Murphy rescues draw for champions Mohill to deny Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins fairytale victory

After an absorbing contest that may be defined by a few crucial slips, this year’s Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC Final is headed to a replay after sub Matthew Murphy fisted an injury time point to earn defending champions Mohill a dramatic draw against Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins on Sunday afternoon.

Before a packed Pairc Sheain Ui Eslin, excitement levels were reaching fever pitch as first Mohill recovered from a three point deficit to take a two point lead heading into the final ten minutes, seemingly putting them on course to do what they had never done before - retain the Fenagh Cup.

But back came Ballinamore with three unanswered frees from Paul Honeyman (2) and Wayne McKeon and suddenly the Fenagh Cup was going to be staying in Ballinamore, a fairytale in the making for the 2021 winners to lift the title for the first time on their own turf.

Yet there was still more times for a few twists and turns that started with one of the biggest twists when Wayne McKeon’s speculative long ball caught out Mohill keeper Padraig Tighe, the ball flying to the roof of the net after the Mohill netminder had advanced off his line, perhaps thinking the ball was falling short.

That looked as if it was going to be the decisive score but in a match that often bubbled under the surface rather than break out into a blazing fire, the twists kept coming - first David Mitchell was black carded in added time for a blatant foul on Keelan McHugh, giving Ballinamore possession with time running out.

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Then the superb surface in Pairc Sheain Ui Eslin caught out Ballinamore sub Andrew Burns as his feet went from under him at just the wrong time, giving possession back to Mohill and one last chance and they certainly took it.

Ballinamore keeper Darren Maxwell, almost back across his line, did superbly well to punch clear Domhnaill Flynn’s dangerous ball but Evan Harkin and sub Donal Duignan combined to get the ball to Matthew Murphy and his fisted effort ensured nobody went home with the Cup on this Sunday.

Some wondered after the game should Murphy have gone for a killer goal as the opportunity opened up for him in front of the posts but with Ballinamore defender Patrick Connaughton closing like a train, the fisted point was the smart option as we go again next Saturday!

Jordan Reynolds opened with a wide but it was Ballinamore who set the early pace when a foul on Cathal McHugh allowed Paul Honeyman to open the scoring inside two two minutes. Barely a minute later, the game took a dramatic and somewhat fortunate turn in Ballinamore's way when Wayne McKeon boomed the ball towards the Mohill goal.

The O’Heslins captain was looking for a teammate in behind the Mohill cover but keeper Padraig Tighe came off his line to challenge before realising the danger as the ball flew over his head and into the net for a dramatic goal.

The Mohill team who drew with Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins Picture: Willie Donnellan

Mohill’s response was impressive - Jack Rowley hit a nice point from about 35 yards, Keith Beirne lofted a 50 yard free right over the black spot and Keith Keegan got on the end of a great move involving Domhnaill Flynn and Shane Quinn within five minutes of Ballinamore’s goal.

Ballinamore, crucially, were able to respond - a long ball found Paul Honeyman, he passed to Wayne McKeon who hit an excellent point from the corner. Keith Beirne replied with a free but Mohill appealed for more when Evan Harkin was taken down by Liam Ferguson inside the 21 yard line as he bore down on goal, a possible penalty offence for denying a goal scoring chance, but referee Enda Egan decided a free was the appropriate punishment.

Ballinamore made the most of that, another long ball was expertly fielded by Honeyman who scored a good point. Luke Murphy and Beirne traded frees before Mohill started to gain the ascendancy but without the scores to go with it. 

Tadhg Mulligan shot wide before Keith Beirne’s high shot hit the woodwork and rebounded into the arms of Fiachra McGuinness with the goal at his mercy on 18 minutes. McGuinness took a step as Darren Maxwell, as he did three years ago, smothered the shot and cleared the danger, McGuinness following up with a bad wide a minute later. 

Ballinamore saw Paul Moran leave a free short but it was Mohill creating and missing chances, Jordan Reynolds and Keith Keegan missing either side of a good Keegan point as he burst through the Ballinamore defence on the run. After his earlier miss, Paul Moran made good amends with a huge point from the left wing that curled inside the near post to really lift the home side.

O’Heslins looked to have weathered the storm when Tom Prior and Michael McKiernan combined to set up Honeyman for a great point from the corner but an added time free from Keith Beirne left Ballinamore 1-6 to 0-7 ahead at the halftime interval.

The Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins team who drew with Mohill Picture: Willie Donnellan

The second half was slower to get going, Honeyman putting a Ballinamore free wide before an off-the-ball foul on Fiachra McGuinness saw Beirne convert on 35 minutes. A minute later, Honeyman was successful from a placed ball, moved in for dissent, and when Naoise McManus finished off a good counter-attack with a fine point, Ballinamore led 1-8 to 0-8.

Mohill looked in bother with Jordan Reynolds shooting wide while Ballinamore made the first change of the day, Keelan McHugh coming on for point scorer McManus. Shane Quinn picked up a yellow but Keith Beirne saw a long range effort go over thanks to a touch off the woodwork after some patient Mohill play.

Mohill boss Eamonn O’Hara was then booked while Beirne hit a wide before a long ball found McGuinness who fed Tadhg Mulligan for a fine point on 14 minutes, the gap back at a point. Jordan Reynolds hit a poor shot low into Darren Maxwell before Matthew Murphy was booked for a heavy coming together with McGuinness.

From the free, Mohill cleverly worked the ball for Evan Harkin to ghost in behind their defence to fire over the equalising point with less than 12 minutes to go. A minute later, Mohill were in front, Jack Rowley cutting through a gap in a hesitant Ballinamore defence to give the champions the lead for the first time.

From the kickout, Ballinamore were penalised for picking the ball off the ground, the ball moved in for dissent and Beirne converted to leave Mohill two up. Crucially, a foul on Tom Prior allowed Ballinamore to steady the ship with another Honeyman free as both teams started to make changes.

Paul Moran put a free wide but Ballinamore drew level when Wayne McKeon side footed an almost 50 yard free between the Mohill posts with just over four minutes remaining. Ballinamore broke again, threatening a goal only for Sean Harkin to get a flying touch to the ball to stop the goal chance.

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However, Mohill were penalised for a foul in the build-up and Honeyman converted to put Ballinamore back in front. Mohill tried to generate a score but fierce Ballinamore pressure forced turnovers with, as the game was in added time, David Mitchell black carded for a blatant trip on Keelan McHugh.

After treatment for McHugh concluded, more than two of the three added minutes had elapsed. Wayne McKeon opted to play the ball back, Ballinamore broke free but an unfortunate slip, sub Andrew Burns slipped at the wrong moment, touching the ball on the ground, which allowed Mohill launch one last attack.

After a few probing moves, Domhnaill Flynn launched a 40 yard effort at the Ballinamore goal - it looked as if it would threaten to emulate Wayne McKeon’s effort as the ball sailed towards the goal but Darren Maxwell cleared it under pressure from Sean Harkin.

The ball fell to Evan Harkin, a quick handpass found sub Donal Duignan. He equally quickly got it to fellow sub Matthew Murphy and a fisted point ensured the gap ended level when referee Enda Egan blew the long whistle seconds later.

MOHILL

Scorers: Keith Beirne 0-7, 6f; Jack Rowley & Keith Keegan 0-2 each; Tadhg Mulligan, Evan Harkin & Matthew Murphy 0-1 each

Team: Padraig Tighe, David Mitchell, James Mitchell, Ryan Bohan, Sean Harkin, Shane Quinn, Jack Rowley, Conor Quinn, Domhnaill Flynn, Tadhg Mulligan, Keith Keegan, Evan Harkin, Keith Beirne, Fiachra McGuinness, Jordan Reynolds. Subs: Matthew Murphy for J Mitchell (52); Ronan Gordon for Mulligan (54); Donal Duignan for Rowley (57)

BALLINAMORE SEAN O’HESLINS

Scorers: Paul Honeyman 0-6, 4f; Wayne McKeon 1-2, 1f; Naoise McManus, Paul Moran & Luke Murphy (f) 0-1 each

Team: Darren Maxwell, Matthew Murphy, Brian Banks, Patrick Connaughton, Micahel McBrien, Liam Ferguson, Cathal McHugh, Shane Moran, Wayne McKeon, Michael McKiernnan, Paul Moran, Naoise McManus, Luke Murphy, Tom Prior, Paul Honeyman. Subs: Keelan McHugh for McManus (38); Dessie Wisely & Andrew Burns for McKiernan & L Murphy (52); Killian Maguire for M Murphy (57)

Referee: Enda Egan