McCabe goal secures win and bragging rights for Ballymore

Ballymore 1-12 Milltown 0-10

By Eamon A. Donoghue

Owen McCabe’s goal sealed Ballymore’s win over neighbours Milltown in the first round of the Westmeath Intermediate FC at Tang last Saturday evening.

This game had rivalry, passion and it was neck and neck on the scoreboard for three quarters of the game. That changed when a long ball found midfielder McCabe one on one inside and the Westmeath hurler fielded the ball, beat his marker, rounded the keeper and smashed the ball into the net. From then on, Ballymore didn’t look back and saw out the win.

These two clubs amalgamate at underage level as Millmore Gaels. They probably know each other as well as they know their own teammates and there was no love lost in this contest, but it was played in a sporting manner.

McCabe’s goal was crucial but there were many excellent individual scores in the game and many moments that were critical in the outcome. Free taking was of a high standard with Ballymore’s Sam Maxwell unerring in kicking 0-8, and the promising Ben McGauran kicking 0-7 for Milltown.

The first half was evenly contested in general play and there was a scoring shootout between Maxwell and McGauran. Ballymore were the better side in the early stages. John Gilligan was showing leadership, McCabe was having huge moments and Maxwell was doing the rest by popping over the frees.

That all changed when Brian McCabe was shown a black card in the 11th minute. Milltown tore into the game with McGauran punishing every Ballymore offence. The sides were level 0-6 each at half-time.

After the turnaround both sides matched each other score for score. Maxwell and McGauran were again the main marksmen and the scores were level into the third quarter.

A draw was on most people’s lips with 12 minutes left, but then Milltown’s Daire Hynes was shown a black card. Ballymore, now with numerical advantage, took a foothold on the game. To make matters worse for Milltown, they conceded that goal to McCabe and from then they were struggling.

The scoring prowess of McGauran kept Milltown in the contest. But it was Ballymore that finished the stronger. With two scores from Sam Maxwell and one from Ben Maxwell, they did enough for the win. They will have the bragging rights for now and they will look forward to their second round outing.

Ballymore did deserve the win as they were the better team overall, but they will need to find more firepower in their inside forward line and a better spread of scorers.

Milltown will lick their wounds and get back up on the horse again no doubt. They also will need to share the scoring responsibility much more if they are to go any further in the championship.

Scorers – Ballymore: S Maxwell 0-8 (6f), O McCabe 1-1, D Molloy, A Slevin and B Maxwell 0-1 each. Milltown: B McGauran 0-7 (5f), D Hynes, L Gunning and C Dillon 0-1 each.

Ballymore: Conor McNeill; Daniel Ennis, Seán Kenna, Jack Kearney; Brian McCabe, John Gilligan, Eoin Ryan; Ben Maxwell, Owen McCabe; Barry McDermott, Sam Maxwell, David Jelistratous; Ivan Smyth, Brian Finerty, Derek Molloy. Subs used: Stephen Rooney for Jelistratous (35 mins), Andrew Slevin for Smyth (60).

Milltown: Seán Sommers; Gary Byrne, Bernard Kiernan, Thomas Lynn; Matthew Gunning, Patrick Sommers, Sean Dillon; Jack Murtagh, Frank McLoughlin; John Mulvanny, Conor Dillon, Jack Lynn; Luke Gunning, Ben McGauran, Daire Hynes. Subs used: Wayne Smith for McLoughlin (42 mins).

Referee: Ken Gunning.