Stalemate in Ardfinnan as Cahir and Ballyporeen share the spoils in a close encounter

FBD Insurance County Senior Football Championship - Group 1 - Round 2

Ballyporeen 1-11

Cahir 0-14

By Michael Heverin

Both Cahir and Ballyporeen went into their FBD Insurance County Senior Football Championship, Group 1, Round 2 clash at Ardfinnan on Friday night looking for their first win after their first round defeats, but had to settle for a share of the spoils following a highly competitive game.

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Ballyporeen led at the break by three points, 0-9 to 0-6, and had stretched the lead to six, 1-10 to 0-7 nine minutes into the second half, following a James Barry goal.

But they only added one more point as Cahir staged a battling fightback to earn a draw with the last kick of the game.

The standard of football didn’t reach any great heights in the first half, with both sides missing key players, but it ended in a welter of excitement as Cahir clawed their way back into contention.

Ballyporeen still held a six-point advantage with eight minutes to go, 1-11 to 0-8, with Cahir’s Jack Buckley from a free and county star Darragh Brennan for Ballyporeen exchanging scores.

But then Cahir upped the tempo considerably. Conor O’Brien scored a free, followed by two superb two-pointers from play in the space of two minutes to turn the game on its head. The first came from Jack Buckley, followed by a second from substitute Dylan Butler to reduce the Bally’s lead to a single point, 1-11 to 0-13.

And still more drama unfolded. Cahir were awarded a penalty in the 57th minute for a foul on Stephen Grogan that saw Ballyporeen’s Kevin O’Mahoney shown a black card. However, Cahir were denied the chance to take the lead when Kieran Macken saved Mikey O’Connor’s spot kick.

Play switched to the far end, and Ballyporeen were awarded a free on the stroke of normal time that would have given them the cushion of a two-point lead. It was even brought nearer the goal for dissent, but Conor Sweeney, who had been outstanding throughout with three points from play and one from a free, saw his effort drift narrowly wide.

With the game now two minutes overtime, Cahir's pressure was rewarded with a free of their own – that was also brought nearer to the goal by referee Sean Lonergan – and it was an easy tap-over for Jack Buckley to tie the scores.

The result keeps both sides’ hopes alive going into their final group games, Cahir against Aherlow, and Ballyporeen coming up against Kilsheelan Kilcash.

Cahir had started better, going 0-6 to 0-2 ahead midway through the first half. Ballyporeen had opened the scoring in the first minute with Conor Sweeney finishing a fine move that had Dean Finn and Christy English involved in the build-up.

Cahir then hit three on the bounce, a great run through the centre from Niall McKenna setting up Kevin Grogan for the opener, Conor O’Brien pointing a free and then the impressive Grogan hitting a second from a Colin McEniry pass.

Ballyporeen shot their second with Kevin O’Mahoney, who was twice involved in the build-up, taking the final pass from Darragh Lyons, to score. But back came Cahir with another three scores without reply – two from Grogan and the other from McEniry, for a 0-6 to 0-2 lead.

However, Ballyporeen dominated the second quarter, with James Barry prominent around the centre, and Conor Sweeney, Darragh Brennan and Darragh Lyons probing for openings upfront.

Former Tipperary captain Conor Sweeney scored the point of the game from the touchline from a Christy English pass, followed by a Brennan point with the assist from Dean Finn. Sweeney added another great score before Darragh Lyons hit a superb two pointer. Further points from Sam McGrath and Christy English made it 0-7 without reply to put Ballyporeen 0-9 to 0-6 in front at the interval.

And the lead was increased to four just three minutes into the second half when Conor Sweeney pointed a free following a high tackle on Christy English. Conor O’Brien replied with a pointed free for Cahir before Bally’ struck for the game’s only goal.

Noel Vaughan launched the attack before passing to Christy English, and his shot looked to be tailing wide before former All-Ireland winning Tipperary hurler James Barry ghosted in at the back post to palm the ball to the net past Marc Cagney.

The six points lead at 1-10 to 0-7 looked a healthy one for Ballyporeen, but they hadn’t reckoned on the resilience of Cahir, who were desperate for a result following their disappointing opening round loss to Kilsheelan Kilcash. They outscored Bally’ 0-7 to 0-1 in the final quarter to keep their championship hopes alive.

Ballyporeen also went down in their opener to Aherlow, so perhaps a draw was an acceptable outcome for both sides as they got their first point on the board.

Conor Sweeney can still weave the magic for Ballyporeen, with Darragh Brennan, Darragh Lyons, and Christy English also impressive in attack. James Barry was busy around midfield and was very alert to get his goal, while Seamus O’Callaghan, Kyle O’Gorman, and Kevin O’Mahoney all impressed.

Cahir can thank Jack Buckley and Dylan Butler for their crucial two-pointers as well as impressive all-round displays; Kevin Grogan was also outstanding, with big displays also from Eoghan Kelly, Jesse Kiely, and Conor O’Brien.

Scorers: Cahir: Kevin Grogan 0-4, Jack Buckley (0-4, 1x2pt, 0-2f), Conor O’Brien 0-3f, Dylan Butler (0-2, 1x2pt), Colin McEniry 0-1.

Ballyporeen: Conor Sweeney (0-4, 0-1f), James Barry 1-0, Darragh Brennan 0-3, Darragh Lyons (0-2, 1x2pt), Kevin O’Mahoney, Christy English 0-1 each.

Cahir: Marc Cagney; James Walsh, Eoghan Kelly, Eoin Donalghy; Eoin Wyse, Jesse Kiely, Colin McEniry; Stephen Grogan, Eddie Kendrick; Oisín Maher, Ger Quinn, Niall McKenna; Conor O’Brien, Kevin Grogan, Jack Buckley.

Subs used: Dylan Butler for Ger Quinn; Mikey O’Connor for Colin McEniry; Ian Flannery for Conor O’Brien; Dara Hefferenan for Eoin Donaghy.

Ballyporeen: Kieran Macken; Seamus O’Callaghan, Paudie Fitzgerald, Kyle O’Gorman; Dean Finn, Noel Vaughan, Sam McGrath; James Barry, Kevin O’Mahoney; Tommy Sweeney, Darragh Lyons, Conor Sweeney; Glen Walsh, Christy English, Darragh Brennan.

Subs used: Thomas Vaughan for Glen Walsh; Gavin Canty for James Barry.

Referee: Sean Lonergan (Moyle Rovers)

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