Killenaule have little trouble in dismissal of Ballyporeen in final round game

FBD Insurance Senior Football Championship - Group 3 - Round 3

Killenaule 1-13

Ballyporeen 0-9

By Michael Heverin

Sunday’s FBD Insurance County Senior Football Championship Group 3 Round 3 game at Ardfinnan between Killenaule and Ballyporeen wasn’t a dead rubber at the start but it was by the finish.

Ballyporeen were already out of contention to progress from the group, but an impressive seven-point win for Killenaule put them level in the group with Arravale Rovers, both on two points. 

However, it is the Tipperary town side that reaches the knock-out stages, along with Moyle Rovers, Clonmel Commercials, and Loughmore Castleiney from the group, with Killenaule losing out because of conceding a walkover to Moyle Rovers earlier in the campaign.

Where teams finish level on points, the team with the least number of walkovers progresses. There was uncertainty before the game on how the six-team group would pan out, but that didn’t prevent Killenaule from putting in an impressive performance, to turn around a point deficit at half-time into a seven points victory.

Outscoring Ballyporeen by 1-7 to 0-2 reflects how the second half went, with the Robins hitting the last three points of the game to run out comfortable winners. It was later in the evening before their eventual fate in the group was confirmed.

County man Paudie Feehan was the main man for Killenaule, dominating midfield with some outstanding fielding, and it was his goal ten minutes into the second half that finally put his side on the way to victory. 

Equally impressive for the winners upfront were Joe O’Dwyer, Oisin Shelly, and Tom Stakelum, with Jimmy Feehan and Paddy Codd solid at the back.

After a disappointing campaign, without the input of injured county man Conor Sweeney for much of it, Ballyporeen had nothing to play for but pride. However, they were competitive for 40 minutes and were level by the time Paudie Feehan’s goal set Killenaule on their way to victory.

If Feehan was the star performer for Killenaule, then Darragh Brennan matched him for Ballyporeen. He was involved in virtually all of his side’s best moves, scoring three points from play and converting three frees. Tomás Vaughan chipped in with two good points, with good displays as well from Charlie English, Dean Finn, and Darragh Lyons.

The sides shared the first four points, Darragh Brennan and Paudie Fitzgerald for Ballyporeen, and Tom Stakelum and Luke Ryan for Killenaule. 

The Robins were then reduced to fourteen players for ten minutes with a black card from referee Derek O’Mahoney for Eoin Shaw, but it didn’t impact their rhythm and they hit the next two points through Tom Stakelum, following a superb catch from Paudie Feehan, and then Luke Ryan following a good build-up.

With very little between the sides, Ballyporeen had points from Tomás Vaughan and a Darragh Brennan free, either side of a Killenaule pointed free from Paudie Feehan before a lovely point from Vaughan again tied the score at 0-5 each after 24 minutes.

Brennan from a free and Joe O’Dwyer from a ‘45 exchanged points before Ballyporeen took a one-point lead into half-time, 0-7 to 0-6, with another Brennan free following a foul on Sam McGrath.

An Oisin Shelly point drew Killenaule level three minutes into the second half, and then following wides at both ends of the pitch, the crucial goal arrived. Referee O’Mahoney decided on a thrown ball in front of the Ballyporeen goal, and Paudie Sheehan was quickest to react, win possession, and shoot past Kieran Macken in goal.

Joe O’Dwyer followed up with a point and Killenaule had turned a one-point deficit into a four-point lead, 1-8 to 0-7. Ballyporeen hit back with a great point from Darragh Brennan but they were only to score once more over the final 15 minutes.

The game had now lost any competitive edge. Joe O’Dwyer and Fionn Fitzgerald hit Killenaule points, with Darragh Brennan replying with a free for Ballyporeen. Killenaule then hit the last three points of the game, from Eoin O’Connell fisting over, Oisin Shelly, and substitute David McCormack for a comfortable win that in the end did nothing for their hopes of progressing to the knock-out phase.

Killenaule: Tom Fitzgerald; Finn Nolan, Jimmy Feehan, Jack Hassett; Ciaran O’Dwyer, Paddy Codd, Padraig O’Dwyer; Paudie Feehan (1-1, 0-1f), Luke Ryan (0-2); Joe O’Dwyer (0-3, 0-1 ’45) Oisin Shelly (0-2), Eoin O’Connell (0-1); Eoin Shaw, Fionn Fitzgerald (0-1); Tom Stakelum (0-2). 

Subs used: David McCormack (0-1) for Oisin Shelly; Denis Fogarty for Jack Hassett; Dara Fitzgerald for Eoin O’Connell. 

Ballyporeen: Kieran Macken; Seamus O’Callaghan, Mikey Maher, Josh Kearney; Charlie English, James Barry, Paudie Fitzgerald (0-1); Dean Finn, Darragh Lyons; Sam McGrath, Dave Hyland, Anthony Crotty; Tomás Vaughan (0-2), Evan Hickey, Darragh Brennan (0-6, 0-3f).

Referee: Derek O’Mahoney (Ardfinnan)