Ballymore the masters in downpour

Ballymore 1-9, St Mary's, Rochfortbridge 0-10

Ballymore got their second win in the group stage with this narrow but just about merited two-point win against St. Mary's, Rochfortbridge at a rain soaked Shandonagh venue on Saturday evening last.

It was Ballymore’s ability to convert their chances just that bit better than their opponents that won the day here as possession-wise, the game was probably 50/50 and the Green and Golds conversion rate was far superior to the efforts of a wasteful Rochfortbridge. The latter took far too much out of the ball. The deciding factor came on 45 minutes when a flowing Ballymore move was converted expertly by Owen McCabe for a game-defining score, and despite some serious late pressure from the Saints, they simply could not regain parity and are now in jeopardy of not making the knockout stages.

In fairness, both teams deserve great credit for creating any sort of a game, such were the appalling weather conditions, and they are both to be lauded for the quality on display in front of a large attendance.

Niall Cully opened the scoring for St Mary’s with a pointed free after barely a minute, and Ian Keelan doubled that advantage with an opportunist point from play. Sam Maxwell got Ballymore’s opener after a super ball from Brian Finerty, but the quarter ended with Jack Reid re-establishing the two-point advantage from a mark. A Maxwell free narrowed the gap momentarily before Reid doubled his tally with an excellent point from an acute angle, but it would be St Mary's last score for 10 minutes as Ballymore had a purple patch. That was even without Sam Maxwell, who had received a black card which mirrored an earlier one for the Bridge's Niall Cully.

John Gilligan reduced the deficit with a long-range howitzer and Finerty levelled with a free as we headed to the break, but the score of the half came from Gerry Byrne from a huge distance for St Mary's to lead by 0-5 to 0-4 at the short whistle.

MISSES

Rochfortbridge had the better of the restart but their Achilles heel was converting and they failed to add to their tally, while at the opposite end, Owen McCabe converted a brilliant mark. Following that, Ben Maxwell struck a sublime effort from long-range and the lead had been exchanged for the first time in Ballymore’s favour.

Back came the Saints and after Reid levelled with a beauty, the same player was on hands to put the Bridge in the ascendancy again with a marvellous strike from a narrow angle. Sam Maxwell brought parity again from a free and then a fabulous move ended with McCabe netting a wonderful goal that really got Ballymore in gear. Keelan converted a free for St Mary's, but they missed several chances thereafter and Finerty punished their paucity with another turnover of possession as we headed to the last seven minutes.

St Mary's were dominant in the main now, but again were guilty of some bad misses until a Keelan and a Cully free brought the deficit back to the minimum, but Ben Maxwell ran the length of the field to score the best point of the game to keep the Bridge at bay. And try as they may, St Mary's could not raise the necessary nous to equalise, and despite Maxwell getting a second yellow and red late on, Ballymore held on for a welcome two points.

Scorers - Ballymore: Owen McCabe 1-1 (0-1 mark), Sam Maxwell 0-3 (2 frees), Brian Finerty (1 free) and Ben Maxwell 0-2 each, John Gilligan 0-1.

St Mary’s: Jack Reid 0-4, Ian Keelan 0-3 (2 frees), Niall Cully 0-2 (2 frees), Gerry Byrne 0-1.

Ballymore: Conor McNeil, Daniel Ennis, Sean Keena, Jack Kearney, Ben Maxwell, Brian McCabe, Eoin Ryan, John Gilligan, Ivan Smyth, Barry McDermott, Owen McCabe, Brian Finerty, David Jelistratovs, Sam Maxwell and Derek Molloy Subs: Luke Power for Keena (H/T), Seamus Keena for Jelistratovs (49 mins), Darragh Monaghan for Molloy (53 mins).

St Mary's: Eoin Gorman, Eddie Whelehan, Peter Lalor, Brendan Brady, Gerry Byrne, Jake Byrne, Enda Cully, Daragh Brunton, Sean Lyster, Dara Hall, Eddie Alford, Kehn Raqueno, Niall Cully, Jack Reid and Ian Keelan. Subs: Paul Carey for Brunton (35 mins), Sean Carroll for Raqueno (49 mins).

Referee: Jim Rock (Coralstown/Kinnegad).

In a nutshell

Man Of the Match

Owen McCabe (Ballymore): Reid, Brady and the Byrnes were best for the Bridge, while Finerty, Gilligan and the Maxwells shone for Ballymore. However, Owen McCabe gets the nod not just for the game-defining goal, but for his end line to end line display throughout.