Ballyclough get back on track in JAFC
FERMOY CREDIT UNION JAFC (LOSERS SECTION) Ballyclough 3-16 Liscarroll 1-9 HAVING tasted defeat the previous weekend to Kilshannig and Killavullen respectively it was very much last chance saloon for Ballyclough and Liscarroll Junior footballers at Dromina on Sunday when they clashed in the losers section Fermoy Credit Union JAFC in an attempt to keep their season alive.
For the winner it was progression to the quarter finals while for the loser it was an early exit from the championship in only the third weekend in May. On this occasion Ballyclough were never really troubled with three goals during the third quarter setting them on their way to a comprehensive victory.
The opening stages saw both teams quick into the action and after seven minutes Ballyclough helped by two Colm O'Neill points moved into a 0-2 to 0-1 lead. Liscarroll who went into the game short the services of a number of key players stuck to the task that lay ahead and in the 11th minute they edged ahead when a delivery by John Breen was punched to the net by Sean Healy.
However all through as the scoreline suggests Ballyclough found scores much easier to come by. Paul O'Flynn was a commanding figure at midfield while Teddy O'Shea at centre forward was heavily involved in alot of his sides movements.
The winners scored the next four points in quick succession courtesy of Colm O'Neill, Damian Buckley, Mark Heffernan and Teddy O'Shea with Liscarroll staying firmly in touch when Michael Naughton pointed a free in the 18th minute to leave just a point between the teams 0-6 to 1-2. For the rest of the half both teams enjoyed their moments.
Ballyclough were the sharper side in front of the goal with Teddy O'Shea (2) Thomas O'Neill and Mark Heffernan adding points before the break while Liscarroll with limited supply to their inside forward line had a point a piece by Michael Naughton and Paul McMahon that left the game right in the balance with Ballyclough ahead at the shortwhistle by 0-10 to 1-4.
On the changeover in what was expected to be a close enough encounter never really transpired as Ballyclough dominated from the offset. Thomas O'Neill got the second half scoring under way when he scored his sides first goal within second of the throw in while a goal each by Co players Colm O'Neill (senior Football) and Damian Buckley (minor) sealed the issue at the three quarters stage as Ballyclough surged into a 3-12 to 17 lead.
Despite a big difference between the teams in the scoreline Liscarroll battled away against the odds with James O'Callaghan, Thomas Fehin, Sean Murphy and Alan Ballentine most impressive. They added two more points before the final whistle by Sean Healy and Michael Naughton but there was no denying Ballyclough as they ignited their title credentials for the season ahead with Teddy O'Shea and Paul O'Flynn adding four points in the last ten minutes as they ran out clear winners. BALLYCLOUGH: E O'Connor, S Curtin, D Aherne, T O'Flynn, D McAuliffe, J O'Shea, R Healy, P O'Flynn 0-2, B Morrissey, M Heffernan 0-2, T O'Shea 0-6 (0-1f, 0-1 '45') T Healy, T O'Neill 1-2, C O'Neill 13 (0-1f), D Buckley 1-1. Subs: A Finnegan for T Healy, B McDermott for D Aherne, J O'Mahony for D McAuliffe, LISCARROLL: P Morrissey, T Egan, T O'Flaherty, P Cantillon, A McMahon, J O'Callaghan M Fitzpatrick, T Fehin, A Ballentine 0-1, S Healy 1-1 (0-1f) J Breen 0-1 M Naughton 0-4 (0-3f), B Quinn, S Murphy 0-1f, P McMahon 0-1. Subs: K O'Sullivan for M Fitzpatrick, N O'Callaghan for B Quinn, REFEREE: John O'Leary (Mallow)