Late Brady free rescues draw for Ballyhaise

Intermediate Championship round 4

Ballyhaise 1-12

Ballymachugh 1-12

A late Michael Brady free saw Ballyhaise rescue a draw in this close-fought contest against Ballymachugh at Kingspan Breffni on Saturday evening last.

There was precious little between the teams throughout this clash. It was level at half-time and although Ballyhaise pulled two ahead early in the second half, the loss of key man David Brady to a straight red card hindered their chances.

A goal from the reliable Mark Kiernan catapulted the Hughs back into the lead before the sides cancelled each other out, with Sean McCormack rattling the net for Ballyhaise in the final quarter also.

Brady opened the scoring from 25 metres before the Hughs hit the front with frees from Tynan and Mark Kiernan. An excellent Michael Brady point tied the game on nine minutes as the sides matched each other.

Mark Kiernan and Tynan, on the loop, registered but a Jack Maguire mark and further scores from Michael Brady (after a foul on Brían O’Rourke) and Eoin Clarke, who beat two players and swung over, made it 0-5 to 0-4.

Tynan, who was in great form, curled in another from play from 30 metres but again Ballyhaise replied through Maguire and the Hughs suffered a blow when they lost Aaron Briody to a black card at this stage.

A Tynan free made it 0-6 apiece at the break and on the restart, O’Rourke and Michael Brady raised further white flags.

Then came the red card for David Brady and although sub Kevin Tierney fired over to make it 0-9 to 0-6 with a well-taken effort from the left wing, again Tynan responded with a classy score.

The Hughs pressed the resulting kick-out, forcing Gary O’Rourke to go long, won it and drove at Ballyhaise, with Kiernan on the end of the move to find the net and when Kiernan added a free, it was 1-8 to 0-9.

Michael Brady responded and then another of the half-time subs, Sean McCormack, smashed to the net after being played through with a soccer-style pass from Brían O’Rourke.

Tynan tied the game again with a free in the 57th minute and then fired over from play as the match ticked into injury time and Ballymachugh led by one.

There was still time for more drama, though. Tierney converted a free, then Liam Buchanan stepped up to fist over the lead score but Brady had the final say when he converted a difficult free from the left wing to secure a share of the spoils for his side after an entertaining clash.

Ballyhaise: Gary O’Rourke, Adam Heaslip, Eoin Clarke (0-1), Aaron Watson, Darren Reilly, Aodhagan Watters, Fiachra McGoldrick, Evan Crowe, Brían O’Rourke (0-1), Jack Maguire (0-2, 1m), Michael Brady (0-5, 2f), Cormac Clarke, Killian Brady, David Brady (0-1), Martin Conaty

Subs: Kevin Tierney (0-2, 1f), Sean McCormack (1-0), Colin McKiernan, Marcus Duffy, Cormac Callaghan

Ballymachugh: Kevin Browne, Gary Kelly, Dillon Kiernan, Ben Tierney, Ryan Smith, Aaron Briody, Darragh Kiernan, James Smith, Liam Buchanan (0-1), James Fitzsimons, Peter Devine, Kieran Goldrick, Mark Kiernan (1-3, 2f), Killian Smith, Shane Tynan (0-7, 3f)

Subs: Barry Kiernan, Conor Coyle, Conor Mulligan

Ref: Noel Mooney