Cox inspires Annaduff recovery from five point deficit to break Ballinaglera after extra-time

Few could have predicted this outcome 50 minutes into Saturday’s Smith Monumentals IFC Quarter Final but defying a five point deficit, Annaduff staged a remarkable recovery to break Ballinaglera hearts in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada and win a place in the semi-finals.

It’s tough to say that Annaduff stole this game but it felt like that as Ballinaglera played with an authority and a definite sense of what they were trying to achieve as they established a five point lead they were more than worth.

But games often change in an instant and when Ballinaglera’s Barry Maguire received a second yellow card with just over four minutes of normal time left, few could have envisaged the dramatic change in fortunes as Cox somehow managed to divert a wayward free to the Ballinaglera net.

Annaduff break Ballianglera hearts with extra-time victory - GALLERY

Annaduff staged a remarkable recovery to break Ballinaglera hearts 2-12 to 0-14 after extra-time in Saturday's Smith Monumentals Intermediate Championship Quarter Final in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada and Observer photographer Willie Donnellan was there to capture some great images of fans enjoying the action .... see who you can spot.

Suddenly Glera’s impregnable five point lead was down to one and Annaduff were reborn, driving forward at every chance with Cox converting a 40 yard free to send the game to extra-time.

And once we got to extra-time, Annaduff’s bench made all the difference as their superior fitness and strength in depth saw them run the legs off an increasingly tired and injury hit Ballinaglera who fought as if their lives depended but they just couldn’t stem the tide, particularly when Cox grabbed a second goal at the end of the first period of extra-time.

Cox will rightly take the plaudits but perhaps the move that changed the game was the introduction of Aaron Duignan midway through the second half. Suddenly, Annaduff started to win more ball around the field to stem the tide of Ballinaglera’s dominance with Duginan coming up with a couple of big catches that turned the game.

Yet it is hard not to feel sorry for Ballinaglera who looked the better team for long periods - they were well drilled, intensive, physical and knew what they wanted to do. They knew when to stop Annaduff’s fast moving counter attack with Darren Cox getting a good deal of attention but they were definitely the more driven team.

But you have to credit Annaduff for hanging in there and having the ability to strike at just the right time - it wasn’t going their way, body language seemed to suggest it was Ballinaglera’s day but when the chance came, they seized it with both hands and that is what championship football is all about.

The first half was a tit for tat affair with neither side able to open up a gap of more than a point as they traded the lead five times in a half that defied patterns or momentum. Darren Cox opened the scoring from a free after a foul on Eoin Gill, Wayne Reynolds quickly replied after a strong Patrick McGrail run on four minutes.

Seconds later, Jamie McGrail edged his team in front for the first time but barely a minute later, a second Cox free had the teams level. Cox’s first from play stood out as he took the ball, drove to the left corner and fired over, his shot fading inside the far post on seven minutes.

Aaron Duignan makes a catch in extra time that led to a point for Annaduff Picture: Willie Donnellan

Seamus McMorrow then hit two from placed balls for Ballinaglera, Cox hitting one from a free in between as the sides remained deadlocked. Ballinaglera almost made a big breakthrough when McMorrow’s shot hit the woodwork but Enda McGuire’s effort was blocked.

McGuire would go on to be Ballinaglera’s most dangerous player and after he made a high catch, his shot was blocked at the expense of a fifty which the Ballinaglera full-forward thumped over the bar with a good deal to spare.

Daniel Bosquette tied the game again after a Dillon Keane break before Ray Cox cut a shot back over his shoulder to edge Annaduff back in front. But a long ball to Wayne Reynolds allowed Ciran Cornyn to fire over the bar.

Both sides missed further chances to leave the score at six points apiece at the break but barely 20 seconds into the second half, Enda Maguire spun brilliantly to fire his team ahead. Ray Cox then punched a Darren Cox free over the bar but Ballinaglera started to take control of the contest.

