Grangemockler Ballyneale strike late to snatch draw with South rivals Ardfinnan

FBD Insurance County SFC - Group 1 - Round 3

Ardfinnan 1-10

Grangemockler Ballyneale 0-13

By Michael Heverin

Three points in injury time, from a Mark O’Meara free, the returning Mickey Lyons, and substitute Lorcan Magorrian, earned a battling Grangemockler Ballyneale a draw with Ardfinnan in the FBD Insurance County SFC Group 1 Round 3 game at Monroe on Saturday afternoon and securing their first point in the group.

It was never going to be enough to see them progress, and a point wasn’t enough for Ardfinnan either, who needed to win and better the scoring average of either Kilsheelan Kilcash or JK Brackens, depending on the outcome of that game in Cashel, to advance to the knock-out stages.

A Gerry Cronin goal 18 minutes into the second half put them 1-8 to 0-8 ahead and they needed to push on and then wait on the result between Kilsheelan and JK Brackens. But Grangemockler Ballyneale were the better side in the final quarter and their three late scores earned a fully deserved draw.

Grangmockler Ballyneale welcomed back brothers Mickey and Joey Lyons from the United States, Mickey starting at full forward and Joey coming on as a sub, and they added an extra dimension to the side’s attack. 

The team had failed to last the pace against both JK Brackens and Kilsheelan Kilcash in earlier games, but this time they finished stronger and were disappointed not to have found that extra score to record a win.

The early exchanges were even and the sides were tied at 0-3 each after twenty minutes. A pointed free from Michael Barlow, after he was fouled himself, put the Maroons ahead in the first minute and a Shane Ryan intercept from sloppy Grangemockler defence saw him double the lead inside a minute.

Ardfinnan then suffered a major blow with an injury to Aaron Lonergan that saw him hobble off the pitch, replaced by James O’Mahoney. 

And then after Ben Comerford had opened Grangemockler’s account following a pass from Mickey Lyons, Ardfinnan were hit with another blow when Andrew Browne suffered a shoulder injury to be replaced by Johnny English.

Losing two key players in the first seven minutes was not the start that Ardfinnan wanted, but they continued to press and Shane Ryan extended their lead to 0-3 to 0-1. 

Mark O’Meara from a free brought it back to a one-point game and then following wides at both ends, David Power came upfield from goal to kick the equaliser from a long-range free – the first of three from the accurate Power from placed balls.

However, Ardfinnan finished the half stronger and hit four points without reply to lead 0-7 to 0-3 at the break, and keeping their hopes of advancing from the group alive. A patient build-up saw the impressive Gerry Cronin provide the assist for Oisín Ryan to restore the lead.

Michael Barlow extended the lead with a superb point, followed by a point from a Billy Hewitt free, following a foul on Colm O’Shaughnessy, and the lead was four at the interval when Sean Nagle put Jack O’Neill clear down the touchline and he fisted over.

Ardfinnan had the chance to score the game’s first goal three minutes into the second half, but David Power pulled off a brilliant save from Oisín Ryan from point-blank range, from a Billy Hewitt free into the danger area. A follow-up shot was deflected over the line for a 45 that Gerry Cronin converted for a 0-8 to 0-3 lead.

But the remainder of the quarter belonged to a rejuvenated Grangemockler, who hit five points without reply in one of their most impressive periods of football over the entire group stages. Mickey Lyons started the revival, pointing a free after his initial pass led to a foul on Manus McFadden. 

Mark O’Meara followed up with a fine point and then after Ardfinnan goalkeeper Cian O’Mahoney made a great save from Lyons, Sean O’Meara followed up with a point to make it 0-8 to 0-6 midway through the half.

Arfdinnan couldn’t make any inroads into the game at this stage and it was no surprise when Thomas Regan made it a one-point game, and Ben Comerford tied it up after a great run down the touchline from Leon Kennedy. 

It looked like last year’s intermediate champions would press on for their first win in the senior campaign, but then they were hit with a goal out of nothing when Gerry Cronin blasted to the net from a Luke O’Brien pass for Ardfinnan’s first score in seventeen minutes.

That goal was still the margin, at 1-10 to 0-10, at the end of normal time, with David Power pointing a free and a 45 for Grangemockler, and Shane Ryan and Jack O’Neill responding for Ardfinnan. But the more than four minutes of added time was all Grangemockler pressure as three points in a row earned them a deserved draw. 

By that time Grangemockler had also been hit with an injury blow, with Michael Meaney leaving the field after taking a heavy knock.

Mark O’Meara from a free hit the first in added time, Mickey Lyons the second and Lorcan Magorrian with the third. With Ardfinnan now aware that progress from the group was beyond their reach, Grangemockler looked the more likely side to find a late winner, but time ran out on them as they continued to press, with referee Willie Fitzharris’ final whistle meaning a share of the spoils.

Ardfinnan: Cian O’Mahoney; Shane Keating, Jonathan Ryan, Aaron Lonergan; Colm O’Shaughnessy, Luke O’Brien, Sean Nagle; Gerry Cronin (1-1, 0-1 ’45), Oisín Ryan (0-1); Billy Hewitt (0-1f), Jack O’Neill (0-2), Andrew Browne; Jason Coffey, Michael Barlow (0-2, 0-1f), Shane Ryan (0-3). 

Subs used: James O’Mahoney for Aaron Lonergan; Johnny English for Andrew Browne; Michael O’Sullivan for Jason Coffey; Darragh O’Brien for Billy Hewitt.

Grangemockler Ballyneale: David Power (0-3, 0-2f, 0-1 ’45); James Daly, Conor Hahessy, Manus McFadden, Leon Kennedy; Darragh Shelly, Thomas Regan (0-1), Michael Meaney (0-1); Ben Comerford (0-1), Michael Meagher; Mark O’Meara (0-3, 0-2f), Paudie O’Shea; Sean O’Meara (0-1), Mickey Lyons (0-2, 0-1f), Brian Walsh. 

Subs used: Joey Lyons for Paudie O’Shea; Paudie O’Shea for Michael Meagher; Lorcan Magorrian (0-1) for Paudie O’Shea; Michael Meagher for Leon Kennedy; Jamie Walsh for Michael Meaney.

Referee: Willie Fitzharris (Fr. Sheehys)