THE HARPS 2-16 BALLINAKILL 3-08
AFTER a dream start to the season it has all suddenly gone wrong for Ballinakill.
In the league they finished with style beating Portlaoise not once but twice and beat Camross in a repeat of last year’s championship quarter final. In the championship they opened against Rathdowney/Errill but suffered a heavy defeat and then lost the league final to Clough/Ballacolla leaving only one game to define their season.
On Saturday they travelled to O’Moore Park in the knowledge that only victory would keep their season alive. The Harps had turned a few heads with their display against Rathdowney/Errill sharing the points knowing that a draw would suffice to earn second place and although they lost to their opponents by a single point two years ago otherwise their record was good.
Ballinakill got the dream start when a high ball in reached TJ Lalor he gave the keeper no chance. John Brophy and Damien Carter exchanged points. Greg Delahunty added a Harps point after seventeen minutes but at the other end the energetic Eamon Jackman burst past two defenders to hammer the ball past the Harps keeper.
The Harps came more into the game and in the closing minute’s added points from Pat Walsh, John Brophy and team captain Ross Young but Eamon Jackman closed the scoring with a point from a free leaving Ballinakill in front 2-2 to 0-6.
Eamon Jackman extended the Ballinakill lead from an early free but Brian Galvin replied before an exchange of scores between Damien Carter and John Brophy.
The Harps now stepped up their challenge adding two points and when Conor Dunne crossed a perfect ball the in running John Brophy saw the space and hammered past the Ballinakill keeper to put his side three points clear.
Although Ballinakill did not throw in the towel they were fighting a losing battle for the final quarter.
David Freeman John Brophy added two points but Eamon Jackman got one back from a placed ball with ten minutes remaining. Brian Dunne and John Brophy both added points and when midfielder Sean Bourke found Pat Walsh he hammered the final nail in Ballinakill’s coffin.
Deep in injury time Ballinakill launched attack after attack and were finally rewarded when another close in free was driven high into the net by Seamus Dwyer.
It was the end of a disappointing season after the great progress of last year. The Harps are back in their second successive quarter final and will be a match for any of the remaining opponents.