Ballylinan cruise into last four after Walsh-inspired victory
Gary Walsh was on fire for Ballylinan in their IFC quarter-final win over Ballyroan Abbey Photo: David Maher
Ballylinan 0-19
Ballyroan Abbey 2-5
BALLYLINAN have booked their place in the Laois Shopping Centre IFC semi-final after running out comfortable winners against Ballyroan Abbey in Crettyard on Friday night.
Gary Walsh was the main man and kicked an incredible 11 points to lead his side into the last four where they face Ballyfin for a place in the final.
Ballyroan Abbey will be disappointed the way their second half went, after only scoring a point in the last minute of the game, but no taking away from Ballylinan as they were very impressive throughout.
It was Ballyroan Abbey that took the lead through Brian Whelan with a fine effort that split the posts, but Ballylinan responded straight away through a Gary Walsh free.
Walsh then quickly put Ballylinan into the lead with a brilliant two pointer free to put his side into a two-point lead.
Ballyroan Abbey then struck for the first goal of the game as a 45 landed short, with Brian Whelan doing brilliantly to palm it across the square, where Ben McDonald was waiting to tap into the net.
They followed that up straight away through a point from Paudie McDonald, and from then on, it just got worse as Ballylinan kicked into gear.
The victors reeled off four-points in a row, with Walsh starting the scoring spurt through a point from play.
Cathal Fennessy and Tom Bride put Ballylinan back into the lead as they grabbed control of the game, with Walsh getting the last of the points.
Ed Slevin responded with a badly needed score for Ballyroan Abbey through a 45, but Ballylinan would respond through Ciaran Farrell and a massive two pointer from Alan Farrell to open up a four-point lead.
To the credit of Ballyroan Abbey they dug deep and stayed in the game against the run of play. Darren Mulhall would grab a free, before the second goal of the game came through Ben McDonald.
McDonald ran through the defence and launched a shot which was saved, but McDonald was fouled in the process, and the referee awarded a penalty.
McDonald's effort was saved by the keeper, but he was on hand to finish the rebound to draw the teams level briefly.
Ballylinan finished the scoring of the half through a brilliant through a two point effort from Ryan Brady to leave the scores at 0-12 to 2-4.
Gary Walsh would fire over the first point of the half, Ballyroan Abbey would nearly get their third goal of the game as Padraig McMahon was in for a certain goal, before corner back Bobby Walsh made a heroic intervention to keep it out.
It was all Ballylinan from there on in, Walsh added a brace of points, one from a free and one from play.
Ryan Brady then increased their lead with his third point of the game as Ballylinan were comfortable at this stage.
The last quarter was all about Gary Walsh as he kicked another three points to round off a brilliant individual performance.
Ballyroan Abbey eventually got on the scoreboard in the 60th minute through a Padraig McMahon free as the final whistle was blown not long after.
SCORERS:
Ballylinan: Gary Walsh 0-11 (1 tpf, 0-5fs), Ryan Brady 0-3 (1 tp), Alan Farrell 0-2 (tp), Cathal Fennessy, Tom Bride and Ciaran Farrell 0-1 each.
Ballyroan Abbey: Ben McDonald 2-0, Brian Whelan, Paudie McDonald, Ed Slevin (45), Darren Mulhall (f) and Padraig McMahon (f) 0-1 each.
BALLYLINAN: Mikey Walsh; Michael Downey, Seamus Lacey, Bobby Walsh; Darragh Loughman, Alan Farrell, Jack Julian; Jamie Farrell, Pauric McEvoy; Ryan Brady, Andy McEvoy, Tom Bride; Cathal Fennessy, Gary Walsh, Ciaran Farrell.
Subs: Jesse McEvoy for Loughman (49m), Paddy Julian for P McEvoy (57m), Joey Walsh for Bride (60m), Robbie Donoher for A Farrell (62m).
BALLYROAN ABBEY: Ed Slevin; Luke Byrne, Danny Brennan, Mark Cahill; Stephen Thompson, Niall Walsh, Sam Quinn; Michael Brennan, Alan McWey; Darren Mulhall, Brian Whelan, Paudie McDonald; Ben McDonald, Padraig McMahon, Daniel Jones.
Subs: Stephen O'Donnell for P McDonald (40m), Sean O'Donnell for Byrne (47m), Marc Goldrick for Thompson (49m), Fionn Delaney for Whelan (52m).
Referee: Colin Bailey (Mountrath)
