Premier title for Meath Hill

THANKS TO BALLINLOUGH GAA CLUB FOR SUBMITTING A REPORT

Meath Hill claimed the 2020 Premier FC Div 7 title with a 3-13 to 1-11 win against Ballinlough at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday in front of 200 supporters writes Ballinlough PRO Sosaidh O Fearghail

Meath Hill kicked off the scoring with a free in the opening minute which was quickly cancelled out by two James O’Higgins frees and in a game where both sides struggled to settle.

Referee Barney O’Rourke dished out early black cards to Ballinlough’s Paddy Briody and his Meath Hill counterpart.

Ballinlough were dealt a further blow in the 10th minute when Hugh Briody was left with little option but to take one for the team and took down his man who was bearing down on goal, and with Barney O’Rourke flashing the black card again.

With the numerical advantage Meath Hill pushed forward and Ian Malone slotted over three frees in as many minutes to give them a two point lead, indeed they should have being further ahead only for an astounding save from Keith McGuinness in the Ballinlough net who saw the ball flying towards him but managed to tip it over the bar.

There was nothing Keith could do moments later when the men in red felt the pinch of having their full back in the sin-bin as Ian Malone cut through the centre of the Ballinlough defence laying the ball off, and after seeing the ball come back off the crossbar it finally ending up in the Ballinlough net.

Another Meath Hill free in the 22nd minute saw them extend their lead before Ken Rothwell finally pulled one back for Ballinlough, their first score in almost 20 minutes in what was a dismal first half for the Ballinlough men, and shortly after that score Referee Barney O’Rourke blew the half time whistle Meath Hill leading by 1-6 to 0-3.

Meath Hill started the second half like they did the first with a point in the opening minute, before another converted free from the veteran Ken Rothwell.

Two further points for Meath Hill stretched their lead to eight points in the 38th minute before Ken Rothwell was accurate again from a free.

Another Meath Hill point in the 42nd minute gave them the eight-point lead again before a tactical change for Ballinlough and the introduction of Kevin Byrne at midfield, saw them claw their way back into the game.

Jamie Casserly who had started in midfield was moved onto the 40 and sent over three points.

There were a few moans when the Referee blew for the water break somewhat early just as Ballinlough were finding their feet, but all that was forgotten when a misplaced short kick out from Meath Hill goalie Ryan Shekelton gifted Ken Rothwell a goal opportunity in the 47th minute.

They say you can’t beat experience and Ken showed all of his as he came one on one with the keeper, and in the most audacious of actions, cheekily chipped the ball over Ryan Shekelton with the ball seemingly hanging in the air a lifetime before finally nestling in the net to roars from the Ballinlough Faithful.

The Ballinlough tails were well and truly up now and that was evident again as corner back Niall McDonnell drifted up the field unmarked and fired over an impressive point in the 49th minute to leave just one between them.

With the confidence now flowing Jamie Casserly kicked another monster score a moment later to level.

Unfortunately the Ballinlough revival only served to wake Meath Hill from their slumber and they took the next three scores, two points and an all important goal in the 56th minute to reaffirm their hold on the game.

The Ballinlough challenge seemed to fade quickly with the concession of that goal and Meath Hill were in again in the 60th minute to finish to the net once more to break Ballinlough hearts all over again.

A Jamie Casserly free in the second minute of injury time was as good as it got for Ballinlough while Meath Hill finished in style scoring a lovely point in the 63rd minute.

Meath Hill (panel) - Ryan Shekelton; Darren Farrelly, Graham Boylan, Luke Doran; Darren Byrne, Matthew Carolan, Ryan Carry; Emmet Matthews, David Cassidy; Kevin Crosby, Ian Malone, Donnchadh Boyle; Gary Breslin, Pauric Smith, Dean Martin. Subs - Tadhg Boyle, Derek McMahon, Ross McGrath, Emmet Boyle, Jack Slavin, Aodhan Matthews, Tomas Smith, Mark Tully, Conor Owens, Shane McCabe.

Ballinlough - Keith McGuinness; Niall McDonnell (0-1), Hugh Briody, Eoghan McCabe; Conor Briody, Emmet Smith, Paddy Briody; Jamie Casserly (0-5), SeanTunney; BenWiseman, James O’Higgins (0-2), Rob Ryan; Terry Fagan, Ken Rothwell (1-3), Colin Cunning. Subs - Daire Farrelly for Cunning, Kevin Byrne for O’Higgins; Adam Fox for Ryan, Brian Brady for Tunney, Paul Farrelly for C Briody.

Refereee - Brian O’Rourke