Ballygarvan grind out win over Killavullen in JAFC quarter-final
Fionn Magner, Killavullen, gets to grips with Dylan O'Connor, Ballygarvan. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
BALLYGARVAN edged Killavullen in the Cork Junior A Football Championship quarter-final in Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday afternoon.
After a slow first half the game opened up when Padraig Looney got the first goal of the game, but Ballygarvan battled back and despite two injury-time scores for the north Cork side, they held on to win.
Evan O’Connor opened the scoring from a free, while captain Eoin Birchall responded for Killavullen to level it in the 7th minute. The north Cork side allowed Ballygarvan most of the ball in the early stages, opting to press deep from within their own half.
Playing the better football and working through Killavullen’s defence, Piaras O’Halloran set up Mark Kennefick for the game’s first score from play after 15 minutes.
An O’Connor free was followed by a well worked score involving six passes that saw Ray O’Halloran point from just inside the 45 to give Ballygarvan a 0-4 to 0-2 lead after 24 minutes with what was the second of two first half scores from play.
Evan O’Connor had the first goal chance of the game, but James Angland made a good stop, parrying it out to Kennefick. Ballygarvan’s full forward couldn’t pick the ball in time and Killavullen forced a turnover, and a change in momentum.
Two frees from Birchall drew Killavullen level, before a third one from the skipper gave the Avondhu winners the lead in additional time, which they carried to the half, 0-5 to 0-4 ahead.
Ballygarvan were awarded a penalty on the restart, and goalkeeper James Angland stepped up to take it, but Gary White guessed correctly and made a strong save.
Birchall added his sixth free in the 37th minute to extend their lead to two, and the attacking threat shown in their win over Charleville finally returned as Killavullen sparked some much-needed life into the contest.
Ray O’Halloran shot at goal, but his effort rattled the crossbar, falling to substitute Padraig Looney, who smashed it home to get their first score from play with a goal.
Two frees from O’Connor got Ballygarvan back into it, leaving just a goal between the sides with 15 minutes to go.
With momentum in their favour, they took full advantage of a counterattack as Piaras O’Halloran picked out Daniel Mackey with a handpass. The substitute, with acres of space smashed it low across goal to level it.
Points from Piaras O’Halloran, Shane Buckley and Ray O’Halloran put Ballygarvan three ahead with only four minutes to go. Scores from Birchall and Looney put one between the teams in injury time, but Ballygarvan survived the scare.
E O’Connor 0-5 (0-4 f), R O’Halloran 1-2, M Kennefick, P O’Halloran, S Buckley 0-1 each.
E Birchall 0-7 f, P Looney 1-2.
G White; P Ryan, D O’Sullivan, R O’Leary; S Fenton, K Lyons, M O’Mahony; P O’Halloran, J Fenton; E O’Connor, D O’Connor, D O’Mahony; R O’Halloran, M Kennefick, S Brady.
D Mackey for D O’Mahony (40), Conor Mackey for O’Leary, S Buckley for Fenton (both 53), Callum Mackey for O’Connor (54).
J Angland; C O’Connor, F Magner, P Angland, P O’Sullivan, L Cronin, S Bartley; L Fox, B Cotter; J Magner, E Birchall, P O’Grady; E Cotter, B Norris, E Buckley.
P Looney for Norris (37), K Lane for P Angland (43), S O’Mahony for Buckley (50).
Peter O’Leary (Cloughduv)
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