Ballaghaderreen today bridged a 36-year gap to claim their second ever county title, beating Charlestown by 0-13 to 1-6 in the final at McHale Park. According to this match summary from Hogan Stand, Ballagh did the bulk of the damage in the first half with Barry Regan – who must now be due a recall to the county panel, along with James Kilcullen (and that young Hanley lad) – scoring six points as the winners led by nine points, 0-11 to 0-2, at the break. Charlestown threatened to make a game of it in the second half, with Paul Mulligan’s goal eleven minutes from time cutting the gap to just four points. That score proved to be the game’s final one, however, as the new champions failed to score for the last 26 minutes of the game but still held on to win the Moclair Cup for the first time since 1972. They now go forward to the Connacht club championship and the best of luck to them in their endeavours there.
Up here in the city, meanwhile, we’re all a bit down in the dumps in this part of the Northside as the Vin’s this afternoon tamely surrendered their Dublin title, losing their semi-final replay to Kilmacud Crokes by 2-11 to 1-7. I didn’t make it to Parnell Park for this one – I was doing the Kerryman on it, waiting for the final – but the scoreline suggests strongly that the defending champions were well beaten. That Hogan Stand match summary quoted above states that Crokes’ Mark Vaughan – who was largely a peripheral figure in the drawn game last Monday night – shot nine points today, with Mark Davoren and Pat Burke getting the goals. I’m not enormously surprised at the result: Vin’s didn’t look too hot in the drawn game whereas Crokes seemed a more organised and better drilled unit even if they only played in fits and starts the other evening. Crokes obviously got their act together for today’s replay and, in dumping our lads out of county championship, ensured that Vin’s won’t now get the chance to defend their Leinster and All-Ireland titles.
Oh well, it’s only eleven weeks now to the start of the 2009 FBD …
well done Ballagh. Regan did well but sure didnt he get a run out before and from memory he was poor. Anyway the longer Ballaghs run continues the longer we keep Hanley in the country??? I see he has played at chb!!! I hope this isnt a reflection on his accuracy up front. Enough of the self interest…. Is Mahony involved with Ballagh actually?? Im sure he’ll stick his nose in if they make it all the way. Sure didnt he seal the deal for Ballina in 2005!!! 🙂
I saw in the Indo this morning that Barry Regan was the leading scorer in the county championship, scoring something like 2-35. He was in the panel during the M&M era and I remember him coming on for Kevin O’Neill in the replay against Laois but I don’t think he ever got a proper run-out with the county team. Sounds like he’s worth another look.
Hanley is going to miss his flight back, the way he’s going, so maybe we can pencil him in for the FBD as well!
I’m not sure Johnno can claim any of the credit for this win and the way he has largely ignored the Ballagh lads in picking his county squads won’t have endeared them to him either. I see he’s managing the Connacht side again in the Railway Cup this year – I wonder will he pick a few more of our lads this time?