Mary's strength sees Champions past stubborn Ballinamore challenge

Champions St Mary’s Kiltoghert showed all of their grit and character to hold off a defiant Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins and seal their place in the Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC Final following a hard fought semi-final in awful conditions last Sunday in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada.

In a game that was as much a test of will and character, St Mary’s withstood the concession of a fortunate goal in the first half and a determined Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins comeback in the second to leave themselves one step from defending the Fenagh Cup.

Given that the pitch had deteriorated after a game that went to extra-time beforehand, both teams served up some wonderful football but St Mary’s just had that extra bit of class, their strength in depth and immense fitness shining through on a day definitely not for fancy football.

Mohill strike in extra-time epic to break Fenagh hearts and reach fourth Connacht Gold SFC Final in a row

MOHILL 2-13 FENAGH ST CAILLINS 0-13 (AET)

Mary’s resolve was seen in their response to Michael McKiernan’s tenth minute goal, a long range shot that slipped from the hands of keeper Sean Reynolds and crept over the line. It was exactly what Ballinamore would have ordered - an early goal and tough conditions but St Mary’s response was deadly. 

Four points in as many minutes had St Mary’s in front as they looked sharper, fitter and more mobile against a Ballinamore team admittedly playing against a very strong wind. The only cause for worry for the champions was that they didn’t drive home their advantage much more.

Ballinamore, looking deep in a hole at halftime, started to dig their way out with a Dillon Beirne point and two Shane Moran frees inside the first nine minutes of the second half but they were unable to get that point that would have got them level and might have seen the champions crack.

As it was, St Mary’s maintained a ferocious workrate in draining conditions and if they didn’t trouble the scoreboard too much, they restricted O’Heslins greatly before Paul Keaney came to the fore with three huge points in the final 12 minutes to see the Carrick men home.

Conor Hackett opened the scoring with a fine point after just 30 seconds but in a cagey opening, scores were far from flowing. Niall McGovern hit a lovely chip from the corner before the game got held up for a while after a clash of heads between Micheal McWeeney and Mark McGrory.

Ballinamore got a huge slice of luck on ten minutes when Michael McKiernan’s shot from about 40 yards fell short but keeper Sean Reynolds got his hand to the ball, the ball falling over his head and into the net for a dramatic goal.

Funnily enough, it seemed to wake up St Mary’s who reeled off seven unanswered points to take control of the contest. Ben Guckian could have gone for goal when a high ball broke off a defender but drove over the bar while good work from Daire Farrell set up sub Diarmuid Kelleher for a fine point.

Kelleher won a kickout to set up Hackett for his second and Mary’s went in front when Kelleher also got his second on 13 minutes. Nicholas McWeeney from distance, Paul Keaney (free) and Jack Casey, after a long ball to Guckian broke off and Conor Farrell got the pass to the corner forward, all added points.

Tom Prior stopped the rot with a fine score on the run but in added time, Cian Singleton intercepted, a long ball to Guckian led to another Casey score at St Mary’s led 0-9 to 1-2 at the halftime break.

Paul Keaney strikes for a point during the second half Picture: Willie Donnellan

Ballinamore introduced Dean McGovern at halftime and they started well with Dillon Beirne soloing through to point after just 12 seconds. O’Heslins had good appeals for a penalty when Luke Murphy was tackled on his way through on goal but referee Gareth Foley, near to the action, waved play on.

St Mary’s were starting to hit wides and a pair of frees from Shane Moran, one from 40 yards, in the sixth and ninth minutes suddenly left a point between the teams. Paul Keaney hit one wide for St Mary’s and after a huge Wayne McKeon hit on Cian Singleton, Ballinamore broke but Michael McKiernan fired wide.

Keaney saw  a free punched wide but after good work from Nicholas McWeeney and Ben Guckian, the county man fired over a good point for St Mary’s first of the second half 18 minutes in. But ballinamore hit back immediately with another Moran free to leave a point in it once more.

However, Keaney was only getting going, scoring a superb free from out in the left hand corner, a remarkable score given the conditions to stretch the gap to two. Ballinamore had a chance to cut it back to one but Dillon Beirne shot well wide.

With the game on an edge, Paul Keaney showed remarkable strength and skill in the conditions to solo through a couple of challenges before firing over from 30 yards with just over two minutes to go.

Ballinamore now needed a goal but never looked like really getting one until the final of five minutes of added time. Wayne McKeon lofted a ball in towards the danger area, players went up for it, the ball came back and Luke Murphy drove it to the net - the problem was that the umpire had his hands up signalling a wide long before the ball ever got near Murphy and with that, St Mary’s booked their passage back to the Final.

Mohill strike in extra-time epic to break Fenagh hearts and reach fourth Connacht Gold SFC Final in a row

MOHILL 2-13 FENAGH ST CAILLINS 0-13 (AET)

ST MARY’S KILTOGHERT

Scorers: Paul Keaney 0-4, 2f; Conor Hackett, Jack Casey & Diarmuid Kelleher 0-2 each; Nicholas McWeeney & Ben Guckian 0-1 each

Team: Sean Reynolds, Cian Singleton, Mark Diffley, Micheal McWeeney, Adam Reynolds, Conor Farrell, Nicholas McWeeney, Paul Keaney, James McGrail, Gavin Reynolds, Jack Casey, Daire Farrell, Conor Hackett, Oisin Bohan, Ben Guckian. Sub: Diarmuid Kelleher for M McWeeney (7); Brian Farrell & Emmet Regan for McGrail & Singleton (53); Mark Lenehan & Jack Barnes for Hackett & Bohan (58)

BALLINAMORE SEAN O'HESLINS

Scorers: Shane Moran 0-3, 3f; Michael McKiernan 1-0; Dillon Beirne, Tom Prior & Niall McGovern 0-1 each

Team: Darren Maxwell, Matthew Murphy, Brian Banks, Eoghan Shanley, Liam Ferguson, Cathal McHugh, Michael McBrien, Shane Moran, Wayne McKeon, Dillon Beirne, Michael McKiernan, Mark McGrory, Tom Prior, Niall McGovern, Paul Moran. Subs: Luke Murphy for McGrory (7 blood), McGrory for Murphy (12), Murphy for McGrory (20); Dean McGovern for P Moran (HT); Senan Harte for McKiernan (50)

Referee: Gareth Foley