Ballyhaise left to lament missed opportunities

Ulster Club IFC final

Cullyhanna 1-10

Ballyhaise 0-12

There are a number of indicators in every game that generally tell you who the best team is on the day.

Possession and what you do with it is one. Ballyhaise were on top in this area. How many of your kick-outs you win and how many of the opposition kick-outs you win. Again, Ballyhaise looked to be on top here too. Turnovers won are an indicator of the work rate of a team and Ballyhaise definitely out-worked Cullyhanna. Turnovers lost is an indicator of technical ability and concentration and Ballyhaise looked to have the upper hand in this area too.

It leaves you scratching your head as to how Ballyhaise are not Ulster champions but the most important stat still remains the deciding factor. The ability to convert the chances you make. Cullyhanna took a total of 18 shots and scored 1-10 from them compared to Ballyhaise who took at least 31 shots and came away with 0-12.

This will go down as a game Ballyhaise lost rather than were beaten in but credit where it’s due, Cullyhanna found the right answer at the right time. Aidan Nugent, who had been very subdued, picked the perfect pass with seconds of injury-time remaining to set up Neil McCreesh for the winner. That was the first time Cullyhanna had led in 43 minutes of football and it was enough for the win.

Ballyhaise got their match-up right with Evan Crowe nullify Armagh county senior Nugent, Brian O’Rourke won his battle with Jason Duffy and after a rocky start Aodhagan Watters curtailed the significant threat of Ross McQuillan.

Caolan Reavey proved to be the one that slipped under the net as he finished with a goal and two points to his name. Cullyhanna expected Ballyhasie to step off them but Damien Keaney done the opposite and pressed them high up the field leaving the Ballyhaise defenders to mark man for man and for the most part they done that very well.

It was clear from the roar of the Ballyhaise supporters as their team entered the field that they were up for the game and within a couple of minutes of the throw-in you could see the players were too. From the throw-in a Martin Conaty pass found Michael Brady for an attacking mark which he sent over from 40 metres.

Ballyhasie had the advantage on size and were set up for the Cullyhanna kick-outs to use that, winning the first three kicks from James Carragher but failing to increase their lead with possession. By the time Shea Hoey levelled the match in the third minute, Ballyhaise had registered four wides. Jason Duffy put the Armagh champions into the lead on the sixth minute with their second shot of the game.

On the ninth minute David Brady found Martin Conaty with a pass and Conaty’s accuracy levelled the match. A second long range attacking mark from Michael Brady got the Ballyhaise nose in front but three minutes later Ross McQuillan showed his exceptional pace to cut through the Ballyhaise defense and point.

As the game entered the second quarter McQuillan had to draw Watters down to his half back line before getting away and sprinting 70 meters to finish off a good team move with his second point on his right.

Brían O’Rourke showed his strength seven minutes later as he dealt with a big shoulder before turning onto his left foot and slotting the ball over the black spot.

Eoin Clarke, now holding the full forward position more for Ballyhaise attacks, received the ball from David Brady before passing to Padraig Moore in the pocket to finish with a point. Now leading by two points Ballyhaise were the dominant side and should have grabbed the games first goal when Padraig Moore played Clarke in on goal but his shot missed the target.

Ballyhaise while in control continued to let scoring chances pass them by until Clarke was fouled on the 27th minute and Michael Brady tapped over the free to put Ballyhaise two ahead. Within a minute Aaron Watson won another breaking ball. David Brady sent a long pass to Eoin Clarke at full forward who drew the full attention of the Cullyhanna defense before slipping the ball to Kevin Tierney but his shot going high to the net was well saved by James Carragher.

Having owned the ball for the second quarter Ballyhaise led by two points when a ten-point lead would have been a better reflection of their dominance.

Stephen Reel’s side missed two chances in that period with the last of them leading to a brilliant Gary O’Rourke kick-out finding Colin McKiernan in the Cullyhanna half of the field. McKiernan picked out Martin Conaty on the far side of the field who raised the final white flag of the half to leave Ballyhaise three ahead at the break.

