Ballinacourty overcome Kilrossanty in magnificent game of football
Ballinacourty's Dean Beresford surges beyond Kilrossanty's Rian Hayes.
The standard of football in some of the games played in some of the games in this year’s senior football championship played to date has been somewhat below par. This however could not be said of this game played at Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field on Sunday afternoon last.
A far bigger gathering assembled for a later game the same afternoon when Colligan beat Neighbours Sliabh gCua to win a first ever Intermediate Football title, but those that did attend this game were not to go home disappointed by the effort put in by both sides.
Kilrossanty in the first half were magnificent. They were up for the challenge and did not back out in making any challenge. They also were prepared to shoot when the chance came their way, and in the first half they kicked some magnificent scores from outside the outer semi-circle which has come into play in football this year.
Ballinacourty were quickest out of the trap. In a patient build up they held on to the ball for over sixty second in the opening minutes, taking the ball out of their own half of the field to deep inside the Kilrossanty half, and when no chance to shoot at the goal presented itself, they brought the ball back into their own half of the field and again attacked, this time resulting in the opening score of the game when Neil Montgomery laid the ball off to Conor Prunty and he fired to the net from close range after two minutes.
Just two minutes later, Alan Dunwoody drew a fine save from former Waterford goalkeeper Stephen Enright he put the ball out for a 45, but referee Killian O’Sullivan who had a fine performance on the whistle called the play back for a jersey pull from which Dunwoody split the post.
After Aaron Beresford put over a two-pointer free, Padraig Fitzgerald put over a fine effort from outside the 45-metre line which many expected the orange flag to be waved for, but the white was put up with the umpires at the country end of the ground confirming that Stephen Enright cleverly got a touch to the ball as it went over. Following a recent special congress in Croke Park from January 1 next year when such a score is registered it will result in two points even if a defending player gets a touch on the ball along the way.
Seamus Fitzgerald made it a one-point game on 14 minutes when he pointed from the bank side of the field and moments later Tommy Prendergast intercepted a pass to a Ballinacourty player and although he was fouled in the process, he used his strength to find Seamus Prendergast who fired over from outside the 45-metre line to give his side the lead for the first time.
On 22 minutes the same player did much of the spade work himself when he fired over another magnificent two-point effort from between the 45-metre line and the outer semi-circle to put his side 0-8 to 1-2 in front.
Billy O’Connell from a free ended a 18-minute spell without a score for Ballinacourty when he put over a free, but it was followed with a massive score from Josh Kay who ventured up field to kick a free off the ground 50 metres from goal to put his side four in front, 0-10 to 1-3 heading into the second half.
Kilrossanty started the second half as they had ended the first, with Alan Dunwoody and Seamus Fitzgerald hitting early scores, but they were not able to sustain the pressure they were putting on Ballinacourty up to this point.
Michael Kiely pointed from play before Aaron Beresford put over a two pointer from a free and Neil Montgomery scored from play which left Ballinacourty trailing 0-12 to 1-7 at the end of the third quarter.
Ballinacourty hit their second goal 47 minutes. Conor Prunty played the ball out of defence to Charlie Treen and when Prunty continued his run, Treen was able to play the ball back to him., He found Michael O’Halloran who fisted to Daire Slevin in space, and when the ball appeared to be gone out of his reach, the Ballinacourty ball stuck out his left leg and volleyed to the net for a score that a top Premier League striker would be proud of.
Billy O’Connell and Alan Dunwoody swapped scores from frees followed with an exchange of scores by Michael Kiely and Jack Power. Aaron Beresford pointed again in stoppage time just before he was black carded by referee Killian O’Sullivan who had an excellent performance in charge of the game, Charlie Treen put over a two-point score in the fourth minute of added time to secure Ballinacourty’s passage to the last four.
Aaron Beresford 0-5 (2 tpf, 1f), Neil Montgomery 1-1, Daire Slevin 1-0, Michael Kiely 0-3 (1 tp) Billy O’Connell (2f), Charlie Treen (tp) 0-2 each.
Seamus Prendergast 0-6 (2 tp), Alan Dunwoody 0-4, Josh Kay (tpf) 0-2, Padraig Fitzgerald, Jack Power 0-1 each.
Stephen Enright; Conor McCarthy, Brian Looby, Aidan Higgins; David Montgomery, Michael Kiely, Charlie Treen; Conor Prunty, Willie Beresford; Sean Whelan Barrett, Neil Montgomery, Billy O’Connell; Dean Bereford, Michael O’Halloran, Aaron Beresford.
Daire Slevin for Sean Whelan Barrett (41), Colin Foley for Michael O’Halloran (61).
Josh Kay; Rian Hayes, Caoimhin Walsh, Conor Hayes; Donal Fitzgerald, Martin Dunne, Darragh Walsh; Tommy Prendergast, Padraig Prendergast; Seamus Prendergast, Eoin Power, Jack Power; Jack Whyte, Pa Cunningham, Alan Dunwoody.
Paul Whyte for Jack Power (46), Dan Behan for Pa Cunningham (58), Shane Power for Conor Hayes (63).
Killian O’Sullivan (Affane).
