A late burst of points secured victory for An Cheathrú Rua of Galway over Ballinagar of Offaly in today's AIB All-Ireland Club Junior Football semi-final.
AIB All-Ireland Club JFC semi-final
AN CEATHRÚ RUA 1-9 BALLINAGAR 0-11
By Kevin Egan at King & Moffatt Dr. Hyde Park
Paudie Mac Cormaic wrote his name into the history books of An Cheathrú Rua GAA club when he sent over a sensational winning point from the narrowest of angles to send the Gaeltacht club through to the AIB All-Ireland junior club football final in three weeks, while simultaneously sending a dagger into the hearts of a Ballinagar club who have been on a fairytale journey in recent seasons.
The Offaly club, one of three clubs in their rural parish, famously voted to join up with their larger neighbours from Raheen in recent years, but when that approach was rebuffed by Raheen, they refocused their efforts on turning around their fortunes, having spent almost all of their existence in the junior ranks.
A strong focus on underage harnessed the potential that some local building projects offered, and under the guidance of former St. Brigid’s (Roscommon) manager Benny O’Brien, they embarked on this year’s campaign and secured unprecedented victories in Offaly and Leinster.
Up against An Cheathrú Rua, who played senior football in Galway as recently as 2021 and who seemed to gather a lot of momentum through their Connacht campaign, Ballinagar were pegged as real underdogs by most neutrals, and it seemed like they might be in for a particularly tough afternoon when the Connemara club exploded out of the blocks, kicking three excellent points from Michéal Ó Briain, Pádraig Ó Loideáin and Galway underage player Maitiú Ó Domhnaill in the opening four minutes.
Then Robbie Gallagher took on three defenders and won a free out of nothing when it looked like he was isolated, and once Stephen Dwane converted the score, the Offaly side settled into the game and didn’t look back. Strong defensive showings from Brian Malone, Declan Crombie and Diarmuid Finneran gave them the platform, Geordi O’Meara was heavily involved in the middle third and up front they had a willing runner and first receiver in Conor Bracken, and the individual star of the show in 19-year-old Gallagher.
Conor McGuinness came agonisingly close to swiping in a goal for the midlanders but even without that boost, Ballinagar were full value for their 0-5 to 0-4 lead, after 24 minutes, when Gallagher read a bouncing diagonal delivery and added a good finish.
An Cheathrú Rua crucially tagged on two points before half-time, a 45 from James Ó Flatharta and a fine strike off Pádraig Mac Donnacha’s right boot, but they failed to carry that momentum into the second half and really struggled to match the energy and heart of Ballinagar.
Geordi O’Meara struck a free to level the game and U-20 All-Ireland winner Morgan Tynan nudged Ballinagar back into the lead with the next play, confirming his emergence as a key figure in the middle, and An Cheathrú Rua were in real trouble all over the field.
Feargal Ó Sé, one of the brightest young prospects in the club, took the game by the scruff of the neck in the 41st minute when he used his pace to explode past Jack Gorry and float a handpass across goal for Paudie Mac Cormaic to attack. The substitute slapped the ball off the post, and the rebound fell perfectly for Maitiú Ó Domhnaill to fire a first time shot to the net for what looked like a decisive score.
Instead, Ballinagar came again. O’Meara and Adam Strong pointed to get them back on level terms, and it looked like their magical journey was set to continue when Jacob Beatty came off the bench to kick two points and give them the lead going into stoppage time.
A place in Croke Park was within touching distance, but the reason that slot on the hallowed turf in Dublin 3 is so revered is because it’s so hard to obtain. Huge questions were asked of An Cheathrú Rua, and while Ballinagar’s defence held firm, James Ó Flatharta (a 45) and Mac Cormaic had the composure and the skill to kick two outstanding scores to retake the lead and clinch victory at the end of a thrilling hour of action in Roscommon.
Scorers for An Cheathrú Rua: Maitiú Ó Domhnaill 1-1, James Ó Flatharta 0-2 (45s), Pádraig Mac Donnacha, Padraig Ó Loideáin, Fionán Ó Conghaile, Michéal Ó Briain, Feargal Ó Sé (f) and Paudie Mac Cormaic 0-1 each.
Scorers for Ballinagar: Geordi O'Meara 0-3 (0-2f), Robbie Gallagher 0-2, Steven Dwane 0-2f, Jacob Beatty 0-2, Morgan Tynan 0-1, Adam Joyce 0-1.
An Cheathrú Rua: James Ó Flatharta; Johnny Ó Tiarnaigh, Iarlaith Ó Conchubhair, Darragh Mac Sheónín; Ethan de Paor, Colin Ó Domhnaill, Myles Mac Donnacha; Stiofáin Ó Briain, Pádraig Mac Donnacha; Pádraig Ó Loideáin, Maitiú Ó Domhnaill, Fionán Ó Conghaile; Éanna Mac Cormaic, Micheál Ó Briain, Feargal Ó Sé. Subs: Oisin Ó Lochláinn for Ó Tiarnaigh (41), Paudie Mac Cormaic for É Mac Cormaic (41), Colm Ó Cualáin for Ó Conchubhair (48), Cian Ó Domhnaill for Ó Conghaile (54), Michéal de Bhailís for S Ó Briain (57).
Ballinagar: Ryan Kinahan; Jack Gorry, Diarmuid Finneran, Declan Crombie; Adam Joyce, Brian Malone, Aaron Gorman; Adam Strong, Morgan Tynan; Geordi O’Meara, Conor McGuinness, Jack Sheil; Stephen Dwane, Robbie Gallagher, Conor Bracken. Subs: Shane Finneran for Strong (24-HT, temp), Jacob Beatty for Dwane (38), Jamie Ballesty for Sheil (39), Eoin McGuinness for C McGuinness (48), Eibheann Gorman for Gorry (60)
Ref: Enda McFeely (Donegal).