Giving Ballyhaise a taste of their own medicine, Cullyhanna won but missed an attacking mark from the throw-in and then pressed and won the Ballyhaise kick-out working the ball to Caolan Reavey who opted for a point with half a goal chance on.

Having ended their drought it was clear Cullyhanna upped their energy in the second half could have been through on goal but for a clever foul by Aodhagan Watters which Aidan Nugent tapped over the bar.

Back now to a one-point game Ballyhaise needed to regain some control and when Martin Conaty was fouled Michael Brady converted the free to steady the ship. Kevin Tierney and Padraig Moore worked the ball to the scoring zone in the seventh minute of the half before David Brady sent over his first to restore their three-point advantage.

Ballyhaise were now back controlling the ball and able to keep possession easier as a result of Cullyhanna dropping two sweepers back to protect their full back line.

With 13 minutes passed since the break David Brady gather the ball at the edge of his scoring zone. Gaining yards the Cullyhanna defenders rushed to him but the big man showed river dance like movement to create just enough space for a snap shot and point for the score of the game.

Ballyhaise now ahead by four and the finish line getting closer missed the next two scoring chances which gave Cullyhanna a chance. A misplaced free between the two 65’s caught Ballyhaise out of position at the back and Shea Hoey set Cullyhanna on the attack. A loose pass was flicked up by Ross McQuillan before Caolan Reavey was found free running in at the back post and he slotted the ball to the net.

Aidan Nugent added a free with nine minutes remaining to level the game before Adam Heaslip for the second time in the Ulster championship produced a goal line clearance for Ballyhaise. Having missed a couple earlier in the half Eoin Clarke showed character to persist and curled over a point on the 25th minute to give Ballyhaise back the lead.

Shea Hoey levelled the game for a sixth time with his second point before Clarke with the very next play sent over his second on his left foot. Ballyhaise were now ahead by the smallest of margins with just over three minutes of ordinary time remaining.

The sticky under foot conditions stopped the ball from bouncing back up to Cormac Callaghan seeing his improvised shot go wide. From the resulting kick-out Cullyhanna won the breaking ball and found Caolan Reavey free on the end line and he was clever enough to fist the ball over the bar to level the game for the final time as injury-time began.

Cullyhanna got the ball to the scoring zone but full Back Sean Connell’s shot dropped short before Ballyhaise worked the ball to the other end but managed to give away possession twice in a few seconds.

The ball work to the Ballyhaise 45 by Cullyhanna and placed into Aidan Nugents hands who with the outside of the left boot picked out Pearse Casey on the 20 meter line and Casey sent the ball high and over the bar to give Cullyhanna the lead.

Ballyhaise had time for one more attack and when Kevin Tierney was dragged down just inside the Cullyhanna 45 Gary Mackin was shown a black card. Tierney went short with the free to Martin Conaty who bravely took the shot under pressure and in borrowed time but his effort went wide, resulting in heartbreak for Ballyhaise.

Cullyhanna: James Carragher, Sean Og Irwin, Sean Connell, Gavin Duffy, Neil McCreesh(0-1), Michael Murray, Barry McConville, Pearse Casey(C), Jason Duffy(0-1), Caolan Reavey(1-2), Shea Hoey(0-2), Ross McQuillan(0-2), Kieran McCooey, Tony Donnelly, Aidan Nugent(0-2f)

Subs: Gary Mackin for B McConville, Malachy Mackin for G Duffy.

Ballyhaise: Gary O’Rourke, Adam Heaslip, Evan Crowe, Fiachra McGoldrick, Aaron Watson, Aodhagan Watters, Darren Reilly, Brían O’Rourke(0-1), David Brady(0-2), Martin Conaty(0-2), Kevin Tierney, Colin McKiernan, Eoin Clarke(0-2), Michael Brady(0-4,2f,2m), Padraig Moore

Subs: Cormac Callaghan for P Moore.