Ballinamore CS withstand St Jarlath's challenge to claim Connacht glory in style

In a game they should have won easily and came perilously close to losing, Ballinamore Community School displayed real grit and character as they seized the day to claim the Mezzino Connacht Post Primary Schools Junior A Championship title last Thursday at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence.

Ballinamore were clearly the better side - better organised and with a clearer idea of what they wanted to do against the St Jarlath's second string outfit but the famed Tuam school would not lie down as they put the Leitrim lads under immense pressure throughout an absorbing contest.

The Tuam school started the best of the two teams but they didn't have the clinical edge the Ballinamore team possessed and when Colm McLoughlin flew through the air to fist a Paul Honeyman free that feel short to the Jarlath's net, you could sense the blossoming confidence in the Leitrim lads.

Ballinamore Community School celebrate Connacht title success - GALLERY

Ballinamore Community School are celebrating after their Junior Footballers defeated St Jarlath's of Tuam to win the Mezzino Connacht PPS Junior C Final at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence on Thursday and Observer photographer Willie Donnellan was there to capture the images of the Ballinamore fans enjoying the action and celebrating their victory

They needed it because Jarlath's had chances but crucially, every time the Galway school looked as if they were going to get back into the game, it was Ballinamore who responded and responded in style.

After many of these players lost out in the Senior C Final, this was a much needed breakthrough for Ballinamore and in players like Paul Honeyman, Shane Donohue, Dessie Wisely, Dara Greenan, Killian Mulvey and Colm McLoughlin, they had a strong core that gave them a huge advantage throughout a very entertaining and hard fought contest.

Paul Honeyman thought he had got Ballinamore off to a good start but his mark inside the first minute went wide before keeper Shane Keegan made a vital save when he made a brilliant save from Jamie Gillan’s shot a minute later.

St Jarlath’s dominated the early stages but couldn’t take their chances and when Honeyman converted a free on ten minutes, it set Ballinamore on their way. Another Honeyman free led to a dramatic goal, his long range effort dropping short only for a flying Colm McLoughlin to fist the ball to the net.

St Jarlath’s hit back with points from Conor Bodkin and Luke Dempsey but Ballinamore were on top now with Honeyman firing over on 16 minutes. Good work from Ruairi O’Rourke set up Shane Donohue for a good point and after playing a give and go from a free, Paul Honeyman stretched the lead to five point.

Another Honeyman effort, a great effort was followed by a Donohue free as Ballinamore led 1-6 to 0-2 with just over five minutes left in the half. But Jarlath’s reminded everyone they would be a persistent challenger as two Killian Joyce frees and a Kian Gilmore point after a great move that might have promised more cut the gap back to four points.

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Ballinamore thought they would get the perfect start to the second half but Jarlath’s keeper Jack Hynes made a superb save to deny O’Rourke a certain goal at the expense of a fifty and that looked like a costly miss as the Tuam school hit back with a goal of their own, forced when Joyce turned over the ball to feed Dempsey for an easy goal.

It was almost much worse for Ballinamore as Cian Rafferty battled his way past a defender and dragged a great shot just wide across the goal in a real let-off for the Leitrim school.

Ballinamore took need of the danger and responded with four unanswered points in a blistering four minute spell - Jamie Plunkett’s lovely chip got Ballinamore moving before centre-back Dessie Wisely drove up the field from defence to score.

Honeyman and Donohue both tagged on excellent points as Ballinamore were now five clear but then they started to miss chances despite dominating general play. Fortunately, Jarlath’s were faring no better before sub Eanna Dolan fired over from a tight angle with just over 12 minutes left on the clock.

That seemed to spark something in the Tuam side as Dempsey and sub Aaron Connolly fired over a quick brace to get the gap back to two points. Dempsey had a chance to cut the gap further but he fired wide and Shane Donohue eased the pressure when he curled a lovely shot over the bar from distance.

Paul Honeyman hit a free off target and St Jarlath’s kept charging - Dempsey converted a free but a powerful run from Colm McLoughlin released Adam Reynolds who fisted the ball over the bar to restore the four point gap with less than two minutes.

The Galway school would not relent and Joyce fired over his fourth free to again cut the gap back to one but Ballinamore resisted the pressure and broke down the field, winning a free. Honeyman’s effort fell short but sub Mark Ahern pounced quickest to fire over the insurance point, sparking off wild Ballinamore celebrations once the final whistle sounded.

Special day for Paddy Maguire as Glencar Manorhamilton stalwart hits 100 games for Leitrim - GALLERY

Sunday was a special day for long serving Leitrim player Paddy Maguire as the Glencar Manorhamilton man lined out for the Leitrim Senior Football team for the 100th time in the 2-22 to 0-13 victory over Carlow in the Allianz NFL Division 4 clash in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada. Observer photographer Willie Donnellan captured a few photos of Paddy celebrating a wonderful achievement.

BALLINAMORE COMMUNITY SCHOOL

Scorers: Paul Honeyman 0-5, 1f; Shane Donohue 0-3, 1f; Colm McLoughlin 1-0; Jamie Plunkett, Adam Reynolds, Dessie Wisely & Mark Ahern 0-1 each

Team: Shane Keegan, Eoin Conefrey, Killian Mulvey, Matthew Lee, Daniel Huston, Dessie Wisely, Senan McTague, Dara Greenan, Colm McLoughlin, Adam Reynolds, Shane Donohue, Cormac Moran, Ruairi O’Rourke, Paul Honeyman, Jamie Plunkett. Subs: Mark Ahern for Plunkett (43); Caolan Murray for O’Rourke (57)

ST JARLATH’S TUAM

Scorers: Luke Dempsey 1-2; Killian Joyce 0-4, 4f; Conor Bodkin, Kian Gilmore, Aaron Connolly & Eanna Dolan 0-1 each

Team: Jack Hynes, Tyler Waugh Bacchus, Tiernan Looney, Matthew Steele, Aaron Cawley, Dan Winston, Jack Cleary, Odhran Daly, Matthew Murphy, Cian Rafferty, Kian Gilmore, Conor Bodkin, Jamie Gillen, Killian Joyce, Luke Dempsey. Subs: Aaron Murphy for Bodkin (HT); Eanna Dolan for Gillen (41); Aaron Connolly for Rafferty (46)

Referee: John Finn (Mayo)