Last gasp Heffernan goal seals dramatic win for Kilbeggan
Kilbeggan Shamrocks 1-8, Ballynacargy 0-9
Colm Heffernan came off the bench to score a dramatic injury-time goal as Kilbeggan Shamrocks secured a crucial Westmeath Intermediate Football Championship Round 1 win over Ballynacargy at a rain-soaked TEG Cusack Park on Monday evening.
Postponed by 48 hours due to a bereavement in the Ballynacargy club, this game was billed as an early-season relegation decider between last year’s junior champions and a struggling Ballynacargy team who recently suffered relegation from Division 3 of the All-County League.
Trailing by 0-3 to 0-4 at half-time, Bal’ dominated the third quarter to open up a 0-8 to 0-4 lead, but were outscored by 1-4 to 0-1 thereafter as Kilbeggan stormed back to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in what generally a game of mediocre quality, though neither side lacked endeavour.
There were shades of last year’s JFC final against St Loman’s when the Shamrocks’ winning goal in the 60th minute was only awarded after referee Cathal Boland ruled out a ‘square ball’ infringement after consulting with his umpires (Kilbeggan already had a goal disallowed for ‘square ball’ on the stroke of half-time).
Conor Delaney’s fifth free put Niall O’Brien’s men two up in the fourth minute of injury-time, but there was still time for Ballynacargy to almost win it at the death when Philip Price's crisp shot was deflected behind with the last play of the game.
The incessant rain made for a scrappy yet enthralling contest between two evenly-matched sides. Jamie Loran set up Rhys Keena for the opening score in the seventh minute. As Kilbeggan struggled to settle, goalkeeper Niall Rabbitte came to their rescue with a super save from Philip Price after Edward Nally had powered through the middle.
Jack Doran doubled Ballynacargy’s advantage before Kilbeggan finally opened their account from a Conor Delaney free in the 20th minute. James Finnegan intercepted a short kickout but blazed wide with a goal at his mercy before Delaney levelled from his second placed ball from a 13-metre free which was awarded for a late challenge on Conor Carroll.
The momentum was now with the Brosnasiders who took the lead for the first time in the 25th minute thanks to a fine right-footed effort from Nigel Scally.
Another foul on Carroll resulted in a third converted free by Delaney before an excellent long-range point from Ballynacargy centre back Conor Byrne reduced the deficit to the minimum.
The Moynihan Park outfit then had a major let-off when Padraig Carton fisted home Darragh Coffey’s centre, only for the match officials to deem that the former was in the square before the ball was played to him.
Tommy Kelly’s charges belied their league form with a brilliant third quarter that yielded five unanswered points. Philip Price restored parity within two minutes of the restart from a free before Jamie Loran scored a much more difficult placed ball to edge them back in front. Substitute Troy Maher made an instant impact by winning another free which Loran slotted over to leave Bal’ two up, 0-6 to 0-4, after 41 minutes.
The blue and golds now had Kilbeggan on the ropes, but missed a glorious opportunity when Rhys Keena was denied a goal by the advancing Rabbitte. However, that was soon forgotten when the impressive Philip Price kicked two quality scores in quick succession to double Bal’s advantage heading into the final quarter.
Kilbeggan eventually got on the scoreboard in the second half through Micheál Coffey in the 46th minute before substitute Colin Draper shot an inspirational score from Delaney’s pass. Delaney made it a one-point game from a 52nd-minute free before a Loran free at the other end gave Ballynacargy some breathing space with three minutes of normal time remaining.
But the never-say-die attitude which was evident throughout Kilbeggan’s successful JFC campaign last year came to the fore once again when a high ball into the square from Carton caused consternation in the Bal' defence and former rugby star Heffernan was on hand to punch to the net.
All of a sudden, Kilbeggan were a point up and they pushed on with another score from a Delaney free which was once again won by the hard-working Carroll. With the allotted three minutes of injury-time elapsed, Ballynacargy launched one final attack that saw the ball break to Price in the danger area, but his shot was somehow deflected out for a ’45, which Bal’ didn’t get to take as the maroon and whites held on by the skin of their teeth.
Ballynacargy's Rhys Keena received a straight red card immediately after the final whistle.
Man of the match: Conor Delaney (Kilbeggan Shamrocks): In poor conditions, the free-taking of Kilbeggan's Conor Delaney proved crucial, while industrious wing back Conor Carroll contributed greatly from general play. Jamie Loran was excellent for an unlucky Ballynacargy side.
Score of the match: An excellent long-range point from Ballynacargy centre back Conor Byrne stands out, especially when conditions are considered.
Footnote: Prior to the match, there was a minute's silence to remember Bernie Began (nee Fitzsimons), a loyal and proud supporter of the Ballynacargy club, whose untimely passing puts sport into perspective.
Scorers – Kilbeggan: C Delaney 0-5 (5fs), C Heffernan 1-0, C Draper, N Scally and M Coffey 0-1 each. Ballynacargy: P Price (1f) and J Loran (3fs) 0-3 each, C Byrne, R Keena and J Doran 0-1 each.
Kilbeggan Shamrocks: Niall Rabbitte; Martin Ward, James Fox, Sean Hanlon; Conor Carroll, James Hanlon, Mark Wrafter; Darragh Coffey, Joey O’Neill; James Finnegan, Padraig Carton, Micheál Coffey; Shaun Pidgeon, Nigel Scally, Conor Delaney. Subs: Colin Draper for Finnegan (45 min), Josh Malone for J Hanlon (51), Colm Heffernan for O’Neill (56).
Ballynacargy: Mark Murphy; Conor Keena, Timmy Mescall, Enda Scally; Wayne Kelly, Conor Byrne, Luke Heduvan; Luke Price, Jason McKeon; Philip Price, Jamie Loran, Edward Nally; Rhys Keena, Jack Doran, Gary Fagan. Subs: Troy Maher for Nally (40 min), Niall Peyton for Kelly (56).
Referee: Cathal Boland (St Joseph's).