St Mary's strangle Ballinamore into submission to take first League title since 2007

A match that won’t live long in the memory, St Mary’s Kiltoghert won’t mind that much as they regained the Masonite Division 1 title after they strangled the life from Ballinamore O’Heslins in the decider in Mohill’s Philly McGuinness Park on Saturday evening.

With St Mary’s exerting remarkable control over the ball for extended periods of play, their ability to hold Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins at bay saw them comfortably reverse the previous meeting between the sides to regain the Cup they last won in 2007.

Truth be told, this was a game with all traits of the modern inter-county game - both teams dropped deep, often 14 men behind the man and defended in numbers. Attacks were deliberate and painstaking, St Mary’s in particular holding onto the ball for extended periods as they dragged Ballinamore back and forth across the pitch.

It was a tactic that paid off as they restricted Ballinamore to just one point in the first half and even against the wind in the second, they were far too measured and much more clinical than O’Heslins, running out comfortable winners.

It might have been different had Paul Honeyman found the net just four minutes into the second half - Mary’s led by three points at the time but Honeyman, beautifully sidestepping keeper Killian Gaffey was unable to drive the ball to the net as the combination of Mark Lenehan and Mark Diffley smothered his shot and cleared the danger. 

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St Mary’s had a great goal chance of their own but Brian Keaney, in his first year with the Carrick Seniors, saw his shot brilliantly saved by Darren Maxwell at the expense of a fifty that Gaffey boomed over the bar against the wind.

But most of all, what St Mary’s exerted was control - control of the pace of the game and how it was played and Ballinamore were unable to sufficiently disrupt or upset their rhythm. It didn’t make a good spectacle, much of the action was slow paced but it was hugely effective as St Mary’s controlled this game from start to finish.

Ben Guckian opened with a wide after three minutes of action, three minutes that was filled with each side having possession once. It took another three minutes for the next item of note, a foul on Cian Singleton that allowed Brian Keaney convert the free, Shane Moran responding inside a minute as the Ballinamore veteran came through on the run to score.

The St Mary's Kiltoghert team that defeated Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins to win the Masonite Division 1 title Picture: Willie Donnellan

Guckian had another wide but St Mary’s regained the lead they would never lose on nine minutes, Diarmuid Kelleher getting on the end of what would become the defining feature of the contest - a patient, almost laborious move that ended with a burst of pace and fine point for the former county panellist.

Dean McGovern looked as if he would instantly respond but Adam Reynolds made a huge block but Ballinamore had the better, or worse, of the wides over the next five minutes as Matthew Murphy, Paul Moran and Paul Honeyman registered wides compared to one for Ben Guckian.

Guckian did open his account with a difficult free from the bottom right corner on 17 minutes and despite a narrow miss from an Oisin Bohan effort, Guckian extended the lead on 20 minutes to open up a three point gap.

That gap was four two minutes later, Gavin Reynolds showing great power and accuracy from distance to fire over from 45 yards. That was it for the half, although Guckian hit a wide and Paul Honeyman was off-target with two long range efforts into the wind, St Mary’s lead 0-5 to 0-1 at the break.

Ballinamore looked as if they were about to turn the tables when Paul Moran boomed over a long range effort inside the first minute but they would not add to their score for another 25 minutes. Adam Reynolds was booked before the game’s big turning point when a long ball found Honeyman in an advanced position.

The Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins team who were defeated by St Mary's Kiltoghert in the Masonite Division 1 Final Picture: Willie Donnellan

The County U20 star did brilliantly to turn the ball, sidestep an advanced Killian Gaffey but the two Marks, Lenehan and Diffley, got back equally superbly to block the shot and clear the danger after four minutes.

Cathal McHugh raided from defence but left a shot short and a needless jersey pull on Mark Lenehan as he supported his attack allowed Guckian convert a 39th minute free. Guckian was at the centre of the next incident of note when Paul Moran was yellow carded for catching his County U20 teammate high.

Luke Murphy left an effort shot and when Kyle McCrann burst through to make a vital interception, it started a Mary’s break that ended with Brian Keaney doing extremely well to win a ball that didn’t suit him, firing over a point to open a five point gap.

Honeyman put an effort wide as St Mary’s disciplined defence put Ballinamore under huge pressure when shooting and the game should have been over as a contest with just over ten minutes to go when a brilliant move ended with Keaney bearing down on goal only for Darren Maxwell to make a wonder save.

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That came at the expense of a fifty that was sent high over the bar by Gaffey and two minutes later, a long crossfield free found Keaney who curled over a lovely effort. That more or less was it - Guckian added a free for an off-the-ball foul while Honeyman converted a free after 56 minutes of action.

Dean McGovern hit a high shot wide and Guckian put a free off the woodwork as St Mary’s cruised home seven point victors.

ST MARY’S KILTOGHERT

Scorers: Ben Guckian 0-4, 4f; Brian Keaney 0-3, 1f; Gavin Reynolds, Killian Gaffey (50) & Diarmuid Kelleher 0-1 each

Team: Killian Gaffey, Diarmuid Kelleher, Mark Diffley, Mark Lenehan, Nicholas McWeeney, Cian Singleton, Kyle McCrann, Gavin Reynolds, Conor Hackett, Adam Reynolds, Ben Guckian, Ashley Mayiza, Cillian Hanratty, Brian Keaney, Oisin Bohan. Subs: Jack Barnes for Keaney (53); Brian McKenna for Mayiza (55); Eoin Gibney & Mark Lowe for Kelleher & Bohan (60)

BALLINAMORE SEAN O’HESLINS

Scorers: Shane Moran, Paul Moran & Paul Honeyman (f) 0-1 each

Team: Darren Maxwell, Matthew Murphy, Cathal McHugh, Paddy Connaughton, Wayne McKeon, Liam Ferguson, Michael McBrien, Dean McGovern, Shane Moran, Senan Harte, Michael McKiernan, Peter Reynolds, Paul Moran, Luke Murphy Paul Honeyman. Subs: Keelan McHugh & Shane Murphy for Reynolds & Harte (46); Naoise McManus & Killian Maguire for L Murphy & P Moran (57)

Referee: Gareth Foley