Mayfield record first win of the Seandún Junior A Football Championship against Ballyphehane

Mayfield 3-17 (3-0-17)

Ballyphehane 2-14 (2-0-14)

Mayfield recorded their first win of the AOS Security Seandún Junior A Football Championship, as they defeated Ballyphehane at Ballinlough. 

This result puts Mayfield ahead of Ballyphehane in second place on scoring differences.

Mayfield made the better start as they held Ballyphehane scoreless for the opening ten minutes, before the sides finished level at the break. Mayfield got two goals in two minutes in the second half, which was to be the difference between the sides.

Dan Lucey got the game’s opening score from a free. Dave O’Neil and Denis Clogan each tagged on points from play, before Ballyphehane opened their account, courtesy of a pointed free by Craig Murphy.

Ronan O’Keeffe scored a point for Mayfield. Ballyphehane levelled matters at four points apiece, as Adam O’Donoghue, Cian O’Brien and Alex Cummins each added unanswered points.

O’Keeffe exchanged points with Ballyphehane’s Dan Kiely.

Ballyphehane took the lead for the first time when Murphy put them in the driving seat in the 18th minute. 

This was followed by unanswered points by Troy O’Sullivan and Sean Fielding. 

Murphy also chipped in with his second pointed free, to give Ballyphehane a lead of 0-9 to 0-5.

O’Keeffe and Murphy traded points. Lucey tagged on two points followed by one by O’Keeffe. 

Nicky Kelly also converted the game’s only 45 deep into stoppage time at the end of the opening half. 

This tied the scores at 0-10 apiece at the interval.`

O’Keeffe got the opening score of the second half in the 33rd minute.

Ballyphehane promptly regained the initiative and they moved two points clear when Murphy set up Cummins for the game’s opening goal.

Mayfield got their first goal, midway through the second half, when Lucey set up Kelly.

In the final quarter, Mayfield had Ballyphehane pinned back as O’Keeffe and Tomás Horgan each added two further goals.

Robbie Wyse responded with Ballyphehane’s second goal, with time running out.

Scorers for Mayfield: R O’Keeffe 1-7 (0-3f); N Kelly 1-1 (0-1 45); T Horgan 1-1; D Lucey 0-4 (0-2f); D O’Donovan, S O’Donovan, D Clogan, D O’Neill 0-1 each.

Ballyphehane: C Murphy 0-5 (0-2f); A Cummins, R Wyse 1-1 each; T O’Sullivan, C O’Brien 0-2 each; S Fielding, D Kiely, A O’Donoghue 0-1 each.

Mayfield: E Cusack; C Moynihan, Brian O’Leary, C O’Mahony; D O’Neill, E O’Sullivan, L Malone; D Clogan, S O’Donovan; E Scanlan, N Kelly, D O’Donovan; D Lucey, C O’Donovan, R O’Keeffe.

Subs: T Horgan for C O’Donovan (36), A Walsh for Brian O’Leary (39, inj), L Foley for O’Mahony (42).

Ballyphehane: Brian O’Leary; D Holland, D Moore, T Walsh; J O’Brien, J Geasley, R Wyse; T O’Sullivan, C O’Brien; A O’Donoghue, E Varian, C Murphy; D Kiely, S Fielding, A Cummins.

Subs: J Thompson for Brian O’Leary (30+, inj), F Long for Walsh (35), D Lambert for Fielding (42).

Referee: Cathal Ó Murchú (Brian Dillon’s).