Late drama as Ballyhaunis goals demolish Abbey
The players and management of Ballyhaunis Community School celebrate their Connacht GAA Post Primary Schools Senior 'C' football championship victory over Gortnor Abbey of Crossmolina at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence, Bekan, last Saturday. Pictures: David Farrell Photography
Connacht PPS Senior ‘C’ Football Championship – Final
Ballyhaunis Community School 4-6
Gortnor Abbey, Crossmolina 1-11
Stuart Tynan at Connacht CoE, Bekan
In a stunning finale, injury-time goals by Charlie Johnston and substitute Shane Gallagher secured Ballyhaunis Community School the Bobby O’Connell Memorial Cup after overturning a five point deficit to defeat Gortnor Abbey of Crossmolina.
Trailing 1-10 to 1-5 going into the final quarter, it appeared as though the race was run for Ballyhaunis following Ronan Walsh’s goal on 46 minutes for Gortnor Abbey. But Ballyhaunis, led by the outstanding Senan Guilfoyle, fired back as they held Gortnor Abbey scoreless until the final seconds, hitting three goals in the final ten minutes for a memorable triumph.
Gortnor Abbey sent over the first score of the final when Dylan Flynn converted a free, but Ballyhaunis fired back instantly, first through Guilfoyle’s first placed ball which was followed by a piledriver into the net by Derry Óg Cox after Ballyhaunis ripped open the right side of the Gortnor Abbey defence and Aghamore clubman Cox’s shot thundered past Jake Sharkey.
Gortnor Abbey were unfortunate not to respond with a goal of their own after a short kickout by James Flynn was intercepted by Lorcan Hughes. He fed the ball to Peter Barrett but the Ballyhaunis backline spared Flynn’s blushed on this occasion.
Dylan Flynn and Senan Guilfoyle traded points before a wonderful point by Kobe McDonald off the outside of the boot, just like his legendary father Ciaran McDonald did for many years in the colours of Crossmolina and Mayo.
Guilfoyle sent over his second free on 14 minutes but it would be the final score of the half for Ballyhaunis as Gortnor Abbey hit five without reply, through two points from Diarmuid Barrett, a Dylan Flynn free, a 45’ from Kobe McDonald and the final score from Peter Barrett, to lead 0-8 to 1-3 at the break.
Charlie Johnston and Senan Guilfoyle, a free, made it all square for the third time five minutes into the second-half.
Playing conditions began to prove difficult as the rain pelted down at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence, but it was Gortnor who regained the advantage as they hit 1-2 in four minutes before the end of the third quarter. Dylan Flynn popped over another free followed by a point by Jack O’Shea and corner-back Ronan Walsh found himself on the edge of the Ballyhaunis square to palm home what would eventually prove to be his side’s one and only goal of the game.
The young stars from East Mayo were about to find themselves a second wind particularly following the introduction of Shane Gallagher. The substitute won a penalty after he was fouled when barrelling down on goal and Guilfoyle converted from the spot to leave only a point between them on 51 minutes.
As stoppage-time loomed, Charlie Johnston shrugged off a defender on the right and twisted and turned through another trio of Gortnor Abbey men before he unleashed an unstoppable strike into the net to move his side two ahead.
The goal rocked the Crossmolina students and the knockout blow came two minutes into added time when Guilfoyle’s free came back off the post and into the hands of Shane Gallagher. A quick turn was followed by the substitute’s low drive into the bottom corner to send the Ballyhaunis supporters delirious.
Gortnor Abbey looked for a late twist but apart from a converted free, their efforts would be in vain as Ballyhaunis were crowned Connacht champions. They will now face St Malachy’s of Castlewellan, in St Matthews Park, Crosskeys, Cavan in the All-Ireland ‘C’ semi-final next Saturday.
Scorers – Ballyhaunis CS: Senan Guilfoyle 1-5 (1-0 pen, 0-3f), Charlie Johnstone 1-1, Derry Óg Cox and Shane Gallagher 1-0 each.
Gortnor Abbey: Dylan Flynn 0-4 (3f), Kobe McDonald 0-3 (1f, 1 ’45), Ronan Walsh, Diarmuid Barrett 0-2, Peter Barrett and Jack O’Shea 0-1 each.
Ballyhaunis CS: James Flynn; Fionn Delaney, Micheál Finnegan, Shane Clarke; Matthew Elwood, Jake Glavey, Seán Keadin; Conor Henry, Daniel Hagney; Adam Kelly, Senan Guilfoyle, Derry Óg Cox; Charlie Johnston, PJ Greally, Connor Grogan. Subs: Jason Burke (for Greally 37), Shane Gallagher (for A Kelly 49).
Gortnor Abbey: Jack Sharkey, Ronan Walsh, Seán Flynn-Heffernan, Esmonde Maughan; Josh Moyles, Aaron McDonnell, Mark Sheerin; Sean Moore, Keelan Dyra; Kobe McDonald, Diarmuid Barrett, Dylan Flynn; Lorcan Hughes, Peter Barrett, Jack O’Shea. Subs: Oisin O’Donnell (for Hughes 51), Michael Sheridan (for Maughan 55).
REF: John Gilmartin (Sligo)
