Monksland finish with seven men but still salvage a draw

Monksland United 1 Ballinahown 1

By John Dingle

An amazing ending to this Senior Division game between Monksland United and Ballinahown at Cushla Park last Sunday afternoon saw the hosts extract a point from the jaws of defeat.

In the aftermath of the stoppage time equaliser, Monksland had three players sent off to add to an earlier red card they had picked up just after the hour mark. At that stage, United were already in arrears and looked set to suffer a home defeat but, remarkably, they managed to claim a draw as victory was snatched from Ballinahown's grasp.

Both teams had won last time out but after the opening half there was no indication that another three points would be gained by either team on this occasion. The fact that the only half chance came just before the break showed the poor fare that was served up in the windy conditions.

Josh McCarthy did have an early chance for the home team but fired his shot across the goalmouth from the right. Ballinahown forced the first corner kick after 11 minutes with United replying through McCarthy who had his shot saved this time.

McCarthy then set up John Shine who also had his shot saved.

Monksland earned their first corner after 19 minutes but it was generally a poor half with few chances being created. Shine tried his luck from long range after 27 minutes but the effort flew wide as neither goalkeeper was really tested.

The only time an opening was created came after 43 minutes when Oisin McAuley played in Ryan O’Connor but Rytis Liaukevicius was quickly out of goal to clear the danger.

It would not have been difficult then for the second half to be much better but as things turned out, the amount of red cards produced outnumbered the goals scored. O’Connor had an early chance to open the scoring for the home team but his shot from the left agonisingly drifted just wide of the post.

Ballinahown replied with two more corners and the goal the game needed arrived on 55 minutes. Kevin Lawless composed himself on the right edge of the penalty area and then showed great finishing skills to chip the ball over the helpless home keeper into the net. At last the crowd had a score to celebrate as the contest came to life.

Terry Byrne had the opportunity to double the lead but saw his shot saved by Cathal Hannon. The game appeared to turn Ballinahown's way after 61 minutes when Monksland were reduced to ten men. Ballinahown's Luke Kelly was not long in the game as a substitute and was fouled on the left edge of the box by Callum O’Brien who was shown a straight red card. It now looked like Ballinahown were set to record an away win and especially when there was no immediate response from a sluggish home team.

The visitors had a number of chances to seal victory but could not take advantage from any of them. Kelly set up Byrne who saw his shot parried by Hannon after 71 minutes.

Stephen Francis was soon into action for the home team and was to have a major influence on the outcome later in the half. As full-time approached, Ballinahown's Byrne was wide with two attempts on goal but it still looked like an away win would be the outcome.

It looked doubtful that there would be a genuine response from Tommy Naughton's men in spite of having lots of possession in the closing stages. Ballinahown were content to defend in depth and it seemed to be a successful ploy as the contest headed into stoppage time.

Bu there was a late sting from the home team as they struck for the equaliser in the sixth additional minute. Substitute Stephen Francis saw his low shot creep into the corner of the net past the keeper's dive. Yet it did not end the drama in the game by any means.

The goal scorer’s brother Brian was shown a red card following the celebrations and as the game was set to resume, Stephen Francis and another substitute David O’Brien were also dismissed for verbal exchanges.

Monksland were now down to seven players but held out in the remaining moments as the time added on eventually stretched to eight minutes.

It was a sour note on which to end the game with home manager Naughton left to reflect on the unwise actions of some of his side's more senior players but still grateful to have grabbed a share of the spoils which had looked unlikely earlier. Ballinahown made the short journey home wondering how they had let the game slip.

Man of the match: Mark Egan (Ballinahown). Although wearing number three, Egan still provided lots of danger for the home defence as he attacked down the flanks

Monksland United: Cathal Hannon, Oisin Deehan, Kevin Gaylard, Callum O’Brien, Sean Ryan, Ryan O’Connor, Josh McCarthy, John Shine, Oisin McAuley, Brian Francis, Shane Pettit. Subs: Cathal Callinan for McAuley (58 mins); David O’Brien for Gaylard (60); Nacho Gonzalez for Deehan (65); Alan Freeburne and Stephen Francis for Shine and McCarthy (74).

Ballinahown: Rytis Liaukevicius, Nema Bozic, Mark Egan, Alex Hall Taveras, Kieran Colclough, David Harrington, Shane Allen, John Dunican, Terry Byrne, Kevin Lawless, Michael Monaghan. Subs: Luke Kelly and Paul McManus for Harrington and Monaghan (56); Calvin Fox for Allen (86); Neil Scally for Colclough (90).

Referee: Ultan Beaumont (Athlone).