Ballymahon Secondary find the going too tough

Despite producing a spirited performance in the slim hope of causing a major upset, Ballymahon Secondary found the going too tough against Gallen Community School, Ferbane in the Leinster Vocational Schools Senior ‘A’ Football Championship quarter-final and ended up losing by nine points.

Played in difficult underfoot conditions at the Ballymahon Secondary School pitch on Saturday last, the reigning Leinster and All-Ireland champions Gallen CS were guilty of some very poor finishing in their struggle to pull away and had to be content with a slender 0-6 to 1-1 lead at half-time after Ballymahon SS were thrown a lifeline just before the break.

A penalty was awarded following a foul on Gavin Kelly and midfielder David Mulvihill made no mistake to fire home a well-taken goal. Moments later Aaron McDonagh missed a sitter in somehow failing to find the back of the net for the visitors but the same player made amends to score a decisive goal with two minutes gone on the changeover.

That left Gallen CS in a comfortable 1-7 to 1-1 lead with prominent corner-forward Eoghan Lowry converting a free immediately on the resumption but still Ballymahon SS refused to accept defeat and battled back to close the gap with a point apiece from Gavin Kelly and Rory Connor (free) to remain in contention.

To read the full match report, see this week’s Longford Leader.