IAFC: Neil Lordan relieved to have secured a second chance for Ballinora

Ballinora’s man of the moment Neil Lordan didn’t want to give himself too much credit for his game-saving intervention but he was relieved that they had managed to earn another crack off Ilen Rovers.

The Cork defender was the man entrusted with the responsibility to kicking the game-tying two-point free after Ilen Rovers’ three-up breach. While a similar opportunity, from further out, had not been taken in the closing stages, he was able to successful reset and secure the necessary orange flag.

“There was three-man breach,” Lordan said, “the ref was a bit iffy about it but thankfully he gave us the call.

“We’ve been playing games like that all year, where we’ve let ourselves a good bit of work to do, especially at the ends of games. Thankfully, the ball went over the bar because I had a two-point free a minute or two before and I ballooned it wide.

“I suppose it goes back to routine. I knew I was really annoyed with how the other one had gone and I’d have had a lot of regrets in the future if the game ended like that.

“I just settled down a bit and willed the ball over the bar, to be honest. It actually wasn’t that good a free, the wind could have carried it over!

“We’re just haunted that we got another crack off it.” 

Given that they trailed by 1-4 to 0-1 in the first half and then were overhauled in the second period after taking the lead, the fact that Ballinora still did not lose is something they can take solace from - not least because they know their shooting can be improved.

“In games in the past, against Kilmurry and Gabriels, we’ve missed chances like that and given ourselves a hole to get out of,” Lordan said.

“We’ve a young team but we are resilient and we seem to get out of positions like that.

“We seem to find a way to grind out results. I think we did that today and I think it will stand to us the next day.”

For his part, Ilen Rovers manager Florence O’Driscoll had no issue with the decision to award Ballinora the late free when the Baltimore/Church Cross side were within touching distance of victory.

“No issue with the three-up rule breach,” he said, “if it is the rule, it is the rule. It is tough on the lads because you are fighting up to the last second.

“It is a mental issue and it can happen. Three weeks ago, we gained from that rule.

“It was a mistake and if you make a mistake you get punished.”

Once their early supremacy was cancelled out, Ilen had to battle to ensure that they stayed with Ballinora when the mid-Cork side had their period in the ascendancy.

“Ballinora were probably the better team on the balance of play, we’ve to be honest about that,” O’Driscoll said.

“We put ourselves in a winning position, not to win it - not to rob it - is kind of disappointing but it is all back to play for again.

“We just have to be ready for the next day, whenever that is going to be. “