Nolan's golden two-pointer seals a remarkable Roanmore comeback win
Roanmore's Billy Nolan lets a late late free kick fly from the outside of his boot to secure a two point score which gave Roanmore the win over Abbeyside/Ballinacourty in the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Co. Senior football Championship. Photo: Eddie Dee
Roanmore pulled off one of the biggest surprises in the county senior football championship in a long number of years when they beat last year’s runners-up Ballinacourty at Fraher Field on Sunday afternoon last, and did so in dramatic fashion.
With 60 minutes played, it looked as if the game would finish as expected, as Ballinacourty, playing against a Roanmore side who had goalkeeper Josh Sheridan sent off on 56 minutes when he picked up a second yellow card, were leading 1-16 to 2-11, but anybody who has watched Roanmore play in the senior football championship over the last three seasons’ will tell you, you right them off at your pearl.
Ballinacourty won the toss in this game and opted to play with the wind at their backs into the road end of the ground in the first half.
Both sides took time to settle, and it was a bit of a surprise that it took six minutes for the first score to be registered when Michael O’Halloran put over from play. The same player doubled his side's advantage seconds later, and when Diarmuid Mackle followed up with a third point for the West Waterford side, all inside a minute of each other, those watching on could have been forgiven for feeling that this was going to be a one-way traffic game.
And things got even worse for the Sky Blues on 10 minutes when Ballinacourty struck for the game’s first goal. After winning a mark inside their own half of the field, the ball was played up the stand side of the field, and when it was worked to Sean Whelan Barrett, he found Diarmuid Mackle, who fired past Josh Sheridan.
Roanmore eventually got on the scoreboard on 14 minutes when the impressive Billy Nolan put over a free. The Inter-county hurling net minder was awarded the free on the edge of the outer semi-circle, but he broke the mark in his run up, going inside the 40-metre line, so the white flag was waved.
Within seconds, Ballinacourty went down the other end, and Aaron Beresford kicked from outside the outer semi-circle at the other end. The orange flag went up, but referee Gavin Whelan raced into his umpire, having obviously seen the ball get a touch along the way, and the white flag was waved for a one-point score.
This was Ballinacourty’s last score of the opening half. At the other end, the Roanmore forwards were productive in front of goal as Eddie Nolan, Dean Reidy, Sam Pender, Billy Nolan, and another from Eddie Nolan brought Roanmore to within one of Ballinacourty, who turned around with a 1-4 to 0-6 advantage on the board.
Eddie Nolan and Willie Beresford traded scores at the start of the second half. Billy Nolan gave his side the lead for the first time when he put over a two-point free, four minutes into the second half, his fellow inter-county teammate Michael Kiely soon levelled for Ballinacourty.
The West Waterford side enjoyed a period of dominance after this. Aaron Beresford put over a two-point free. Mark Twomey and Michael O’Halloran also scored as Ballinacourty went four in front. Eddie Nolan and Patrick Hurney swapped scores from frees to keep the West Waterford side four in front going into the final quarter.
An Eddie Nolan free was followed up with scores from Sean Whelan Barrett and Michael O’Halloran at the other end, extending the West Waterford side advantage with seven minutes to play.
But two goals in the 54th minute, both for the city side, changed this game. The first from Dean Reidy was blasted to the net after the ball was played into him from the bank side of the field, and just seconds later, following an excellent team move up the field Brian Nolan fired to the net to give his side a 2-11 to 1-13 advantage.
Two minutes later Josh Sheridan was ordered off the field when he came out of goal and committed a foul and having been booked minutes earlier, he was sent to the line on a second yellow card.
The Roanmore officials had to think fast. They sent Dale Sheridan on to play in goal and took Chris Dempsey off. From the resulting free, Aaron Beresford put over from outside the outer semi-circle, and three minutes later, Ballinacourty looked to have won this game when Michael Kiely pointed.
However, no game is won till the final whistle is sounded, and Roanmore refused to give up. Eddie Nolan put over a free in the first of three added minutes to leave one between the sides.
Two minutes later, in possibly the biggest moment of his life in a Roanmore shirt after his side won a free outside the 45-metre line, Billy Nolan was given the responsibility of kicking, and he sent over a massive score that easily cleared the height of the crossbar while kicking from his hands.
When the full-time whistle sounded moments later, the Roanmore support that had travelled to Dungarvan left out a roar that was akin to what the support for the winning team in an All-Ireland final would leave out.
Billy Nolan (1, 2pt, 1 tpf), Eddie Nolan (3f) 0-6 each, Dean Reidy 1-1, Brian Nolan 1-0, Sam Pender 0-1.
Michael O’Halloran, Aaron Beresford (2 tpf) 0-4 each, Diarmuid Mackle 1-1, Michael Kiely 0-2, Willie Beresford, Mark Twomey, Patrick Hurney (f), Sean Whelan Barrett 0-1 each.
Josh Sheridan; Darragh Power, Shane Mackey, Ethan Hayes; Gavin O’Brien, Chris Dempsey, Frank McGrath; Rory Furlong, Eamon Power; Sam Pender, Billy Nolan, Brian Nolan; Dean Reidy, Eddie Nolan, Ethan Flynn.
Jack Chester for Gavin O’Brien (47), Paul O’Sullivan for Shane Mackey (50), Dale Sheridan for Chris Dempsey (56).
Stephen Enright; Aidan Higgins, David Montgomery, Conor McCarthy; Mark Twomey, Brian Looby, Willie Beresford; Billy O’Connell, Michael Kiely; Aaron Beresford, Rian Walsh, Diarmuid Mackle; Sean Whelan Barrett, Patrick Hurney, Michael O’Halloran.
Daire Slevin for Mark Twomey (53).
Eoin Morrissey (Erins Own).
