Ballykelly reach Championship final after brilliant comeback

TOM CROSS TRANSPORT JUNIOR ‘A’ CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINAL 

BALLYKELLY 1-12 KILL 0-14 

Ballykelly caused a major shock when they came from seven points down with ten minutes to play before overcoming Kill in the semi-final of the Tom Cross Junior A Football Championship played in Manguard Park Hawkfield on Thursday evening last.

Kill, last year’s beaten Junior finalists, were most people's favourites and when they went seven ahead they looked to be on their way to yet another final. Ballykelly hadn’t read the script though and four two pointers along with a 65th minute Daragh Byrne free helped them seal the most unlikely of victories.

Kill opened the scoring through Paul Kirwan after a tentative opening five minutes. It took eight minutes for Ballykelly to get on the board but Mikey Murphy showed great strength to burst past two Kill tackles before setting up Simon Luttrell for a well taken goal.Kill lost influential midfielder Dara Challoner but they responded well to move 0-5 to 0-1 ahead. AJ Jordan converted a free before James Kilbride hit two in a row. Kirwan extended the lead to four as Ballykelly struggled for scores.

As we closed in on the last five minutes of the half a long ball from Jordan found its way to Stephen O’Leary and he landed a fine two pointer after finding space to get his shot away. Mikey Murphy was winning plenty of ball around the middle and he again turned provider for Ballykelly this time setting up Daragh Byrne for a first Ballykelly point. Kill finished the half the stronger and James Kilbride added his third and fourth scores to leave Kill 0-9 to 1-1 ahead at the break.

Ballykelly turned to play with a slight wind advantage after the break and Owen Whelan reduced the gap with a point after a move that started in their own half back line. Kill were slow to find any early possession and it took a fifth James Kilbride point, this time from a free to open their second half account. Experienced duo Paul Kirwan and Kevin Corrigan added two points inside a minute as they eased seven ahead.

Ballykelly were creating chances and they failed to make use of the wind. Daragh Sinnott got up from half back to register a second Ballykelly point but Kill substitute Liam O Carroll fired over a fine score just as we entered the closing quarter and he had Kill seven up. The real action and drama was yet to unfold.

Daragh Byrne started a golden spell for the underdogs as he landed a two pointer free. Eddie O’Connell and Ciaran Byrne added two more and suddenly the gap was at the bare minimum. Eoin Finneran settled Kill nerves but Ballykelly had their tails up and second Daragh Byrne two pointed free had the sides level as we entered four minutes of injury time. Both sides had chances to seal it and extra time looked assured.

Ballykelly launched one last attack and when Luke Gill was fouled his attempt to solo and go was blocked and the referee moved it up to the 20 metre line for Daragh Byrne to tap over the winning score. Joyous scenes amount the Ballykelly contingent as they set up a final with Roberstown.

BALLYKELLY: Stephen Whyte; Callum Grattan, Owen Whelan 0-1, Cillian Fitzgerald, Darragh Sinnott 0-1, Ciaran Byrne 0-2 (1tp), Shane Dunne; Josh Lawler, Mikey Murphy; Luke Gill, Daragh Byrne 0-6 (2tpf, 1f), Eddie O’Connell 0-2, Eoin Sinnott, Padraic Cullen, Simon Luttrell 1-0. Subs: Conor Murphy for Whyte, 16; Adam Gordon for Lawler, 38; Daragh Talbot for Whelan, 50; Sam Rainbow for Luttrell, 58; Jack Smyth for O’Connell 58.

KILL: Mike Jones; Ciaran Devoy, Eoin Finneran 0-1, Aidan Coleman, Finn Ryan, Kevin Corrigan 0-1, Mark Lee; Dara Challoner, Alex Byrne, Owen Thompson, AJ Jordan 0-1f, Tom Markey, Paul Kirwan 0-3, Stephen O’Leary 0-2(1tp), James Kilbride 0-5 (2f). Subs: Alan Wren for Challoner, 7; Liam O’Carroll 0-1 for O’Leary; 45; Jake Collins for Kirwan 54.

Referee: Mark Murphy