Two wonderful Enda Maguire points in the space of a minute suddenly opened up a two point gap, although Glera may regret that their full-forward was unable to drive his first effort under the bar.

Both teams were still missing chances, Annaduff the marginally more wasteful and when Wayne Reynolds surged down the centre to score, Ballinaglera were looking winners all over. Ryan Crawford was unlucky with a shot across the Annaduff goal after a strong before a McMorrow free midway through the half left them four clear.

Annaduff were missing good chances but the introduction of Aaron Duignan made a huge difference around the middle of the field, although not immediately as off-the-ball holding on Enda McGuire allowed McMorrow to put Ballinaglera five points clear with just over 12 minutes left on the clock.

Annaduff gave themselves hope with Conor Reynolds scored after a swift break but with two more wides, the scores simply were coming. Then Barry Maguire was yellow carded for the second time for a high foul on Darren Cox with just over four minutes left, Annaduff were handed a lifeline and boy did they take it!

From the resulting Michael Murray free, Darren Cox managed to get a touch to divert the ball to the opposite corner and suddenly there was just a point between the teams!

Enda McGuire had a chance to widen the lead but his fifty went wide and when Ciaran Cornyn was penalised for touching the ball on the ground, Darren Cox converted a 40 yard free to tie the scores.

Annaduff had one chance deep in added time to steal victory but Eoin Gill’s shot was batted out, which left the scores at 1-9 to Annaduff and 0-12 to Ballinaglera, leaving us headed for extra-time.

Extra-time was a very different story as Annaduff looked full of running as Ballinaglera started to struggle. Darren Cox pointed after sub Michael Murray worked the ball back to him while Annaduff keeper Caolan Quigley did well to punch clear a McMorrow free under pressure from Enda McGuire.

Aaron Duignan made a huge catch under pressure, allowing Annaduff to work the ball to Conor Reynolds for a huge score. Seamus McMorrow pulled a point back from a placed ball but seconds later, Annaduff effectively won the game when a long ball to sub Jason Ward saw him bear down on goal.

Ward unselfishly found Darren Cox who feinted and dodged before slamming the ball to the net for a killer score, 2-11 to 0-11 at halftime of extra-time.

As with all periods of extra time, scores were hard to come by with McMorrow converting a third minute free to cut the gap back to a goal before Cox brought his tally to 2-7 on the day when converting his fifth free, sealing Annaduff’s place in the semi-finals.

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ANNADUFF

Scorers: Darren Cox 2-7, 5f; Conor Reynolds & Ray Cox 0-2 each; Daniel Bosquette 0-1

Team: Caolan Quigley; Mattie Cox, Shane Morrison, Keelan Lynch; Eoin Gill, Hugh Moylan, Eoghan Ridge; Dillon Keane, Conor Reynolds, Niall Quigley, Darren Cox, Alan Glancy, Ray Cox, Daniel Bosquette, Sean Quigley. Subs: Frank Shanley & Jason Ward for S Quigley & Lynch (HT); Aaron Duignan for N Quigley (45); Michael Murray for R Cox (53); Tommy Taylor for Glancy (ET); Liam Taylor for M Cox (ET HT)

BALLINAGLERA

Scorers: Seamus McMorrow 0-6, 6f; Enda McGuire 0-4, 1 50; Wayne Reynolds 0-2; Ciaran Cornyn & Jamie McGrail 0-1 each

Team: Conor O’Brien, Patrick McGrail, Brendan McGourty, Barry Gilmartin, Philip McGourty, Ryan Crawford, Mark Reynolds, Barry Maguire, Liam McGourty, Jamie McGrail, Seamus McMorrow, Ciaran Cornyn, Wayne Reynolds, Enda McGuire, Padraig Cornyn. Subs: Antony McGourty for P Cornyn (53); Fergal Gilmartin for B McGuire (ET); Enda Keegan for M Reynolds (66); P Cornyn for E McGuire (69); Oisin McGourty for P McGourty (77)

Referee: Enda Egan