Keegan goal crucial as Mohill show champions' class to overcome Ballinamore

They have been struggling for form and down four players key to their run of success in recent years but Mohill showed every bit of their champions’ class as they twice came from behind to claim a deserved Connacht Gold SFC victory over Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins in Cloone on Friday evening.

This was not a repeat of last year’s exhilarating County Final saga but more a chess game where both teams sought to negate the other’s strength. However, when Mohill were faced with a three point deficit early in the second half and Ballinamore seemingly taking control of the contest, then we saw the pedigree of the defending champions.

Keith Keegan scored a magnificent goal, slaloming his way through Ballinamore’s defenders and even after Paul Honeyman, on as a halftime sub, landed two points to regain the lead for O’Heslins, Mohill simply took over in the middle of the field and ran their opponents ragged.

Conor Quinn, the Harkin brothers, Domhnaill Flynn and Keegan exerted a vice-like grip on the contest as Mohill won ball after ball and broke at speed, Matthew Murphy scoring three points on the trot to wrest control of the contest the way of the champions.

Credit Ballinamore, they came with a late charge and it took a miraculous double save to deny Tom Prior and Donal Feely a late goal that would have left this game in jeopardy but as it was, Mohill were left celebrating a hugely significant win.

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Given their struggles with injuries and the loss of Shane Quinn, Padraig Tighe, Keith Beirne and Jordan Reynolds from last year’s Championship winning team, this was a huge statement of intent and one that leaves Ballinamore shocked as they head into the second round.

A Domhnaill Flynn free after just 50 seconds suggested a bright opening but the game then had a few misses from both sides, Mohill the more guilty before Paul Moran lofted a wonderful two point effort over the bar before Flynn cut inside to level the scores after six minutes.

Luke Murphy converted two frees, one for a three-man breach, but two Flynn frees had Mohill level after 18 minutes, despite the loss of Jack Rowley to injury. The tit for tat continued as a fourth Flynn free put Mohill in front only for Michael McKiernan to land Ballinamore’s second two-pointer of the contest.

A ball into the lively Matthew Murphy set up Keith Keegan for a point that had the hint of a goal with a more precise finish and we almost got a goal when Shane Moran’s strong run and powerful shot was thwarted by the out-stretched foot of Mohill keeper Peter O’Neill, leaving the sides level at 0-6 apiece at the break.

Matthew Murphy fields the ball under pressure for Mohill against Ballinamore Picture: Willie Donnellan

Both sides made changes as the break with Adam McGuinness replacing a concussed James Mitchell and Paul Honeyman seeing his first action since March. Paul Moran opened the scoring, a nice score on the lop in the first minute and while both sides had two wides apiece, Ballinamore seemed to be getting on top.

Tom Prior, back in the country after his exploits in Chicago, finished off a long run with a good point and a strong Paul Moran run set up Donal Feely for a point. But just as O’Heslins were seizing control of the contest, Mohill struck back - a long ball out of defence found Domhnaill Flynn in space.

He found the charging Keith Keegan who showed great footwork to twist one way and then the other through the Ballinamore defence. His shot was almost stopped by keeper Darren Maxwell but it had enough force to carry over the line, levelling the scores once more.

Ballinamore, in fairness, responded well with Cathal McHugh setting up Paul Honeyman for a fine point and he repeated the process on 15 minutes. A high tackle for Domhnaill Flynn saw Donal Feely booked and Flynn converted the free as Ballinamore missed a few chances before Matthew Murphy fisted the ball over the Ballinamore crossbar.

A minute later, the youngster repeated the dose, Mohill breaking at speed from midfield before Murphy fisted over to put Mohill in front. Paul Honeyman put an ambitious two point free attempt wide and young Murphy added a third on the trot with a nice score on the turn.

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Mohill were now bossing the midfield exchanges and Flynn landed a monster score from out the field as Wayne McKeon put a two point attempt wide. Mohill were rampant and from the kickout, the quickly moved the ball for Evan Harkin to fist over, eschewing the chance to go for a goal.

Ballinamore tried to raise a late charge and in the final minute of normal time, they almost had a goal but both Tom Prior and Donal Feely had goal attempts blocked and saved virtually on the line with Ballinamore unable to convert. 

In the remaining minutes, Ballinamore tried to create goal chances but left the ball short and their final score came from a Wayne McKeon free as Mohill celebrated a deserved victory.

MOHILL

Scorers: Domhnaill Flynn 0-7, 5f; Keith Keegan 1-1; Matthew Murphy 0-3; Evan Harkin 0-1

Team: Peter O’Neill, Ryan Bohan, James Mitchell, David Mitchell, Eoghan Duignan, Alan Armstrong, Donal Duignan, Jack Rowley, Conor Quinn, Domhnaill Flynn, Keith Keegan, Sean Harkin, Matthew Murphy, Fiachra McGuinness, Evan Harkin. Sub: Johnny Boyle for Rowley (13); Adam McGuinness for J Mitchell (HT)

BALLINAMORE SEAN O’HESLINS

Scorers: Paul Moran 0-3, 1 tp; Michael McKiernan (tp), Luke Murphy (2f) & Paul Honeyman 0-2 each; Tom Prior, Wayne McKeon (f) & Donal Feely 0-1 each

Team: Darren Maxwell, Conor Moran, Brian Banks, Matthew Murphy, Naoise McManus, Keelan McHugh, Cathal McHugh, Donal Feely, Shane Moran, Paul Moran, Michael McKiernan, Brian Leyden, Luke Murphy, Tom Prior, Wayne McKeon. Subs: Paul Honeyman for Leyden (HT), Liam Ferguson for L Murphy (53)

Referee: Martin Feeney