Ballyea 3-12 Sixmilebridge 2-15

Ballynacally was the venue for this under 14A Round 6 tie last Friday evening, played in perfect conditions. Ballyea stamped their authority on this match right from the start, with the aid of a very slight breeze, and 4 minutes in were two points up thanks to Niall Carrig and Jack Cotter. It took a great save from ‘Bridge keeper Mark Sheedy, to prevent Ballyea’s first goal a minute later, but when Cian Kirby struck a high lobbing ball from 40 metres out on the wing in the sixth minute, it looked like it was going over the bar. As it lost power, it dipped and landed in the back of the ‘Bridge net. Ballyea were in control all over the field as the ‘Bridge boys scrambled to contain them. They piled on the pressure with outstanding displays of hurling from Jack Cotter (midfield), Cian Kirby (wing forward), Niall Carrig (Full Forward) and Kieran McDonnell (corner forward). Such was their dominance that Sixmilebridge failed to score from play in the first half, relying on two Dara Fitzgerald points from frees, leaving the halftime score Ballyea 2-9 Sixmilebridge 0-2. The ‘Bridge were in big trouble in this match and halftime couldn’t come quick enough for them.
Whatever discussions were had in the dressing room at halftime were effective, as it was a very different Sixmilebridge team that re-emerged for the second half. Jack Holloway replaced the injured Brian Carey at corner forward, with Oisin Breen also moving to the forward line. Within two minutes Daniel Chaplin scored the first score from play for the ‘Bridge, with a well taken point. This was canceled out by a Ballyea point a minute later from Cillian Gavin. The ‘Bridge got their first goal 5 minutes in, when a monster free from Seamus O’Connell from his own 21 metre line was won by Dara Fitzgerald and he struck first time into the back of the Ballyea net. Again, Ballyea replied, scoring a point of their own to keep their strong lead. The ‘Bridge however were getting more and more into this game and kept plugging away point by point with Conor Gilligan and Jack Holloway points, and Dara Fitzgerald frees whittling away the Ballyea lead. They were helped in their cause by a tough halfback line, with Lee Mulready giving an exhibition in defending, contesting every ball and setting up the attack several times. The levelling score came in the 26th minute, when a free from halfway dropped short and Conor Murphy won possession and made no mistake with a shot into the back of the Ballyea net. Two more Fitzgerald frees put the ‘Bridge two up with 30 minutes on the clock. On the stroke of full time Oisin Breen looked to have sealed victory when he made a lighting quick run, breaking free of three Ballyea backs and, with the goalie to beat, he hit a screamer of a shot at goal only to watch it sail back over his head as it pinged off the crossbar. The ‘Bridge did go 3 points ahead on 33 mins after Seamus O’Connell made no mistake with a ’65. This game wasn’t over yet however as 4 more minutes of injury time were played. Ballyea, to their credit, threw the kitchen sink at it and attacked the ‘Bridge goal relentlessly and each time the ‘Bridge backline held firm clearing at least 5 attempts at goal. In the 37th minute Ballyea were awarded a penalty for an infringement in the Sixmilebridge square. Cillian Gavin stepped up to take it and hit it top right corner with unstoppable power giving ‘Bridge goalie Mark Sheedy no chance of saving it. The match had ended all square 2-15 to 3-12. Whilst the first half was very one sided, the second half was electric, and it was great to see the ‘Bridge boys making such a fight back. Ballyea fought hard all through the second half with every ‘Bridge score being well earned. For Ballyea, Cillian Gavin, Joe Kelly, Cian Kirby and Niall Carrig were outstanding. For Sixmilebridge Lee Mulready was excellent at wing back, showing great skill and determination throughout. Conor Gilligan at half forward showed great heart and while he scored one point he made about 5 frees all from very scorable positions. Jack Holloway’s work rate throughout the second half was instrumental in the ‘Bridge come back after he came on at halftime.

Sixmilebridge: Mark Sheedy,Cian Johnson, Oisin Breen, Darren Hurley, Gary O’Callaghan, Seamus O’Connell 0-1(65), Lee Mulready, Dara Fitzgerald 1-6(0-6f), Ian Collins, Daniel Chaplin 0-1, Conor Gilligan 0-1, Danny Dunne, Tom Forde, Conor Murphy 1-1, Brendan Carey, Patrick Ahern, Jack Holloway 0-2.

Ballyea: Jack McCarthy, Cody Kiloughery, Eddie Slattery, Thomas McInerney, Sean McAllister, Darragh Moylan, Cillian Gavin 1-3(1-0Pen, 0-1f), Daniel Quinn, Jack Cotter 0-1, Cian Kirby 1-2, Joe Kelly 1-0, Conor Meaney 0-1, Fiachra Kirby 0-1(f), Niall Carrig 0-3, Kieran McDonnell 0-1.