Ballinabrackey create history and seal quarter-final spot

SFC

Ballinabrackey ..........1-3-11 (20)

Seneschalstown......... 0-1-8 (10)

History was created at Dunganny on Saturday evening as Ballinabrackey earned their place in the knockout stages of the senior football championship for the first time in their 105 year history following a sensational victory over Seneschalstown in Dunganny.

Since securing their spot at the top table of Meath football when winning the IFC in 2020, Ballinabrackey have endured battle after battle for survival. They went close on a couple of occasions to earning a quarter-final spot, but always fell short.

That certainly wasn't the case on Saturday as they weren't found wanting with a brilliant performance, particularly against the strong wind that blew into the road end goals of pitch six.

A late burst with the wind at their backs at the end of the opening period provided Ballinabrackey with something precious to hold on to, but not only that, they stretched that lead with passages of outstanding, free-flowing attacking football and resolute determined defending.

Seneschalstown simply had no response and on the odd occasion they were given glimpses of opportunities they lacked the necessary finishing touch, kicking eight wides in the second-half to add to their two in the opening period.

However, this game wasn't about Seneschalstown's shortcomings, it was all about the excellence of Ballinabrackey who produced a near perfect team performance with players stepping up to the plate when others found their impact restricted by solid Seneschalstown defending.

Despite winning the toss Seneschalstown opted to play against the strong wind and that looked like an inspired decision after 12 seconds as Cathal Finnegan, who returned from Australia to start this clash, pointed inside 12 seconds.

Ballinabrackey responded 30 seconds later with a two-pointer from the booming boot of Danny Quinn as the rip-roaring contest started at 100 miles an hour.

Cathal Finnegan's presence caused Ballinabrackey issues in the first couple of minutes and in the third minute he won a penalty, but the Seneschalstown target man was injured in the process and was forced off.

Dylan Keating took responsibility for the spot kick, but Dean Pluck made a fine stop down to his right and Ballinabrackey breathed a sigh of relief.

A Quinn free was followed by a superb move that led to a point for Barry Thompson as the Offaly/Westmeath border side opened up a 0-4 to 0-1 cushion.

Missed frees from Quinn and Sean Coffey let Seneschalstown off the hook and they stayed in touch with Eoin Finnegan landing a free.

Quinn hit the crossbar from a free out on the right, but he found his range from play just inside the arc to make it 0-5 to 0-2 in the 20th minute.

Seneschalstown retained possession well against the wind and created openings with Ronan Conneely finishing a fine move before Bryan Clarke, who replaced Cathal Finnegan, pointed a brilliant free to close the gap to the minimum.

That deficit remained when Clarke and Keating cancelled out points from Quinn and Kavanagh, but in the seven minutes of first-half injury-time Ballinabrackey made a surge.

Pluck set the ball rolling with a converted free in the fifth minute of added time.

A minute later the 'keeper converted a two-point free which was taken back outside the arc after Seneschalstown were penalised for delaying a quick free.

From the next kickout Barry Thompson landed another score and with the last kick of the half Damien Carroll kicked another two-pointer to ensure a 0-13 to 0-6 interval lead.

Ballinabrackey kicked the first three points after the break to make it nine points in a row and stretch their advantage to 0-16 to 0-6.

Seneschalstown struggled to make the most of the wind and after a barren third quarter they eventually got off the mark in the second-half when Clarke landed a free in the 46th minute.

Cian Commons kicked a superb point to make it 0-8 to 0-16, but both sides squandered chances before Quinn settled Ballinabrackey with a tap over free after James Meade took too long over a kickout.

Clarke's two-point free after Ballinabrackey were caught with just two-up was barely a consolation score in the 60th minute and the cherry was put on the win 20 seconds later when Kavanagh rifled a low finish to the net to close the scoring and spark enthusiastic celebrations from the Brack's supporters who had a waited a long, long time for a day like this.

Ballinabrackey - Dean Pluck (0-3 one two-point free, one free); Conor Ennis, Nicky Judge, Adam O'Brien; Richie Coffey, Sean Coffey, Mark Coffey; Leo Cullen, Niall Smullen (0-1); Danny Quinn (0-7 three frees, one two-pointer), Damien Carroll (0-2 one two-pointer), David Carroll; Barry Thompson (0-2), Chris O'Connor (0-1), Sean Kavanagh (1-1). Subs - Seamus Curry for Thompson 50m, Dean Carroll for David Carroll, Dean Coyne for R Coffey, Cathal Monaghan for Quinn all 62m.

Seneschalstown - James Meade; Simon Rooney, Danny Waters, Conor McDonnell; Robbie Finnegan, Woodley Nicholson, Eamon Finnegan; Donal Commons, Niall Hickey; Ronan Conneely (0-1), Cian Common (0-1)s, Alan Mulvany; Eoin Finnegan (0-1 free), Cathal Finnegan (0-1), Dylan Keating (0-1). Subs - Bryan Clarke (0-5 three frees, one two-point free) for C Finnegan 4m, Colin Scanlon for Nicholson 42, Charles McCarthy for E Finnegan, Darren O'Brien for D Commons 45m.

Referee - Keith Sheerin (Castletown).