Super-sub Clinton turns the tide in narrow Delvin victory

Delvin 0-16, Ballinagore 1-11

In a very enjoyable battle of maroon and white-clad sides in glorious conditions for football in Shandonagh last Saturday evening, it was Delvin who emerged victorious by a two-point margin, thereby qualifying for the semi-final of the Westmeath junior ‘2’ football championship.

The real losers were those who stayed away, as only a small crowd was present to witness a riveting contest. In the end, it was the side in the maroon jerseys who deservedly edged out the men in maroon togs with late unanswered points from the boots of outstanding sub Darragh Clinton and the game’s most consistent performer Eoin Carolan.

Paddy Ennis pointed neatly for the losers after a mere 15 seconds, but a brace of converted frees from the ground by the aforementioned Carolan edged the Valley men ahead by the ninth minute. Indeed, the same two players were the only two to make the scoresheet during the opening 18 minutes, with Carolan slotting over a hat-trick (a free, a great effort from play, and a ‘45’, after Patrick Clune’s goalbound shot had been deflected over the endline), and Ennis pointing twice for Dermot Brady’s troops (one of them from a free).

The respective number 12s – Aaron Fenlon and Peter Reynolds – then traded points, leaving Delvin ahead by 0-6 to 0-4 after 20 minutes. Another great free followed from Carolan, but the three-point lead was wiped out in one fell swoop in the 29th minute when Brandon Carey netted in style after a fine delivery by Reynolds. The referee appeared to blow the half-time whistle somewhat prematurely, at which point the sides were on level terms: Delvin 0-7 Ballinagore 1-4.

Fine play by Carey teed up Ennis for a goal chance in the 33rd minute, but when his shot was blocked he had to be content with a fly-kicked point in the follow-up. Two minutes later, Carey doubled Ballinagore’s lead from a free. In truth, the game turned moments later when Darragh Clinton was introduced by Kevin Williams, with the Westmeath hurling star making an immediate impact by scoring a quality point. However, a point apiece from Jack Gannon and Aaron Kelly gave Ballinagore a goal cushion (1-8 to 0-8) by the end of the third quarter.

The teams equally shared four points by the 51st minute – a brace from Carolan (the first of them from a free) being cancelled out by David Keegan (when a goal beckoned) and Westmeath panellist Darragh Seery (a great score). However, Delvin pounced for four unanswered points in a dominant five-minute spell, via a terrific Clinton brace, Carolan (a routine free), and a great solo score from Dean Ennis, to nudge ahead (0-14 to 1-10) with three minutes of normal time remaining.

On the hour mark, Reynolds doubled his tally for the losers (after great work from Carey) to tie up the scoring. It was all to play for now, with extra-time beckoning, but it was Delvin who finished the stronger with another great point from Clinton (after a clever piece of fielding) and a Carolan free (shortly after a fisted effort at the other end from Robbie Keegan had been just short of the target).

Scorers – Delvin: E Carolan 0-10 (7f, 1‘45’), D Clinton 0-4, D Ennis, A Fenlon 0-1 each.

Ballinagore: P Ennis 0-4 (1f), B Carey 1-1 (0-1f), P Reynolds 0-2, A Kelly, D Seery, D Keegan, J Gannon 0-1 each.

Delvin: Declan McKenna; Patrick Clune, Liam Carolan, Eddie O’Neill; Adam McCormack, Sean Hoctor, Ross Gaffney; Patrick Poynton, Sebastian McPherson; Kyle Bracken, Peter Fallon, Aaron Fenlon; Dean Ennis, Eoin Carolan, Stephen Cassidy. Subs used: Darragh Clinton for Bracken (36), Jack Forde for McCormack (39), Stevie Reilly for Fallon (46), Conor Ward for Cassidy (54).

Ballinagore: Darren Rigney; David Pidgeon, Cathal Kelly, Aaron Kelly; Robbie Keegan, Conan Feery, Enda Claffey; Darragh Seery, Cody Finnane; David Keegan, Brandon Carey, Peter Reynolds; James Sheerin, Jack Gannon, Paddy Ennis. Subs used: Luke Seery for Pidgeon (27).

Ref: Cathal Boland (St Joseph’s).

Examiner's Eye on game

Man of the match

Eoin Carolan (Delvin): While he missed a couple of frees – ironically, less difficult than many of those he converted – the full forward’s place-kicking was a joy to behold, and he also kicked a fine brace from open play.

Key moment

The 36th-minute introduction of Darragh Clinton, better known as a hurler, greatly bolstered the winners’ attack.