No joy for ‘croy as Collins kicks late winner
Peter Collins scored a late winning point in their entertaining league clash with Ballycroy last Saturday. Picture: Martin McIntyre
Islandeady made it back-to-back wins after a narrow victory over Ballycroy in what was an entertaining Division 5 encounter last Saturday evening.
The first-half of this game was a thrill to watch, which saw the sides share six goals. The scoring was more modest in the second-half, which ended with Islandeady veteran Peter Collins picking off the match-winning point.
Ballycroy had been the first to strike, the visitors tagging on 1-1 inside 90 seconds. Rory Conway got the opening point before James Grealis fetched a diagonal ball on the edge of the square and lashed home.
Yet by the third minute, the visitors were behind. Darragh Joyce opened Islandeady’s account with a two-pointer and moments later, Brendan Gibbons’ point attempt that dropped short saw Peter McCormack react quickest in the scramble to find the net.
The sides were level on eight minutes after two Rory Conway frees were scored either side of a placed ball by Darragh Joyce. But Ballycroy could have nudged in front were it not for a trio of wides – and Islandeady punished them in ruthless fashion.
Another Joyce free put the home side ahead before Brendan Gibbons scored two goals inside 60 seconds, the second a strike that Ballycroy goalkeeper Jack Deane got a hand to but was just not enough to stop it reaching the net. That made it 3-4 to 1-3 with only 13 minutes played.
The goals kept coming and Ballycroy were back to within three points just three minutes later thanks to another Rory Conway free and an excellent solo goal by Michael Conway, who ghosted past Darragh O’Malley before applying the finish.
Luke McManamon and Brendan Gibbons traded points and Conway’s fourth free made it a two-point game. Seamie Lally had just forced the gap out to three when Ballycroy levelled the game for a third time through a fortunate goal by Micheál Grealis, as his point attempt caught out Bryan O’Flaherty and ended up in the net. But Darragh Joyce would point a crucial score to see Islandeady lead 3-7 to 3-6 at half-time.
Again, Ballycroy made a quick start to the second-half and went in front thanks to a Michael Conway two-pointer from outside the arc. Dermot Ginty thought he had netted a fourth goal for his side on 34 minutes but it was disallowed because the ball was adjudged to have gone out of play in the build-up.
Bryan Grealis extended the lead for Ballycroy before Darragh Joyce settled Islandeady down with a free on 40 minutes in what was the home side’s first score of the second-half.
Scores were drying up at this stage, with both sides guilty of some erratic shooting.
Brendan Gibbons made it all square for the fourth time but Rory Conway sixth’s point on 44 minutes put the Barony men in front. However, Conway’s score was also Ballycroy’s last.
Darragh Joyce made it all level again on 47 minutes and while both sides missed a number of chances to win, veteran Peter Collins kept his nerve with a fine score to secure the victory for Islandeady.
Scorers – Islandeady: Brendan Gibbons 2-0-2, Darragh Joyce 0-1-5 (3f), Peter McCormac 1-0-0, Seamie Lally and Peter Collins 0-0-1 each.
Ballycroy: Rory Conway 0-0-6 (4f), Michael Conway 1-1-0, James Grealis and Micheál Grealis 1-0-0 each, Luke McManamon and Bryan Grealis 0-0-1 each.
Islandeady: Bryan O’Flaherty; Jack Carney, Peter Gordon, Cathal McLoughlin; Darragh O’Malley, Liam Coyne, Mark Kirby; Peter Collins, Seamie Lally; Ethan Barrett, Levi Barrett, Brendan Gibbons; Sean Collins, Darragh Joyce, Peter McCormack.
Ballycroy: Jack Deane; Ronan Grealis, John Conway, Jason Calvey; Bryan Grealis, James Deane, Michael McManamon; Kevin Conway, Shane Ginty; Micheál Grealis, Luke McManamon, Michael Conway; Cillian Conway, James Grealis, Rory Conway. Subs: Dermot Ginty (for R Conway 33-38 blood), Dylan McManamon (for B Grealis 48), D Ginty (for J Grealis 50).
REF: Pat Conlon (Castlebar Mitchels)
