Goleen end years of heartbreak by beating Ballyphehane to win the Junior B football championship

Goleen 0-11 

Ballyphehane 0-9 

Goleen secured McCarthy Insurance Confined Junior B Football Championship glory after victory over Ballyphehane in this epic decider played at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday.

At different junctures over the last decade Ballyphehane and Goleen had suffered championship heartbreak at the final stage. 

It ultimately was Goleen who ended years of heartbreak.

It was Ballyphehane who got the opening score of this decider courtesy of the point by Craig Murphy. 

Goleen responded with a score from Michael O’Reilly, before they edged in front thanks to a point by Paudie O’Regan.

During what was a tightly contested start to proceedings, Ballyphehane got back on level terms at 0-2 apiece after 15 minutes played on the clock, when Sean Fielding kept his composure and slotted over the bar.

Goleen then edged back into the lead when O’Regan pointed from a free, which was to be subsequently followed by a gem of a score from play by Jake Coughlan.

A composed point from the boot of Troy O’Sullivan in the 24th minute was much needed for Ballyphehane. 

Goleen though were proving they meant business, as Darren O’Donovan converted a beautiful point from long distance.

A point from Michael O’Reilly capped off a very productive opening half for Goleen, who led 0-6 to the 0-3 of Ballyphehane at the half time break.

Ballyphehane reduced the deficit when they got a point from the boot of Craig Murphy in the 35th minute.

Goleen, roared on by a sizable contingent that made the journey from West Cork, re-established their three point cushion as O’Reilly scored from another free.

As the game approached the 45th minute mark Ballyphehane continued to knock on the door, as they again reduced the margin back to two points as Robert Wyse pointed. But Goleen were very much holding firm.

There was just one point between the sides in the 49th minute, as an Aaron West point kept the Ballyphehane hopes alive.

Ballyphehane got back on level terms with ten minutes remaining, thanks to a well taken point by Craig Murphy. 

That ensured we very much had a grandstand finish on the cards.

With five minutes of normal time remaining Goleen went back into the lead, when a composed effort by Darren O’Donovan split the posts.

As we entered into second half stoppage time the tension was in overdrive. 

Goleen appeared to manage the closing stages well.

But Ballyphehane got an equaliser with less than a minute remaining when Troy O’Sullivan successfully converted with a free and took this game to extra time, with the score level at 0-8 apiece.

In the opening period of extra time, Goleen edged ahead at 0-10 to 0-8 with points from Tadhg Cullinane and Matthew Sheehan.

Ballyphehane kept hopes alive when West pointed. 

But when it was all said and done, it was Goleen who were the ones left standing.

Scorers for- Goleen: M O’Reilly 0-4 (0-3f), D O’Donovan, P O’Regan, 0-2 each, J Coughlan, M Sheehan, T Cullinane 0-1 each.

Ballyphehane: C Murphy 0-3 (0-2f), T O’Sullivan (0-1f) , A West 0-2 each,S Fielding, R Wyse 0-1 each.

Goleen: R Kennedy; P Collins, J O’Driscoll, M Sheehan; J Coughlan, P Reidy, P Sheehan; A Sheehan, T Cullinane ; C Bowen , D O’Driscoll, P Scully; P O’Regan, D O’Donovan, M O’Reilly.

Subs: M Sheehan for A Sheehan (32), E Healy for Collins (36), M O’Donovan for O’Regan (47), S O’Leary for Scully (54), J Cullinane for O’Reilly (60), O’Reilly for O’Donovan (68), Collins for O’Driscoll (79).

Ballyphehane: D Sweeney; D Holland, D Moore, T Walsh; J Thompson, J Geasley, J O’Brien; C O’Brien, T O’Sullivan; A O’Donoghue, A Cummins, A West; C Murphy, S Fielding, B O’Leary.

Subs: R Wyse for O’Leary (HT), M Barry for O’Donoghue (45) , E Hill for Fielding (48), S Keating for Thompson (60+2), O Sweeney for Barry (70), O’Donoghue for Murphy, Fielding for Cummins (79).

Referee: John Enright (Glengarriff).