Gormley uPVC Senior Football Championship
Ballybay 1-9 Currin 0-10 26/8/12
Ballybay are through to the SFC semi-finals for the second year in a row after they edged past Currin in a tense match at Clontibret on Sunday evening. A goal by Shane McGuinness after just 40 seconds proved to be the decisive score, as despite Currin’s best efforts, they were unable to bridge the gap created by Ballybay’s early blitz, which saw them race into a five-point lead by the seven-minute mark. Currin, who had shocked Scotstown in the first round, belied their lowly league status by producing another gutsy performance, winning plenty of possession around midfield, but they were never able to draw level, despite playing against 14 men for the final 20 minutes.
Ballybay’s win was built around their defence, where Drew Wylie kept a close eye on Jack McCarron and Ryan Wylie continued his impressive form by keeping Philip O’Callaghan scoreless and getting forward for an important point. Unusually, Paul Finlay didn’t score for Ballybay, whose entire tally came from open play, but Christopher and Shane McGuinness hit 1-5 between them to see the Pearse Brothers through. Stephen Smyth, Ciarán McCaffrey, Francis O’Callaghan and McCarron led Currin’s challenge.
Ballybay got off to a flying start, finding the net after less than a minute when Shane McGuinness raced onto a Shane McQuillan pass to give Currin keeper Fergal Connolly no chance. Christopher McGuinness added a good point after being well-placed by Paul Finlay, although Stephen Smyth got Currin off the mark with a well-taken left-footed effort.
Christopher McGuinness linked up with McQuillan to restore Ballybay’s four-point lead and he quickly added his third of the opening seven minutes after hesitant Currin defending allowed a long ball from Finlay to find his county team-mate. Smyth tapped over a 20-metre free for a foul on Philip O’Callaghan to keep Currin in touch, before Thomas Kerr had a goal disallowed for fouling Connolly as he punched a Shane McGuinness cross to the net.
Currin were growing into the game by this stage and Jack McCarron and Philip O’Callaghan combined to set up Dick Clerkin to kick a good point with his left foot, before McCarron converted a 20-metre free for a foul on Smyth. Ciarán McCaffrey added a fine score off his weaker right side to leave just a point between the teams at half-time: Ballybay 1-3 Currin 0-5.
Ballybay made an excellent start to the second half when Ryan Wylie raced forward to play a one-two with Shane McGuinness and fist over to end their 26-minute scoreless run. Kerr added a nice point from the right wing after taking a pass from Tommy O’Neill, but Niall McEntee replied to keep Currin in touch. McCarron got on the end of a Gerard O’Callaghan pass to land a great point with his right foot and things looked promising for Currin when Ballybay had Brent Wylie sent off on a second yellow card for a high tackle on Gerard O’Callaghan.
Ballybay made little of their numerical disadvantage, however, as Shane McGuinness doubled their lead and McQuillan increased it further after Connolly punched a Finlay centre away from goal, while Drew Wylie made a vital catch to prevent a dangerous ball in from McEntee sending McCarron through on Seán Gorman. A slack Currin pass allowed Hugh Malone and Kerr to release Christopher McGuinness to fist over the bar, but points from frees by McCarron and Smyth, after fouls on Dick Clerkin and Eoin Morrow kept the Scotshouse men firmly within two points of the leaders.
Ballybay substitute Cillian McAviney gave his side a three-point lead following good approach play by Finlay and O’Neill, but Currin made a goal chance when Smyth took a pass from Ciarán McCaffrey and raced through, only to blaze his shot over. Ballybay held out in a tense finish to secure a return to the real business end of the championship, for which they will have to wait to find out their opponents. Currin will play defending champions Currin in Inniskeen next Sunday at 1.45pm.
Ballybay: S Gorman; R Wylie (0-1), D Wylie, E Rutledge; M McArdle, B Wylie, F Smyth; P Finlay (Capt.), T O’Neill; B McCabe, S McQuillan (0-1), F McArdle; S McGuinness (1-1), C McGuinness (0-4), T Kerr (0-1).
Subs: C Malone for Rutledge (37 mins), H Malone for McQuillan (45), C McAviney (0-1) for McCabe (55)
Currin: F Connolly; S Beattie, E McCaffrey, Conor McCaffrey; Ciarán McCaffrey (Capt., 0-1), B Clerkin, G O’Callaghan; D Clerkin (0-1), F O’Callaghan; K Kearns, S Smyth (0-4, 2f), N McEntee (0-1); M Quigley, J McCarron (0-3, 2f), P O’Callaghan.
Sub: E Morrow for McEntee (42).
Referee: G Treanor (Truagh).
By michael Mon 27th Aug
