Junior B joy for Douglas footballers at Ballinlough against Ballyphehane

Douglas 3-8

Ballyphehane 1-8

Douglas have retained the AOS Security Seandún Junior B Football title, as they defeated Ballyphehane, who won the title in 2022, before a sizeable attendance at Ballinlough on Saturday.

Scoring opportunities from play were at a premium for Ballyphehane in the opening half, while Douglas played a more open game where they got two decisive goals. 

Douglas put the game beyond Ballyphehane’s reach with their third goal, which came early in the second half, before Ballyphehane converted a penalty in the final quarter.

Craig Murphy opened the scoring as he converted a free for Ballyphehane in the second minute, outside the Douglas 20-metre line. 

This was promptly cancelled out as Douglas worked the ball up the park from the kick-out. 

They took the lead courtesy of Kevin Murphy’s goal from the corner of the Ballyphehane square.

Barry Fitzgerald got a long-range point for Douglas, before Ballyphehane seized the initiative. 

Aaron West tagged on a point from play, following a solo run from the middle of the park. 

Sean Fielding also chipped in with a pointed free to leave the minimum between the sides.

Douglas had Ballyphehane back on the defensive and Cian Clarke got their second goal from the corner of the Ballyphehane square, following a free in their own 65.

Douglas continued to have Ballyphehane pinned back as they were winning possession from Ballyphehane kick-outs. 

This set up Keating for a point from play and he also converted a free.

West was to be denied the first goal-scoring opportunity for Ballyphehane, as his shot was blocked by David McSweeney in the 23rd minute.

Ballyphehane responded when Fielding converted a mark in the 26th minute. 

Keating exchanged pointed frees with Fielding as Douglas led 2-4 to 0-5 at half-time.

Kevin Murphy tagged on a point for Douglas, following a free, within a minute of the restart. 

West had to settle for a point for Ballyphehane, as his goal-bound shot sailed over the bar.

Wayward kick-outs were to prove costly for Ballyphehane and in the 36th minute, Keating drilled home a third goal for Douglas from the edge of the Ballyphehane square. 

Keating also added his third pointed free, before Fielding replied with his first point from play for Ballyphehane.

Persistent fouling was to be Ballyphehane’s undoing as Keating slotted over a pointed free from the Ballyphehane 20-metre line.

In the final quarter, Ballyphehane were awarded a penalty, from which Fielding got Ballyphehane’s goal in the 48th minute, which reduced the deficit to six points.

Ballyphehane continued to have Douglas pinned back, and Fielding converted his third free, with eight minutes remaining.

With time almost up, Eoin O’Flynn tagged on a point from play for Douglas to end the scoring.

Scorers for Douglas: R Keating 1-5 (0-4f); K Murphy 1-1; C Clarke 1-0; B Fitzgerald, E O’Flynn 0-1 each.

Ballyphehane: S Fielding 1-5 (1-0 pen, 0-1 mark, 0-3f); A West 0-2; C Murphy 0-1f.

Douglas: B Boyle; C Donlon, Damien Sweeney, C Gowan; M Lyons, D McSweeney, A Kelly; B O’Neill, E O’Flynn; K Doyle, B Fitzgerald, A O’Brien; C Clarke, R Keating, K Murphy.

Subs: J Farrell for Doyle (b/c 40-50), C Lucas for Clarke (52), J Harte for O’Brien (57), N Fanning for Kelly (60+) 

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

Subs: P Walsh for T Walsh (22), J O’Brien for Murphy (45).

Referee: Damian Taaffe (Passage).