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Laois Junior 'B' Football Championship

Final

Wednesday 22nd August 2007

Ballylinan 0-10 O'Dempsey's 0-10

BALLYLINAN: Jimmy Rowan 0-3 (two frees), Willie Murphy 0-3 (two frees), Brendan Kealy 0-2, Walter Hovenden and Alan Kehoe 0-1 each

O'DEMPSEY'S: Diarmuid Fitzpatrick 0-7 (four frees), Adrian Slevin, Shane Deverall and Brian Nugent 0-1 each


A LATE point from Brian Nugent rescued a draw for O'Dempsey's in the JFC 'B' final in Timahoe on Wednesday night. The replay has been fixed for Friday night, August 24, at 6.45pm in Timahoe again.

With O'Dempsey's trailing by a point two minutes into injury time, Barry Walsh sent a line-ball in towards the Ballylinan square, big midfielder Niall Behan went to gather possession but the ball broke down, Nugent looped around, picked up the break and, under intense pressure, slotted over the equaliser.

Although both sides had a chance to win the game in the next two minutes of added-on time, a draw, ultimately, was the fairest result. With seven minutes remaining Brendan Kealy put Ballylinan three points clear but O'Dempsey's patience and refusal to panic was hugely admirable.

First Adrian Slevin reduced the deficit to two points after being picked out well by Diarmuid Fitzpatrick and then Fitzpatrick, the most impressive forward on view, kicked his seventh point of the evening to leave just one between the sides. Seven minutes elapsed before O'Dempsey's hit the leveller but by putting the ball in to the scoring area at that stage of the match, they were always giving themselves a chance.

Ballylinan may well rue their wastefulness in front of goals. They dominated possession in the opening stages but didn't have the same killer instinct as O'Dempsey's had and shot seven poor first-half wides. Indeed the game was 20 minutes old before they got their first score - from a Jimmy Rowan free - at which stage they had hit five wides, got three 50s, forced a great save out of Kieran Hyland and seen Laurence Kealy's goal effort come back off the cross bar.

O'Dempsey's were already three points up after Fitzpatrick had settled his side with three points in as many minutes. With former Laois minor captain Johnny Behan back from a serious hip operation and playing very effective football at full-forward, it looked as if O'Dempsey's greater know-how in front of goals was going to be the difference.

Another Fitzpatrick point - this time off his left foot - kept O'Dempsey's three clear but Ballylinan were now beginning to settle and an exceptional point from wing-back Alan Kehoe triggered an effective five-minute spell coming up to half-time.

Willie Murphy added a long-range free and although Shane Deverall hit back at the opposite end with a nice point, Brendan Kealy and Jimmy Rowan (free) both pointed to leave the sides level at 0-5 each heading into the break.

Two minutes into the new half Ballylinan took the lead for the first time when Walter Hovendon got in behind the O'Dempsey's cover and blasted over from close range. O'Dempsey's responded well with two frees from Fitzpatrick but the Killenard side then went 20 minutes without scoring as Ballylinan built up a momentum that looked as if it might carry the over the finishing line.

First Jimmy Rowan pointed off his left boot after being set up Laurence Kealy and then Willie Murphy tapped over a free after Walter Hovendon was dragged down. Three minutes later Ballylinan were two clear when Murphy kicked a splendid, long-range score from play from way out on the sideline. O'Dempsey's argued that it was wide but there was no disputing Ballylinan's next score when Brendan Kealy calmly pointed to see his side go three clear.

Unfortunately for Ballylinan they wouldn't score again and O'Dempsey's played sensible football as they went about rescuing their championship year.

With three good points from play they earned a replay and, unlike last year's collapse in the replayed final, they'll be hoping for better memories this time around.


O'DEMPSEY'S: Kieran Hyland; Barry Finlay, Clive Costelloe, Richard Whelehan; Ross Behan, John Joe O'Connell, Colin Doyle; Enda Behan, Niall Behan; Shane Deverall, Barry Walsh, Adrian Slevin; Brian Nugent, Johnny Behan, Diarmuid Fitzpatrick. Sub: Denis Boland for J Behan (54 mins)

BALLYLINAN: David Dobbyn; Jobie Brophy, Niall Walsh, Mark Kelly; Eric Kenna, James Loughman, Alan Kehoe; Brendan Kealy, Adrian Casey; Jimmy Rowan, Ollie Walsh; John Sourke; Willie Murphy, Walter Hovenden, Laurence Kealy. Subs: Gary Walsh for Brophy (injured - 20 mins), Gerry Mulhall for Sourke (47 mins) and Brian Farrell for Kelly (59 mins)

Referee: David Murphy (Portarlington)

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