South East junior football champions Ballygarvan surive early Ballymartle scare to return to final

Ballygarvan 2-12 Ballymartle 1-8

Ballygarvan brushed Ballymartle aside at Shanbally to reach the Procure.ie South East Junior A Football final.

Having survived two early goal scares, the defending champions racked up an impressive second-half tally of 1-6. However, it was Ballymartle who started in a whirlwind fashion as Rickard Cahalane hit the post twice in the first seven minutes before Ballymartle led by two points from Dan O'Leary.

Ballygarvan drew level on 13 minutes as the influential Evan O’Connor struck twice, before he gave his side the lead on 15 minutes.

As Gary White floated over a 45, before the Riverstick side were further rocked on 20 minutes with a Stephen Fenton goal as the score read 1-4 to 0-3.

A slight reprieve with a Bally point from O'Leary, as a point a piece from Deasy and a Daniel Mackey effort had the half-time score at 1-5 to 0-4.

An opening point from O’Leary gave Bally a glimmer of hope, but Ballygarvan hit a purple patch as Sean Brady (2), White (2) and O'Connor had the current divisional champions leading by 1-10 to 0-5 on 41 minutes.

With the bit between their teeth, Ballygarvan were pushing on as a red card for Liam Corry did not help his side’s cause.

This game ended as a contest when Daniel Mackey doubled his side’s goal haul on 49 minutes as they led by 2-12 to 0-5.

To Ballymartle’s credit, they never threw in the towel and a Ryan Deasy penalty on 58 minutes was a deserved reward for their afternoon’s efforts.

Indeed it was followed by a point a piece from O'Leary and Luke O'Callaghan but it was Ballygarvan who deserved the win.

Scorers for Ballygarvan: E O'Connor (0-2 f), A White (0-3 f, 0-1 45) 0-4 each, D Mackey 1-1, S Fenton 1-0, S Brady 0-2, Z Davidson 0-1.

Ballymartle: D O’Leary 0-6 (0-5 f), R Deasy 1-0 pen, R Cahalane, L O’Callahan 0-1 each.

BALLYGARVAN: G White; P Ryan, Conor Mackey, S O’Donovan; S Fenton, M O’Mahony, Z Davidson; S Brady, J Fenton; D O'Mahony, C O’Regan, Callum Mackey; D Mackey, E O’Connor, N Dowd.

Subs: C Downey for E O’Connor (45) S Buckley for Callum Mackey (46), M Cussen for J Fenton (49), A Maloney for D O'Mahony (52), E Mackey for Conor Makey (52).

BALLYMARTLE: C Barry; E Cummins, S Dorney, P Dorney; L Corry, E O’Leary, L O’Callaghan; F Desmond, C Lordan; F McCarthy, R Cahalane, R Deasy; P Cronin, N Crowley, D O’ Leary.

Subs: E Deasy and J Deasy for P Cronin and E Cummins (h-t), S Cummins for F McCarthy (42), PR Cronin and M Higgins for C Lordan and E O’Leary (56).

Referee: K O’Sullivan (Valley Rovers).

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