ACFL: Leaguers deny Ballinagh at the death

Ballinagh 0-12
Killeshandra 2-8

A late Sean McKiernan goal foiled Ballinagh\'s hopes of a happy return home last Sunday and gave Killeshandra their second win in as many games in their new life in Division One of the ACFL.

In a well-contested encounter, which had a thrilling finish, Ballinagh looked set to defy the odds when they came from behind and a man down to shoot over two points and take the lead in injury-time.

However, demonstrating their utter resilience, the visitors rallied in the dying stages and when Declan McKiernan\'s shot from the distance rebounded off the post his older brother, Sean, was quickest to pounce and send the ball flying past Darragh McCarthy in the Ballinagh goal to hand Killeshandra a vital pair of points.

The Leaguers had opened with good intent by looking for their full-forward Declan McKiernan from the off and it was through him that Damien Higgins was afforded enough time and space to send over the opener after three minutes.

Ballinagh were dealt the first of many blows in this contest after just nine minutes when wing-back Damien McInerney was forced off with injury, but by that time they were already in front after Niall McDermott accounted for their first two points, with the first coming from a free.

Kevin Smith moved the hosts two in front from close range, but blow number two arrived for his team shortly afterwards as Rory Braiden backed up his point in the 14th minute by tucking away Killeshandra\'s first goal a minute later after finding some space in behind Ballinagh\'s full-back line.

Two massive trademark scores from Declan McKiernan followed, with the first coming from a 50-metre free, to cushion Killeshandra\'s lead, but Ballinagh never let them out of sight.

After accurate frees from Colin Gumley and Smith, the home side had the chance to regain the lead just before the interval when Higgins was adjudged to have blocked McDermott\'s shot in the square with his foot and referee Raymond Tynan awarded a penalty.

Gumley\'s spot-kick sat up nicely for Killeshandra goalkeeper Cyril O\'Reilly to parry and Ballinagh were made settle for a Niall O\'Reilly point in the next attack as they went in at the break trailing by 1-4 to 0-6.

The Leaguers made the better restart and but for a brilliant reaction save from McCarthy off McKiernan at full-forward they would have had a second goal. The half was just five minutes old when they were also given the advantage of an extra man as former county senior defender Anthony Gaynor was shown a second yellow card by Tynan for a shoulder to the chest of Killeshandra wing-back Shane O\'Reilly.

A Gumley free, after a good take inside from Declan Beard, and a fisted point from Leaguers substitute Daniel Luby kept the difference at one, before McDermott slipped over another placed ball to level matters with a quarter of an hour to go.

Higgins and McKiernan (free) pushed Killeshandra back into a two-point lead for the first time in the half, but with Padraic O\'Reilly in fine fetching form at centre-field all day Ballinagh commanded possession from the kick-outs in the closing stages. He helped to secure two successive frees for Smith to convert and tie things up again heading towards injury-time.

On the hour, Luby was impeded inside for McKiernan to strike over, which was cancelled-out within seconds when Alan Durkin made a burst from midfield and curled over a sweet score with the outside of his boot.

A draw looked certain until Enda Brady - a replacement to stabilise Ballinagh\'s defence after Gaynor\'s sending-off - broke forward to sail over what would have been an unlikely winner.

It just wasn\'t to be for Ballinagh though, as Killeshandra craved out a last ditch effort which saw Declan McKiernan\'s shot from the right wing drop off the upright to the square, where his sibling did the rest to send the visiting support into a euphoric state and help the Leaguers snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Ballinagh - Darragh McCarthy; Killian McBride, Patrick Carroll, Anthony Duffy; Damien McInerney, Anthony Gaynor, Terry Smith; Alan Durkin (0-1), Padraic O\'Reilly; Niall O\'Reilly (0-1), David Finnegan, Rory Brennan; Colin Gumley (0-2, 2f), Niall McDermott (0-4, 3f), Kevin Smith (0-3, 2f). Subs: Declan Beard, Enda Brady (0-1), Nevin McKiernan

Killeshandra - Cyril O\'Reilly; Cillian O\'Reilly, Colm Duffy, Darragh Tighe; Eamon O\'Reilly, Tomas O\'Reilly, Shane O\'Reilly; Paddy King, Damien Higgins (0-2); Sean McKiernan (1-0), Austin Fitzpatrick, Karl O\'Reilly; Shane Murphy, Declan McKiernan (0-4, 3f), Rory Braiden (1-1). Subs: Daniel Luby (0-1), Ciaran Owens

Referee: Raymond Tynan (Ramor United)