Senior Football IFC

Ballyholland 2.13  -  2.14 B'martin

9th Sep 2007

Down football followers got to witness two polar opposites on Sunday afternoon in Newry. The match that earned top billing, Burren vs Longstone, contained everything a football match could contain - except for the most important ingredient… an actual game of football. Meanwhile, the Intermediate semi-final that preceded it was nothing short of a glorious exhibition of football. There was nothing underhand, nothing dirty, no spoilers on show. Just two teams hellbent on getting a day out in the final, and what a spellbinding game of football they produced.

In the end, Ballymartin came through by the smallest of margins. There may have been a degree of fortuity about both their goals, and in truth they didn’t have to work too hard for many of the nine frees that Cathal McDowell would convert - but they were still deserving winners. At the turnaround they were seven points down and looked to be thoroughly outclassed. But led by Darren O’Hanlon, Liam Byrne, Peter Fitzpatrick and the sensational McDowell, they blew Ballyholland away with a second half performance full of pace, energy and, above all, commitment.

During the first half, Ballyholland won the midfield battle and played very direct football. Inevitably, this meant Ronan Murtagh got to stamp his boot rather firmly over proceedings. The county man hit both the opening points on his way to a personal tally of 1.06 during the half.

Ballymartin tried the direct game too, and although Ryan Rooney was a willing target man throughout, there was little or no direct reward for the Lilywhites, which made the role of Cathal McDowell all the more important. For 20 minutes they would not score from play, but five pointed frees from the wing three-quarters kept his side in the game – despite Murtagh capitalising on defensive error to bag the half’s only goal.

But it has to be said that only for the post - aided by Gavin Joyce’s hand - deflecting Shane Mulholland’s late shot away, and prior to that the crossbar denying Joe Murphy’s cheeky effort, Ballyholland really could have finished the game off before the interval.

And even given those misses, Paddy McAnulty’s nicely struck ’45 with more or less the last kick of the half would have finished off many a team.

Not Ballymartin.

The Mournemen started the second half in blistering fashion. Without warning, they began to overrun midfield, and inevitably the scores began to come. The first of them was probably the most crucial of all. With very little danger apparent, a hacked clearance rebounded to Ryan Rooney and the full-forward finished with distinction.

McDowell popped up with a couple of extras and, under pressure, Harps were left with little option but to introduce injury-leaden Paul Murphy to the fray. The big midfielder made an immediate impact, taking a score with his left foot, but within moments, Ballymartin managed to take the lead for the first time in the match, courtesy of a Darren O’Hanlon goal.

The goal was a bolt from the blue. A nothing ball dropped close to the square and the Lilywhite’s midfielder managed to squeeze in between Kieran and Joe Murphy to punch home.

Ronan Murtagh and Liam Byrne traded fine scores but by this stage the Mournemen were rampant and as we approached injury time, three consecutive scores from McDowell appeared to have closed the game out in their favour.

But it wasn’t over. Step forward Ballyholland substitute Paudie McKernan to drive home a late goal, and just moments later, Shane Mulholland coolly slotted over the culmination of a good team move.

The game was all square, and the tide seemed to have turned. Then, four minutes into injury time, O’Hanlon struck probably the most important strike he’ll ever hit in his life. One kick from 30 metres propelled his club into the Intermediate final.

It was extremely harsh on a number of Ballyholland players, Ronan Murtagh, Damian McCrink, Kieran Murphy, Shane Mulholland and John Barry in particular. But in truth, over the full 60 minutes, Ballymartin had the better individuals and it was fitting that it was one of their finest exponents, Darren O’Hanlon, who sealed the victory.

But for all the efforts of O’Hanlon, or those of his midfield partner Fitzpatrick, or those of Byrne, Rooney or Paul Cunningham or Sean McManus, no matter what happens for the rest of this Championship or for the rest of this season, one man has sealed his place in Ballymartin footballing folklore. To score 12 points in any game at any level is some feat, but to do so in a Championship semi-final really is something else. This was Cathal McDowell’s hour.

Player of the Match: Cathal McDowell

Ballyholland Team: K Murphy; A Haughey, D McCrink, J Murphy; P McAnulty (0-1f), C Murtagh, D Campbell; James Patterson, Paddy McAteer; T Havern (0-1), R Quinn, J Barry (0-1); M Shields, S Mulholland (0-2), R Murtagh (1-7, 3f). Subs used: P Murphy (0-1), C Sands, P McKernan (1-0), C Barry.

Opponents Team: G Joyce; S Brannigan, S Cunningham, P Fitzpatrick; L Byrne (0-1), S McManus, J Fitzpatrick; P Fitzpatrick, D O’Hanlon (1-1); C McDowell (0-12, 9f), J Doran; M Higgins, R Rooney (1-0), R McManus. Subs used: M Cunningham, Pa Cunningham, E McEvoy, S Rogers, C Rogers.

Referee: D Moore

Match Report by: Anthony

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