Longford IFC: Ballymahon beat Killashee to survive as Cashel are relegated to the Junior grade

Ballymahon . . . 0-14    St Brigid’s Killashee . . . 1-3 

Showing fierce resistance in the battle to avoid relegation from the Intermediate Football Championship, Ballymahon produced their best display in the current Hennessy Cup campaign to score a most emphatic win over a very disappointing St Brigid’s Killashee side.

Played at Pairc Chiaran on Tuesday night, it is the host club Cashel who ironically are demoted to the Junior grade instead after losing out on the head-to-head regulation against the survivors Ballymahon under the guidance of manager Philip Quinn.  

Joining the once powerful Cashel in the Tier 3 Championship next year will be another former Connolly Cup winner Ardagh Moydow and these are changed times indeed in the Longford club scene. 

The return of Kevin Diffley for the remaining fixture in the group stage made a big difference at midfield on the Ballymahon team while the star of the show in the attack was the impressive Jack Walshe who fired over a total of 7 points (two from play). 

Although Killashee were already guaranteed a place in the semi-finals and under no pressure, this was an extremely poor show by Ray Curley’s side and a major improvement will be required for the last four clash against unbeaten Sean Connolly’s. 

Ballymahon showed a lot more urgency and after leading by 0-5 to 0-1 at the break they extended their advantage to a commanding eight points before St Brigid’s grabbed a late consolation goal with substitute Mark Rossiter shooting to the net in the 54th minute.

While Killashee conceded a penalty and a subsequent black card for their keeper Barry Geraghty for a foul on Finn Heneghan in the 58th minute, Jack Walshe had to settle for a point as his spot kick clipped the crossbar but it mattered little such was their dominance.

Ballymahon were reduced to 14 players after Shane Bawle received a second yellow card in stoppage time while this is a game that St Brigid’s (minus the injured David Buckley) will want to forget in a hurry as they prepare for the semi-final on Sunday October 6.

BALLYMAHON: Keith Manley; Chris Killian, Ros Claffey, Ronan Burke; Harvey Townsend, Darragh Finlass, Paddy Connaughton (0-2); John Nevin, Kevin Diffley (0-1); Shane Quinn (0-1), Jack Walshe (0-7, 4f, 1p), Danny Ryan; Shane Bawle (0-1), Johnny Borland (0-2, 1f), Finn Heneghan.

Subs:- Emmet Finn for F Heneghan (58 mins); Cormac McDonagh for J Borland (58 mins); Daniel Steele for J Nevin (stoppage time). 

ST BRIGID’S KILLASHEE: Barry Geraghty; Shane Cosgrove, Keelan Cox, Paddy Clancy; Ronan Kavanagh, Quintan Lee, Johnny Casey; Michael Farrell, Conor Clancy; James Willis, Dylan Farrell (0-2), Jack Magan; Paddy Mollaghan, Francis Dolan (0-1), Niall McCormack.

Subs:- Mark Rossiter (1-0) for N McCormack (39 mins); Darren Cosgrove for S Cosgrove (43 mins); Tommy Killian for P Clancy (50 mins); Enda McPartland for Q Lee (55 mins); Gerard Evans for J Casey (59 mins). 

Referee: Brendan Keena (Ballynacargy). 

Mulleady Group IFC Semi-Finals 

Sean Connolly’s v St Brigid’s Killashee

Fr Manning Gaels v Ballymore

Games to be played on Sunday 6 October