Ballinamore edge past Fenagh in thriller

There's nothing wrong with gaelic football if only teams would serve up the sort of football the lucky fans in Pairc Sheain Ui Eslin witnessed on Saturday evening as Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins prevailed by the narrowest of margins after an epic see-saw contest with Fenagh St Caillins.

The defeat leaves Fenagh without a point after two outings and looking anxiously at who they might get in the final two rounds while Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins once again demonstrated a grit and resolve in the face of enormous pressure to eke out a win against quality opposition.

This game was an antidote to the defensive football that has become all pervasive at all levels nowadays as both sides simply went for it. Coaches will, often rightly, wonder about the quality of defending but the sweeping moves and wonderful scores had fans thoroughly entertained.

At times, it looked as if Fenagh would blow away their neighbours, particularly when they moved the ball at pace but an over-reliance on Ryan O’Rourke and their own defensive struggles meant that Ballinamore were never without a fighter’s chance and, for the second week in a row, they took it.

The early minutes saw Ryan and Riordan O’Rourke book end points from Luke Murphy and Paul Moan inside the first five minutes before Fenagh started to pull away with scores from Ryan O’Rourke and Jack Gilheaney. 

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Both teams almost struck for goals with Cathal McHugh appearing out of nowhere to block Donal Wrynn as he pulled the trigger in front of the Ballinamore goal while Michael McKiernan saw a shot blocked out for a fifty after a Dean McGovern surge, Paul Honeyman converting the 50. 

Conor Dwyer and Luke Murphy swapped scores but when McKiernan intercepted a Fenagh kickout, his run saw him offload to Dean McGovern. The first shot was brilliantly saved by Shane Doonan but McGovern won the rebound, spun and showed great strength to force the ball over the line.

Fenagh’s response was impressive - Riordan O’Rourke scored a great point from the corner and Eoin McLoughlin fired over from distance, Honeyman responding from play on 20 minutes. But a minute later, Fenagh were in front as Conor Dwyer cut through the Ballinamore defence and fed Ryan O’Rourke for a power drive to the net.

Ballinamore were equally good in responding - two Honeyman points, one from a free and a Wayne McKeon point after a strong Liam Ferguson run had them back in front before a goal that generated a bit of discussion. Wayne McKeon claimed a mark on the 50 yard but immediately played a handpass. Shane Moran’s run and a quick pass to Paul Honeyman and the ball was in the net with a fair bit of debate about whether a mark could be hand passed or had to be kicked.

Two Ryan O’Rourke frees left the scores at 2-8 to 1-9 at the break and a good Conor Dwyer point three minutes into the second half cut the gap to a point. Ryan O’Rourke hit two in the space of a minute to edge the visitors back in front but a foul on Shane Moran and dissent saw Honeyman, who had missed a few chances earlier, fire over.

The next ten minutes were tit for tat with Fenagh edging ahead with points from Ryan O’Rourke (2) and Oisin McLoughlin before Ballinamore drew level with points from McKiernan, Luke Murphy and Honeyman.

Michael McKiernan edged Ballinamore in front with eight minutes of normal time left and the home team looked to have struck the decisive blow when Senan Harte’s powerful run released Dean McGovern. He tried to side-step Shane Doonan but was taken down and injured, having to be replaced. 

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Paul Honeyman took the kick and drove it high over the bar for a point but it didn’t seem to matter as sub Peter Reynolds pointed just seconds into added time. But Fenagh would not lie down and Daniel McLoughlin scored a great point from the corner after Ballinamore lost possession in their own half.

Ryan O’Rourke cut the gap back to a point from a free before Oisin McLoughlin sent a long range free goalwards, over five minutes into added time, but Wayne McKeon rose highest to claim the ball and clear the danger to secure a win for Ballinamore.

BALLINAMORE SEAN O’HESLINS

Scorers: Paul Honeyman 1-7, 1 50, 3f; Luke Murphy 0-3, 1f; Dean McGovern 1-0; Michael McKiernan 0-2; Paul Moran, Wayne McKeon & Peter Reynolds 0-1 each

Team: Darren Maxwell, Liam Ferguson, Paddy Connaughton, Matthew Murphy, Michael McBrien, Brian Banks, Cathal McHugh, Senan Harte, Shane Moran, Paul Moran, Wayne McKeon, Michael McKiernan, Luke Murphy, Dean McGovern, Paul Honeyman. Subs: Keelan McHugh for M Murphy (41); Shane Murphy for L Murphy (49); Peter Reynolds for McGovern (55); Killian Maguire for McHugh (60); James Honeyman for McHugh (61)

FENAGH ST CAILLINS

Scorers: Ryan O’Rourke 1-9, 7f; Riordan O’Rourke & Conor Dwyer 0-2 each; Oisin McLoughlin, Eoin McLoughlin, Jack Gilheany & Daniel McLoughlin 0-1 each

Team: Shane Doonan, Aaron McLoughlin, Conal McGovern, Gary Butler, Colm McLoughlin, Oisin McLoughlin, Eoin McLoughlin, Jack Gilheany, Conor Dwyer, Daniel McLoughlin, Donal Wrynn, Mark Keegan, Riordan O’Rourke, Ryan O’Rourke, James Gilheany. Subs: Shane Smith for Butler (55)

Referee: Gareth Foley