Ballinagh win Cracker

The Under 21's ensured that they will take there title defense to the wire. When they defeated a fancied Drumalee side after extra-time, in a cracking Championship semi-final.

Ballinagh 1-10
Drumalee 0-10
(After Extra-Time)

Ballinagh started well and produced most of the games early chances, the fixture's opening score coming from Gary Kane. The sides exchanged points and after fifteen minutes the score was 0-2 to 0-1. Padraic O'Reilly was forced to leave the field at this point with a re-occurrence of a hamstring injury. Ballinagh finished the half a single point in front (0-3 to 0-2).

Drumalee dominated the early stages of the second half and indeed took a two point lead. Thing's got worse for Ballinagh as centre-back Damien McIneney was strechered of with a suspected knee injury. The team responded however and lifted there peformance leveling the match with two fine points from Colin Gumley. Full time concluded (0-7 to 0-7) and it was decided that extra-time would produce a victor.

Ballinagh kept there momentum going and immediately Colin Gumley converted a free to put the saffrons back on top. A further point from David Finnegan left the side two points to the good, with the second half of extra time to be played. The Lily-Whites came back into the game and levelled the match on two occasion's with substitute Kevin Smith scoring for Ballinagh. Both sides continued to fight for a winner, when Kevin Smith popped up free and fired to the corner of the net.

Tense moments followed which seen Cian McDermott block a goal effort, at point blank range. Ballinagh manged to clear there lines and the game finished 1-10 to 0-10

The team go into the final for there third time in as many years, where they will now face the winners of the Lavey and Munterconnaught semi-final, which is to be played during the week. The final will more than likely be fixed for the New Year, further information will be posted in advance.

Ballinagh: Patrick Carroll, Enda Gavin, Terry Smith, Killian McBride, Adrian Cahill, Damien McInerney, Niall O'Reilly, Cian McDermott, Anthony Gaynor, Ciaran Brady, Padraic O'Reilly, Gary Kane, David Finnegan, Colin Gumley, Micheal Higgens. Subs: Paul Urbanski for Padraic O'Reilly, Kevin Smith for Damien McInerney.

Referee: Brendan Sweeney (Ballymachugh)