Allen Gaels & Ballinaglera game abandoned after bizarre start to second half sees Drumshanbo men score unopposed goal

Controversy erupted in Shane McGettigan Park on Saturday when the highly anticipated derby clash of Masonite Division 2 leaders Allen Gaels and neighbours Ballinaglera ended with recrimination and anger as the game was abandoned immediately after the restart of the second half when the home side scored a goal without a Ballinaglera player on the field.

In what must rank as one of the most bizarre sights witnessed on a GAA field in Leitrim, referee Brendan Healy threw the ball in with only the Allen Gaels team in their positions and the Gaels moved the ball to Brian Mulvey who scored what must have been one of the most bizarre and memorable goals of his playing career.

With the game delicately poised at 1-6 to 1-4 at the halftime interval, spectators anticipated a tight second half but the game will live long in the memory for very different reasons, certainly for this reporter, as an outraged Ballinaglera protested vociferously over the referee's decision to restart the game without their team on the field and then to allow the goal to stand.

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With the protests continuing and tempers rising, referee Healy abandoned the game with Allen Gaels leading 2-6 to 1-4 after less than ten seconds played in the second half.

The drama started when Allen Gaels came out on the field after the halftime break. With the Ballinaglera team still in their dressing room, referee Healy sounded his whistle several times before shouting, on at least two occasions, that he would start the second half without Ballinaglera if they did not come out onto the field immediately.

A member of the Ballinaglera club ran into the dressing room complex to inform the players and management of the referee's intentions before returning to the field shouting that the Ballinaglera players were coming out. However, when the players did not emerge from the dressing room after a few moments, referee Healy threw the ball in and Allen Gaels proceeded down the field unopposed to score the goal as the first Ballinaglera players appeared on the ramp down to the pitch.

Furious Ballinaglera players and members of their management team remonstrated with the referee, protesting that the 15 minutes allowed for halftime had not elapsed but the match official said that the goal stood and with members of both teams confronting each other, sustained protests led to the referee abandoning the game.

The matter will now go before Leitrim County Board officials who will await on the referee's report after a tempestuous finale to the game. 

It was a bizarre end to a game that had opened promisingly - Ballinaglera keeper Conor O'Brien made a good save to deny Jake Tobin a goal inside the first minute before putting a 50 at the other end wide. Shane Beirne and Ciaran McMorrow from a free had the Gaels two up inside six minutes before McMorrow converted another free two minutes later.

Ballinaglera's Barry McGourty saw a shot blocked before Seamus McMorrow opened the visitors account after a foul on McGourty. Ciaran McMorrow replied with another Gaels free with O'Brien doing well to get to another long ball ahead of the dangerous Tobin on 19 minutes.

Shane Beirne scored an excellent point from distance on 21 minutes, Liam McGourty replied with an equally impressive score before Brian Mulvey claimed a clever mark. Ballinaglera might have goaled as Jamie McGrail broke through on goal but he lifted his shot over the bar.

The drama was only starting - a fabulous Brian Mulvey pass put Shane Beirne in behind the Ballinaglera defence and he fired low and hard to the far corner with a wonderful finish to leave Allen Gaels six points clear.

True to form, Ballinaglera dug in - blood sub Barry McGuire set up Padraig Cornyn for an excellent point and from the kickout, Wayne Reynolds intercepted a shot kickout and rounded unfortunate keeper Dan Curran for an easy goal that left the halftime score at 1-6 to 1-4 at halftime.

In other action this evening, St Mary's Kiltoghert kept their 100% record going as they scored an impressive 2-16 to 0-11 win over Glencar Manorhamilton in Boggaun while Leitrim Gaels moved into second place in the table, thanks to their head to head win over Aughawillan who have a game in hand, thanks to a 1-13 to 1-9 win over winless Aughnasheelin.

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League champions Mohill remain in the bottom two despite a 1-12 apiece draw with Fenagh St Caillins in Philly McGuinness Park, results which mean that with two games left, St Mary's are almost certainly guaranteed a place in the League Final.

In Division 2, Melvin Gaels picked up an important 1-8 to 0-2 win over Kiltubrid while Annaduff drew level with Allen Gaels at the top of the table on seven points thanks to a 1-14 to 0-8 victory over Aughavas, a result that leaves Aughavas bottom of the table.

In Division 3, Gortletteragh maintained their three point lead at the top of the table thanks to a 2-14 to 0-9 win over Gortletteragh while second placed Cloone had six points to spare over Drumreilly with a 1-18 to 1-12 victory.