Goals prove decisive as Ballymore master Multy

Ballymore 3-10, Multyfarnham 0-8

On a bitterly cold evening at TEG Cusack Park on Monday of last week, the ACFL Division 6 title was decided in essence by three marvellous goals from the Ballymore men. Try as they might, a gallant Multyfarnham side simply could not recover in what was a very entertaining game of football.

Although the final score flatters Ballymore greatly, there is no doubting that they were the better side on the night and they were never headed at any stage in this clash between the second teams of both clubs. Multy were not able to penetrate a resolute Ballymore defence while at the other end the green and golds nipped in for three majors that ultimately proved decisive and gave them a boost as the championship season approaches rapidly.

Spectators had barely taken their seats when Derek Molloy opened the scoring with a point for Ballymore and we barely had that recorded when a super strike from Frank Tighe levelled matters. From the kickout Ballymore went on the attack again and Barry McDermott had the ball in the net after a move that split Multy apart.

Ciaran Finerty added a mark shortly afterwards to increase that lead but then it became a shootout from end to end with Ian McGovern pointing twice and another from Tighe adding to Multy's tally. Ballymore hit back with frees from Molloy and Finerty and then the latter added a superb score to keep Multy at arm’s length.

Dylan Brady thought he had goaled for Multy but it was ruled out for a square ball but they finished the half brilliantly with two wonderful McGovern points and a fortuitous hop over the bar from Louis Greene. At the short whistle, there was one point between the sides with Ballymore leading by 1-5 to 0-7.

Ballymore had introduced Ronan McLoughlin late in the first half and he got them going with two excellent points on the restart to push his side three ahead. The game really turned when McGovern was denied a certain goal for Multy and on the break Ivan Smyth surged through a static Multy defence to hit a wonderful second Ballymore major.

It seemed to take the life from the Multy challenge with Molloy adding a free before substitute Sean McCabe, with his first possession, slalomed through the Multy defence to score a quite outstanding third Ballymore goal and, in truth, this put the final nail in the coffin.

Multy battled right to the end with Emmett Feerick unlucky not to find the net, seeing his thunderbolt go over rather than under the bar, but Ballymore finished with points from Finerty and McCabe to seal the deal in some style.

Both clubs are now looking forward to their championship campaigns, with the first teams of both these clubs competing in the intermediate grade.

Afterwards, Ballymore captain Darragh Monaghan accepted the shield from Westmeath GAA chairman Frank Mescall, to the delight of the large Ballymore crowd assembled.

Scorers - Ballymore: Sean McCabe 1-1, Derek Molloy 0-4 (2 frees), Barry McDermott and Ivan Smyth 1-0 each, Ciaran Finerty 0-3 (1 free, 1 mark), Ronan McLoughlin 0-2. Multyfarnham: Ian McGovern 0-4 (1 free), Frank Tighe 0-2, Louis Greene and Emmett Feerick 0-1 each.

Ballymore: Adam Watson, Seamus Keena, Darragh Monaghan, Anthony McKnight, Shane Kincaid, Mark Scally, Declan Rooney, Ivan Smyth, Cian Maloney, Barry McDermott, Derek Molloy, David Jelistratovs, Stephen Rooney, Ciaran Finerty, Conor Heaton. Subs: Ronan McLoughlin for Scally (19 mins), Luke Smyth for Heaton (H/T), Sean McCabe for Rooney (47), David Boyne for Molloy (59), Thomas Reilly for Finerty (62).

Multyfarnham: Henry Reilly, CJ Tighe, Aaron Whelan, Rory Boyce, Jude Auld, Brian McLoughlin, Gareth Mullaniff, Niall McDermott, Jamie Coffey, Johnny Koluch, Emmett Feerick, Louis Greene, Ian McGovern, Frank Tighe, Dylan Brady. Subs: Cian McPhillips for Koluch (H/T), Jack Boyhan for Brady (40 mins), Aidan O’Grady for Boyce (44), Mikey O’Brien for Feerick (54), Johnny Koluch for Mullaniff (59).

Referee: Michael Moran.