JAFC: Mayfield through to final after intense duel with Ballygarvan

Mayfield 3-11 Ballygarvan 2-13 

NICKY Kelly’s 64th minute winner edged Mayfield through into the Junior A FC final where they’ll face Canovee, after a brilliant duel with Ballygarvan in Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday.

Six points adrift and a quarter of an hour to go, Ballygarvan produced a stunning comeback. After bringing the gap down to four with two excellent points, Bally scored a massive goal as Niall Dowd managed to poke it home after a scramble in the Mayfield area.

They followed up with the levelling score in the 60th minute, tying the contest with five minutes added time to play.

In the end it was Mayfield’s Kelly who found the winner, as the city side forced a turnover, and he pointed from close range.

Mayfield got the game’s first goal in the 8th minute when Shane O’Donovan played a quick free to Joey Gibson, who ran through and shot at goal. It took a heavy deflection off Paul Condon, and Gary White couldn’t reach across to keep it out of the net.

Ballygarvan replied with a point through Evan O’Connor, but two Mayfield scores preceded a second big goal chance as Nicky Kelly set up Daniel Lucey, but White made a good stop to parry it out.

After trading scores once more it was 1-5 to 0-3 after 18 minutes in favour of the city side, but Ballygarvan continued to move the ball well. Scores from Kevin Lyons, Mackey and Evan O’Connor brought the gap down to two points after 22 minutes.

Ballygarvan eventually found the back of the net as Miceál O’Mahony’s off target shot fell into the hands of Evan O’Connor, and he buried it with conviction just before half time.

Less than two minutes later, Mayfield raised a second green flag, albeit with fortune.

Dilan O’Donovan passed to O’Neill, and he shot from at range. It looked like it was heading between the posts, but dipped just enough and caught White off guard, dropping into the top corner.

His goal was all that separated them at the interval, 2-7 to 1-7.

Ballygarvan opened the second half with a point, while Mayfield’s Dilan O’Donovan was denied a third goal for his side as White made an excellent point blank save.

In a near repeat of Mayfeilds brilliant chance, Ballygarvan almost managed a goal through Seán Brady, but his palmed attempt was well stopped by Bond in the 37th minute.

Mayfield got their third goal in the 46th minute, as Mackey’s short attempt hit the crossbar, and Kelly pounced on the rebound to put them six ahead. Though Bally did draw level, Kelly’s white flag was enough to seal the win and a spot in the final for Mayfield.

Scorers for Mayfield: P Condon 1-5 (0-3 f), D O’Neill, N Kelly 1-2 each, D O’Donovan, K Punch 0-1 each.

Ballygarvan: E O’Connor 1-2, D Mackey 0-4, N Dowd 1-0, S Fenton 0-2, M Kennefick, K Lyons, G White (f), D O’Mahony, M O’Mahony 0-1 each.

MAYFIELD: E Bond; B Punch, K Punch, B O’Leary; J Gibson, D Malone, D O’Neill; E O’Sullivan, J Courtney; D Granger, N Kelly, S O’Donovan; D O’Donovan, D Lucey, P Condon.

Subs: S Keegan for O’Leary (HT), C Horgan for O’Sullivan (43), T Horgan for Granger (57), C Bond for Horgan (60+5 inj).

BALLYGARVAN: 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, S Brady; R O’Halloran, M Kennefick, D Mackey.

Subs: M Cussen for J Fenton (HT), N Dowd for E O’Connor, D O’Mahony for D O’Connor (both 49), C Mackey for Lyons (54).

Referee: Liam O’Shea (Carbery Rangers)