fouled but unfortunately Joseph’s shot went wide. Mooncoin followed this up with a pointed free to again go 2 up. But again, Mark was causing problems upfront and earned us another free to again bring it back to the bare minimum as we headed for full-time. Mooncoin though got another fantastic score off the hurley on the side-line on the stroke of full-time and we again had another wide from Colin as we headed for 3 minutes of injury time. We then had it again down to 1 after Ryan was fouled after clearing and the free was from where it landed in the full forward line. Mooncoin then got the score of the game on the 62nd minute from a side-line about 70 yards out and their wing back made no mistake in slotting it over. We got on the end of the puck out and Darragh slotted over from midfield but heartbreakingly time was not on our side and the final whistle was blown.
Team: C Noonan, B O’Gorman, F Herlihy, J Mullins, M Lewis, M Keane, B Coffey, R Donegan (0-01), D Flynn (0-04), J O’Sullivan (0-09F), M Walsh (0-01), C English (0-01), D Barry (1-0), S O Sullivan (0-02), K Duggan. Subs: D Sheehan for K Duggan, A Donegan for D Barry
THANKS AGAIN
I would like to again thank everyone for their support, the buzz around the town the last week and months has been beyond amazing, the amount of flags and posters and videos and songs and well wishes have been overwhelming and this team really captures the hearts and imaginations of young and old at home, in the county and abroad. I could have spent weeks posting and liking and sharing there was so much well wishes and amazing support. I hope everyone continues to support the club as we go forward into 2022.
UP FOR THE MATCH
What great entertainment we had on the eve of the All-Ireland in our “Up for the Match” programme and we hope everyone enjoyed the memories, the chat and entertainment on the night. We would like to thank the Leisure Centre for hosting and to Páirc TV for streaming and for everyone for tuning in as we raised over €2,000 for the club. We would also like to thank Tom O’Donoghue for production, Niall Herlihy on camera, sound, live stream and editing. Maura O’Doherty and John Courtney for the in-depth and humorous interviewing of participants, Eibhlin O’Brien for Set and the wonder staff and pupils at our schools - Ballygiblin NS (co-coordinator Emma O’Callaghan), CBS Primary (coordinator Elaine O’Gorman), Bunscoil na Toirbhirte (coordinator Michael O’Callaghan), Glenahulla NS (coordinator John Fox) and Mulberry Montessori Preschool (coordinator Mella Finn), for their superb video clips. There is some amazing talent in our schools and there are some future stage stars in those video clips. Thanks to all the audience participants and anybody who helped in any way to make ‘Up for the Match’ the successes it was and helped the club at the same time.
KNOW YOUR SPORT
Think you can predict the outcome of 15 sporting events? Know your golf from your hurling or your rugby from your football - then this is the competition for you! €10 to enter and the winner will walk away with a staggering €1,000. Closing date 20th February.
SYMPATHIES
The club would like to extend their condolences to the Conway family and friends on the death of Gerry and to the Walsh, O’Keeffe and Barry families on the death of Pat (Smokey) Walsh.