Ballyea make Kilmaley battle all the way

Kilmaley 1-20
Ballyea  1-14

When Francie Neylon goaled to put Ballyea four points clear two minutes into the second half at Cusack Park on Sunday, a major shock looked to be on the cards.

The score, however, sparked Kilmaley to life and they responded with six unanswered points, giving them a lead they would hold to the finish. When the final whistle sounded, Kilmaley deserved to be ahead but they were clearly relieved to have booked their place in the last eight of the senior title race.
Inevitably, there will be much speculation as to what the outcome would have been had Ballyea been able to call on a full-strength team. They didn’t have county minor captain, Tony Kelly, while they lost another of the Clare minor stars, Gearóid O’Connell, at half-time. He had contributed 0-5 in the first half and generally caused a lot of problems for the eventual winners.
In the end, however, it was the experience of Diarmuid McMahon and Colin Lynch that steered Kilmaley into the last eight. They each contributed 0-2 but they had a hand in many of their side’s scores, while another vital contribution came from Daire Keane, who finished as the game’s top scorer with 1-4 to his credit.
Ballyea captain, Tony Griffin gave his side the lead in the first minute and it took a further seven for Kilmaley to open their account through Diarmuid McMahon, who had forced Shane O’Neill into a fine saves in the third minute. Two Gearóid O’Connell efforts, one from a free, put Ballyea two clear by the 10th minute. The underdogs continued to dictate matters for the remainder of the half and went to the break leading by 0-7 to 0-6. They could have had a goal before half-time when Tony Griffin got inside the defence, where he appeared to be dragged to the ground, while a minute later he saw his effort rebound off the crossbar.
Francie Neylon’s goal at the start of the second half sounded the alarm bells for Kilmaley, who hit back with points from Conor McMahon, Kenneth Kennedy (two frees) and Diarmuid McMahon, to level after eight minutes. They took the lead for the first time a minute later and by the mid-point of the half were two points clear. Ten minutes from time Kilmaley had opened a four-point lead but Ballyea weren’t going away and points from Niall Keane (free) Francie Neylon and Tony Griffin cut the margin to the minimum with seven minutes to play.
Ballyea looked set to level when they launched another attack but they lost possession 20m from goal and Kilmaley launched a counter attack that ended with a Daire Keane goal. Kenneth Kennedy (free) and Keane followed with points and suddenly the winners were six clear with just four minutes to go.
To their credit, Ballyea battled to the end but Kilmaley held on and deservingly booked a place in the quarter-finals helped by good displays from Conor and Diarmuid McMahon, Colin Lynch, Daire Keane and Niall McGuane. Ballyea had excellent performances from Jack Browne, Paul Flanagan, Gearóid O’Connell, in the first half, and Niall Deasy

Kilmaley: Kieran Dillon; Martin O’Connor, Anthony Cahill, Colin McGuane; Noel Casey, Alan Markham, Conor McMahon; Kenneth Kennedy, Colin Lynch; Michael O’Neill, Brian McMahon, Diarmuid McMahon; Daire Keane, Seamus Hurley, Niall McGuane.
Subs: Eoin Enright for O’Neill (39 minutes), Conor Neylon for Hurley (48 minutes), John Cabey for B McMahon (59 minutes), John Clohessy for Cahill (60 minutes).
Scorers: Daire Keane (1-4) Kenneth Kennedy (0-5f), Niall McGuane (0-3), Diarmuid McMahon, Colin Lynch (0-2), Alan Markham, Conor McMahon, Eoin Enright, Brian McMahon (0-1).
Frees for: 14; Wides: 8; 65s: 2
“It’s a major achievement for our players to have qualified. The object was to get the win and be in the quarter finals.” John Carmody, Kilmaley

Ballyea: Shane O’Neill; Declan Keane, Paul Flanagan, Jack Browne; James Murphy, Cathal Doohan, Francie Reilly; Gearóid O’Connell, Paddy O’Connell; Niall Deasy, Kevin Sheehan, Niall Keane; Francie Neylon, Tony Griffin, Brian Murphy.
Subs: Frankie Griffin for B Murphy (29 minutes), David Sheehan for G O’Connell (half time), Alan Carigg for Francie Reilly (49 minutes).
Scorers: Gearóid O’Connell (0-5, 3f), Francie Neylon (1-1), Niall Deasy, Tony Griffin (0-3), Niall Keane (0-1f), James Murphy (0-1)
Frees for: 14; Wides: 6.
“Kilmaley deserved to win in the end. It’s not easy to be facing into the relegation play off.” Michael Hehir, Ballyea

Referee: Rory Hickey, Éire Óg.