Parke let lead slip to in-form Balla
Colm Lynch was in outstanding form for Parke-Keelogues-Crimlin who were forced to settle for a share of the spoils at home to Balla last Friday evening.
Parke-Keelogues-Crimlin played host to Balla on a very greasy surface last Friday in an extremely chaotic, back and forth game. The sides could not be separated after 70 minutes as both teams looked to kick on from their Round 5 victories.
The first 15 minutes were characterised by free scoring moves from both outfits. Balla took the lead inside the first two minutes with a well taken point from Oisin Jordan. Parke quickly responded with three points through Darragh Reilly, from a free and a two-point free respectively, but the lead was quickly cancelled with a Balla two-point free of their own through Liam Glynn.
Parke soon had a few decisive minutes as Colm Lynch hooked a point over his shoulder and over the bar. On the next play a high ball into the box was claimed by Declan Neary and he slotted past the Balla goalkeeper to make it 1-4 to 0-3. At the other end, Parke goalkeeper Conor McDonnell produced a great stop to deny Luke Flatley.
Balla did not lie down with Glynn putting his marker on the ground with a dummy and slicing the ball over the bar with the outside of his left foot. A shabby kickout followed, resulting in Conor Walsh bearing down on goal and slotting the ball into the right corner with an emphatic finish.
After easily giving up their lead, Parke kicked on again. Colm Lynch regained them the advantage lead when sliding on his knees to claim the low ball into the box before kicking over. Reilly knocked over a two-point free after a stint of Balla possession and after three more points, two of which came from Seán McLoughlin, the hosts found themselves seven points up.
Balla did pull one back before the half ended as a long kickout bypassed the midfield and the ball was popped to Glynn who struck over the bar to leave the half-time gap at six, 1-11 to 1-5.
The first minutes of the second-half were largely different to the first, with a lack of scoring. The highlight was a Parke penalty shout which was not given, much to the dismay of the home crowd. Balla capitalised on their luck and cut the gap to four through Fadden and Glynn.
Scruffy play in the Balla goalmouth resulted in the ball bobbling around and going behind off a Balla defender. The ’45 was swept over by Reilly bringing the Parke lead to five points.
The teams exchanged points and after a series of wides, Patrick McLoughlin pulled a point back for the visitors with another point from Fadden soon following. Balla's management and fans were convinced that Fadden’s kick was from behind the arc, but the referee did not agree.
Balla began to look tired as Mayo under-20 captain Lynch was able to cut easily through the defence and scored two points in quick succession. However, Balla got a second wind as Glynn swept a point over. A few minutes later, substitute Patrick McHale was awarded a free from a tough angle outside the arc but was able to send the ball over with help from the left upright, cutting Parke’s lead to two.
Not two minutes later, Balla received another two-point free, this time from the opposite side of the pitch. Glynn continued his brilliant kicking on the night and confidently brought the game level.
All the momentum was now with Balla. Oisin Jordan won the next kickout before popping the ball to Fadden who put the men in maroon in front.
After a great save from McDonnell to keep Parke in the game, the home team hurtled forward. A late ’45 clipped the post and went wide, and hope seemed lost for Parke. However, with the last play of the game the locals were awarded a free for a Balla breach and Lynch tapped the ball over to salvage a draw.
Scorers – Parke-Keelogues-Crimlin: Colm Lynch 0-1-5 (tpf, 1f), Darragh Reilly 0-2-2 (2tpf, 2f), Declan Neary 1-0-0, Jack McLoughlin 0-0-2, Simon Cloherty 0-0-1.
Balla: Liam Glynn 0-2-3 (2tpf), Ryan Fadden 0-0-4, Conor Walsh 1-0-0, Patrick McHale 0-1-0 (1tpf), Oisin Jordan, Patrick McLoughlin and Luke Flatley 0-0-1 each.
Parke-Keelogues-Crimlin: Conor McDonnell; Dylan Quinn, Cian Lynch, Cian McHale; John Cloherty, Aaron McHale, Matthew Kelly; Declan Neary, Ronan Reilly; Cian Donohoe, Darragh Reilly, Jack McLoughlin; Dara Neary, Colm Lynch, Simon Cloherty. Sub: Cathal Keaveney (for Neary 55).
Balla: David Dolan; Harry Freyne, Ger Flanagan, Brian O’Donovan; Conor Dunleavy, Patrick McLoughlin Jude Clarke; Oisin Jordan, Odhran O’Connor; Colm Murphy, Val Roughneen, Ryan Fadden; Liam Glynn, Conor Walsh, Luke Flatley. Subs: Ryan O’Donnell (for Freyne 45), Patrick McHale (for Roughneen 50).
REF: Barry McDonnell (Moy Davitts)
