JFC Round 1
20th May @ Moorefield
Ardclough 1-09 Ballykelly 0-12
A late Colm Maguire point earned Ardclough a draw in their first game of their Junior Football Championship campaign against Ballykelly at Moorefield.
Meeting for the second time this year, Ardclough were hoping to build on their seven point win in their early league meeting, but it took a late free from Colm Maguire to level matters.
Ballykelly took the lead early on when corner-back Patrick Forde surged upfield to kick the opening score.
After some initial wides, Ardclough opened their account in style by finding the net.
Barry Griffin went on a trademark run upfield towards the danger area, before crossing the ball across goal where Diarmuid Carr was waiting to fist to the net.
Ballykelly then though dominated the game for the next quarter, scoring five further unanswered points.
After 18 minutes Ardclough added another score.
Colm Buggy making his way from centre-back through midfield to set up Barry Molloy for his first point. But Andrew Kelly replied immediately with a point for Ballykelly.
Ardclough rallied as the break approached, tagging on two points before the break. Firstly Molloy converting a simple free and then Colm Buggy firing over another.
Despite spells of dominance for Ballykelly they only held a one point lead at the break.
Half-Time :
Ardclough 1-03 Ballykelly 0-07.
Shortly after the resumption Ardclough were level.
Good work by Matthew Stapleton, Buggy and Griffin resulted in a Diarmuid Carr point.
Ballykelly were always able to respond however, Ronan Stafford hit back with another point.
Ardclough then upped the ante, hitting three points in a row, one each from Colm Maguire, Barry Griffin and Barry Molloy, gave the ‘Clough’s a two point lead.
Ardclough were pressuring their opponents all over the field and forced the Ballykelly forwards to come closer to the middle of the field in search of possession.
Another point from Maguire pushed the gap to three with six minutes left to play.
A quick sideline ball, taken by Ballykelly’s Andrew Kelly, to Michael Bean gave the attacker the space needed to point and set up an enthralling final few moments.
Ballykelly had the drive to go in search of scores to get something out of this game. Alan Hickey and John Forde drew matters, and they looked the more likely side to go on and take the win.
And late in the game Ballykelly took the lead. After being fouled, Ballykelly’s Alex Scully’s subsequent free found full-forward Andrew Kelly who himself was fouled and he slotted it over to give them the lead with the time nearly up.
Ardclough deserved something from this game and earned it just before the final whistle. Diarmuid Carr then went on a pacey run, gathering the ball around midfield, he made it to the ’21, before being taken down.
Colm Maguire then tapped over the pressure kick to level the game with the last score of the match.
Next up for Ardclough in Round 2 of the JFC is Castlemitchel.
Ardclough:
Jonathan Reeves; Seán Buggy, Ronan Maguire, Derek McNamara; Andrew Conway, Colm Buggy (0-01), Kieran Brady; Colm Maguire (0-03, 3f’s), Niall Coulston; Barry Griffin (0-01), Stephen Kirwan, Barry Molloy (0-03, 2f’s); Tristan McGarr, Ger Cullen, Diarmuid Carr (1-01).
Subs:
Matthew Stapleton for T. McGarr, Gary Finneran for S. Kirwan, John Coulston for K.Brady, Niall Graham for G.Finneran
Ballykelly:
Eoin O’Neill; Patrick Forde (0-03), David Fitzgerald, Chris Merlihan; Andrew Buckley, Paul Muldowney (0-01), Liam Behan; Michael Behan (0-01), Kevin Donoghue; Alex Scully, Alan Hickey (0-02), Ronan Stafford (0-01); John Forde (0-01), Andrew Kelly (0-03, 1f), Noel Heavey
Subs:
William Nicholls for N. Heavey
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