Mark Henry praises Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins' character after drawn final with Mohill

Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins manager Mark Henry sees positives in what was a difficult result for his team who were mere seconds away from clinching the Connacht Gold Leitrim senior football championship in Pairc Sheain Ui Eslin on Sunday.

His side looked destined to become Leitrim champions for the 22nd time and lift the Fenagh cup before a last second point from Matthew Murphy levelled the game for champions Mohill, sending it to a reply next Saturday. 

“Initially there was disappointment because we were that point in front, but I suppose we quickly have to reflect on the fact that we didn’t lose the game, and we have another chance to go at it again next Saturday.”

Despite the disappointment he does feel that a draw was a fair reflection of the game in the end, “There is nothing between the teams, look you seen that today and in many ways a draw was probably a fair result,” he says.

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

His team managed to protect a lead for the majority of the game, but a strong Mohill showing in the second half brought the champions back into the game, and put the Ballinamore men in jeopardy. “Coming out in the second half Mohill managed to put in a huge third quarter, which you expect champions to do,” he says.

He praised his team's resilience, especially in the second half, when the game was balanced on a knife's edge. “Proud of the way our players performed especially when things were going against us in the middle of the second half,” he says, “I knew that the character was in the team to turn it around and get back on level terms."

“They dug themselves out and got themselves back to a good position, look it was just unfortunate that we couldn’t see it out, but you know it was never going to be easy to see out the last four or five minutes against a team like Mohill.”

The teams will have a quick turn around to contend with as they meet again next Saturday in Pairc Sheain Ui Eslin. Right now Ballinamore will focus on recovery, says Henry, “Couple days of recovery and we will get back to training Tuesday night and take it from there.”