Great northern rivals cannot be separated
Knockmore’s Fergal Keane gathers the ball ahead of Ballina Stephenites Niall Treacy during the Sweeney Cup Senior Football Final at St. Joseph’s Park, Knockmore, last Sunday. Pictures: David Farrell Photography
Knockmore and Ballina Stephenites could not be separated in the Sweeney Cup Senior final at a windy St Joseph’s Park in Knockmore on Sunday afternoon.
Both sides had periods of dominance in the game, but they could not be separated in normal time as they game will go to a replay with a possible date of next weekend.
Ballina got off to a flying start, with a strong wind at their backs, when Patrick Carr slotted over a ‘45 to get the first score of the game. They followed it up with a pair of two-pointers from Luke Jordan and Niall Feeney for a 0-5 to 0-0 lead after seven minutes.
Knockmore were given a penalty after nine minutes when Oran Timlin was pulled back in the box. Caolan Hopkins stepped up but kicked the ball wide.
However, Knockmore got their first score a minute later when Ronan Melvin slotted over to cut the deficit to four. Ballina responded immediately when Feeney slotted another free.
Carr hit his first two-pointer free with a massive kick to increase the score to 0-8 to 0-1. Liam Durcan responded for Knockmore with well worked point from play. Carr slotted his second two-pointer free to increase the lead to 0-10 to 0-2 and Ballina’s last score of the first half.
Knockmore hit a purple patch hitting 1-4 in a three-minute period. Fergal Keane slotted over from play and was followed immediately with another point by Hopkins. Hopkins followed with a second when he fisted over a point and the deficit was down to five. From the kick-out Knockmore won the ball and worked the ball into the box with Pearse Ruttledge finding the back of the net. Hopkins followed up with another point and as the half-time whistle blew Ballina led by one, 0-10 to 1-6.
Knockmore continued were they left off in the second half and Durcan hit the back of the net to give the home side the lead for the first time 2-6 to 0-10. Carr responded for Ballina with another free. Adam Battle hit a free for Knockmore with Connell Dempsey using the wind at this back to hit a stormer of a two-pointer, 2-9 to 0-11.
Knockmore got caught not having three in the forwards giving an easy free to reduce the deficit. Mike Murray followed up with a point to reduce the deficit to two points. This was followed up by a goal from the boot of Luke Feeney and Ballina were back in the lead. Feeney followed up with a point and lead was out to two.
Battle responded for Knockmore. He thought he got a two-pointer however referee Declan O’Boyle ruled that he was just inside the two-pointer arc with a single point awarded. Hopkins followed with point to level proceedings. Dylan Thornton made a great break through the Knockmore defence to take to lead with three minutes to go.
Dempsey found a levelling score from a free with the referee blowing the whistle and the decision for a replay made by both sides.
Scorers - Knockmore: Caolan Hopkins 0-0-4, Liam Durcan 1-0-1, Connell Dempsey 0-1-1 (1tpf), Pearse Ruttledge 1-0-0; Adam Battle 0-0-2, Ronan Melvin and Fergal Keane 0-0-1 each.
Ballina Stephenites: Patrick Carr 0-2-3 (2tpf, 2f, 1 ‘45); Niall Feeney 0-1-2 (2f); Luke Feeney 1-0-0; Luke Jordan 0-1-0, Mike Murray and Dylan Thornton 0-0-1 each.
Knockmore: Brian McMahon, Sean Holmes, Adam Naughton, Keith Langan, Oran Timlin, David McHale, Fergal Keane, Pearse Ruttledge, Keith Ormsby, Adam Battle, Ronan Melvin, Daniel Breslin, Liam Durcan, Caolan Hopkins, Connell Dempsey. Sub: Darragh Holmes (for R Melvin (51).
Ballina Stephenites: Eoghan Coleman, Jimmy Doherty, Luke Jordan, Liam Golden, Niall Feeney, Ciaran Boland, Barry Walsh, Dylan Thornton, Luke Feeney, Niall Treacy, Conor McStay, Patrick Carr, Matthew Leonard, Mike Murray, Ciaran Treacy. Subs: Stephen Mullins (for J Doherty 33), Dylan Neary (for C Treacy 46).
REF: Declan O’Boyle (Ardagh).
