Big scalp for Cuchulainns

Cross-Mullagh men see off Ballinagh

Cuchulainns 0-12

Ballinagh 0-9

Kevin Óg Carney at Kingspan Breffni

Cuchulainns had to dig deep at a watery Kingspan Breffni to overcome IFC rivals and long-time leaders Ballinagh.

If as on cue, the throw-in last Sunday evening at a supporters-less HQ was accompanied by a heavy sustained shower of rain that left the ball with all the traction of a slippery bar of soap.

For the entirety of the game, the combatants fought a running battle against the elements as much as their foe. Such was the evenness of the exchanges and the closeness of the contest from gun to tape, that the sub-standard nature of the play was fairly well masked.

Ultimately, it was the Mullagh-based men who stayed the distance best of all in the challenging conditions with their success in out-gunning Ballinagh by five points to two in the final quarter absolutely telling.

In what was a low-key and at times drab affair, some of the early scores went against the grain with lovely points being notched by the likes of Kevin Smith (6), Eoghan McCabe (8) and David Carolan (14).

Carolan’s point levelled matters at 0-2 apiece and even at that juncture it was obvious that a goal or a run of scores would guarantee victory and as things panned out, it was Cuchulainns’ sprint over the course of 11 third quarter minutes which worked the oracle.

The white and blues headed for home in the 43rd minute when Bryan Magee converted a free to level (0-7 apiece) the game for the third time.

Ballinagh had earlier done much of the running with full-forward Kevin Smith going onto notch five first half points, including four frees, as his side edged matters by the odd point in eleven at the interval.

Ballinagh never looked confident or assured while out in front after six minutes (0-2 to 0-0) and after 16 minutes (0-3 to 0-2) and after 24 minutes (0-5 to 0-3) when Padraig O’Reilly fired over from 35 metres.

Cuchulainns were the better grafters on the night and their ball retention was that bit slicker than Ballinagh but their approach work often died a death on the altar of a lazy pass.

Still, the eventual winners kept working at their game and with their big hitters Evan Doughty, Bryan Magee and sub. Conor Smith all operating close to goal in the final quarter, Ballinagh’s rearguard came under pressure like never before.

The Saffrons were up for the challenge but their concession of four unanswered points saw their 0-7 to 0-6 lead turned upside down and by the 54th minute, Cuchulainns were 0-10 to 0-7 in front and cemented in the box seat.

The final ten minutes of actual playing time was the best ten minutes of the game as both sides upped the tempo and went for the jugular.

Sadly for Ballinagh, they couldn’t muster up enough ammunition to blow down Cuchulainns defensive wall with just Kyle Tyler (56) and a Cormac Timoney free (63) puncturing Cuchulainns’ massed ranks.

In between times, Cuchulainns countered Ballinagh’s successful forays with similar joy being unearthed by fine points by Cian Doughty – after good work by Evan Doughty and Conor Smith – and the latter Doughty four minutes after the hour mark.

Cuchulainns: Gary Daly; Niall Carolan, Killian Lynch, Rioghan Smith; Donnacha Dunne, Conor Flanagan, Jamie Fitzgerald; Adrian Taite, Eoghan Donoghue (0-1); Mark Gilsenan, Bryan Magee (0-5, 4f), Eoghan McCabe (0-1); Cian Doughty (0-2), Evan Doughty (0-2, 1f), David Carolan (0-1).

Subs; Conor Smith for E McCabe; Sean Kenny for D Carolan (inj); Andrew Mooney for M Gilsenan.

Ballinagh: Enda Brady; Aaron Reilly, Patrick Carroll, Killian McBride; Niall O’Reilly, Cormac Timoney (0-1, f), Philip Bogue; Padraic O’Reilly (0-1), Thomas Moore; Thomas Smith (0-1), Paddy O’Brien, Evan Finnegan; Shane Finnegan, Kevin Smith (0-5, 4f), Barry Connolly.

Subs: Damien Reilly for S Finnegan; Kyle Tyler (0-1) for P O’Brien.