Plucky Ballinabrackey rise to the top for the first time

Dean Pluck's late save boosted Ballinabrackey to the IFC Mattie McDonnell Cup for the first time when defeated Trim by 0-16 to 1-12 with Danny Quinn's late point the crucial score at Pairc Tailteann this evening.

A memorable occasion for the club that will sample senior football for the first time in 2021 and according to joint-captain Nicky Judge in his post-match speech they aim to stay there after such a long journey.

This was an edge-of-the-seat encounter from start to finish and Trim always looked like they could do the business until Ballinabrackey's Michael Kearney collected a 45th minute black card.

From the resultant free Aaron Lynch scored his seventh point, but crucially in terms of the result, the Trim forward didn't register again.

Even more significant was the fact that for 10 minutes after the water break, when they had that numerical advantage, Trim only managed one point and that coincided with the return of Kearney in the 55th minute.

One point with the advantage of an extra player was a very disappointing return for Trim, but even more disappointing was that it was all they could muster for the final quarter.

They had two goal chances, one that Conor Quigley missed although it might have been deemed a square ball and then with the last kick of the game Kevin Nally was denied by a superb Den Pluck save.

Lynch grabbed the rebound and from a tight angle saw his point attempt hit the inside of the post and bounce kindly for the Ballinabrackey rearguard.

That kind of summed up Trim's contribution - they could have won, but just didn't take their chances and had to accept the consequences.

That's not to take anything away from Ballinabrackey's clinical and determined performance.

The Bracks were always able to find an answer, it didn't matter what the question was, they had the answers.

And it wasn't straightforward for them either as they lost full-back Nicky Judge after 20 minutes, trailed at the first water break, half-time and the second water break.

They were two points to the good after three minutes, were in front close to the interval, but only got back on level terms late in the second-half and then timed it right to hit the front from that pointed Quinn free.

Early points from Chris O'Connor (free) and Barry Thompson gave the Bracks a dream start, but once they settled Trim forged ahead with three Aaron Lynch points, play, free and a '45' and one each by Alan Douglas and Rob Bourke.

Backpedalling Ballinabrackey had to settle for Quinn's opening contribution as they trailed 0-3 to 0-5 at the water break.

The momentum swung towards the Bracks on the restart with substitute Erik Clancy, Seamus Curry and Quinn on the mark, but Trim recovered again with Lynch and Ciaran Joyce drawing the sides level.

O'Connor gave Ballinabrackey the lead again, but Mark Molloy claimed an opportunist Trim goal and Lynch converted a free for a 1-8 to 0-8 interval advantage.

Trim remained in the ascendancy after the interval with points from Lynch (two, one free) and Ian Bermingham while goalkeeper Peter Brennan also made a good save from Curry.

At that stage the game was starting to get away from Ballinabrackey who battled valiantly with points from Curry (two, one free) and David Carroll.

And it got more difficult when Kearney departed on a black card, but the water break gave Ballinabrackey time to adjust.

The adjustment worked as Trim struggled to penetrate a 14-man defensive blanket and the Bracks actually closed the gap from Curry's fourth and final point of the day.

Bermingham's point eventually got Trim going again and then he was replaced while points at the other end from David Carroll and O'Connor restored parity.

Quinn sent over what proved to be the winning point, but Pluck was the hero with that late save.

The woodwork also played a part as Trim faltered with the winning post in sight.

SCORERS

Ballinabrackey - Danny Quinn 0-5 three frees; David Carroll 0-2; Chris O'Connor 0-3 one free; Seamus Curry 0-4 two frees; Barry Thompson 0-1; Erik Clancy 0-1.

Trim - Aaron Lynch 0-5 two frees, one '45'; Mark Molloy 1-0; Ciaran Joyce 0-1; Alan Douglas 0-1; Rob Bourke 0-1

TEAMS

Ballinabrackey - Dean Pluck; Adam O'Brien, Nicky Judge, Michael Kearney; Sean Bannon, Derek Flynn, Richie Coffey; Chris O'Connor, Sean Coffey; Danny Quinn, Damien Carroll, David Carroll; Sean Kavanagh, Seamus Curry, Barry Thompson. Subs - Erik Clancy for Judge 21 mins, Dean McNamee for Thompson50m; Trevor Bannon for Kavanagh 56m;

Trim - Peter Brennan; Declan Dowling, Brian Bolger, Ciaran O'Rourke; Daire Lynch, Luke Moran, Kevin Nally; Rob Bourke, Conor Quigley; Ian Bermingham, Alan Douglas, Mark Molloy; Ciarn Joyce, Aaron Lynch, Eoin O'Connor. Subs - James Cullen for Joyce 50 mins, Paul MUnnelly for Bermingham 56m;

Referee - Patrick Coyle (Curraha).