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Laois Senior Football Championship

Round 1

Saturday 9th June 2007

Ballylinan 1-12 Emo 0-08

CHAMPIONSHIP football is really a funny old game and it usually provides a few twists and tales. This victory for Ballylinan made sure that the hunger to win a senior championship is still clear to see for many of the so called weaker clubs.
Nobody gave Ballylinan a chance of claiming victory especially after a disastrous display in a recent league game, whereas Emo had all the stars and were one of the favourites to land the SFC.
That notion is gone out the window as Ballylinan, 8/1 in Paddy Power’s before the game, will have many neutrals in the county talking about the terrific second half display that they produced.
The Emo management summed the game up perfectly when they went into congratulate the pre game underdogs after the titanic encounter.
“Lads in fairness ye were hungry for the game.”
That was the game summed up in so little words as Ballylinan proved that they can put all the doubters cringing with their predictions. They were hungry, first to most balls and were picking up any loose ball that came their way. It showed that they were hurt from the league game against Killeshin and they now have put that out of their system.
Emo would have expected an awful lot from Billy Sheehan, Paul Lawlor and Darren Strong but Ballylinan had these three stars wrapped up tightly. Billy Sheehan was put on Gary Walsh with the latter coming out victories, Paul Lawlor was marking Richie Ryan and the Laois senior forward was finding it hard to find anyway by the former Laois minor captain. Lawlor was then put into full forward where he came up against the challenge of Dermot Leonard. The Ballylinan full back then snuffed out any ball that was directed towards Lawlor.
Emo made a flying start to the game and two scores from Paul Lawlor and Billy Sheehan had them looking quiet comfortable from the start of the game. Ballylinan didn’t panic and a huge score from DJ Kealy had them straight back into the game. Darren Strong and Billy Sheehan pushed Emo further in front as it seemed that they were looking quiet strong in the forwards.
Amazingly after only 6 minutes it seemed that they were about to lose their purple patch. Kieran Kelly replied with a free for Ballylinan but crucially the Kildare border side were winning possession in the crucial sectors of the field. Richie Ryan was beating Paul Lawlor to the ball while David Brennan was making some outstanding catches in the midfield zone. Emo then suffered a blow with the loss of Billy Sheehan through injury and it was downhill from that moment on. Brian Mc Evoy reduced the arrears even closer when he hit a wonderful point from a huge distance out. Paul and Mick Lawlor quickly sent over scores with effortless grace to give Emo a 0-6 to 0-3 lead after 17 minutes. The scoring for Emo was to soon slow down and it was the turn of Ballylinan to kick into life. They were winning crucial ball and at times tricked the Emo defence into fouling a Ballylinan forward. Kieran Kelly hit over two points in succession to leave Ballylinan behind 0-6 to 0-5 at the interval.
The interval was a breather for many with the hot conditions and the failure to back out of any challenges had many of the large attendance craving for the second half to begin. Roars and screams could be heard from the Ballylinan dressing room as they came onto the field but many would have still backed Emo to push on for victory.
It didn’t materialse and Ballylinan came out a whole new different team. Aidan Walsh sent over two points and for the first time in the match the Kildare border side had moved into the lead. It was a lead that they were never going to relinquish. Liam Kealy fielded an excellent ball from the air which he turned and blasted the ball over the bar and Emo looked in trouble. They censed danger and introduced numerous of substitutes to steady the ship. The replacements didn’t help the cause and it seemed game over when Conor Harrington rattled the back of the Emo net from close range. Harrington, who was introduced at the interval, also added a 45 to extend the lead of his team.
Paul Lawlor and Kieran Kelly traded scores as Emo were now sending Eamon Strong and Mick Lawlor into the square as they were aiming for a late goal to salvage the game. It was never going to be enough as two late scores from Harrington ensured Ballylinan proved the critics wrong.
The winners must now realise that no silverware or qualifying from the group is guaranteed after the opening round of the senior championship.

Ballylinan: Padraig Brandon; Padraig Kaye, Dermot Leonard, Keelan Melaniff; Gary Walsh, Richie Ryan, Cathal Leonard; DJ Kealy (0-1), David Brennan; Paudge Leonard, Aidan Walsh (0-2), Brian Mc Evoy (0-1); Liam Kealy (0-1), Kieran Kelly (0-4, 3f), Ciarán Farrell.
Subs: Conor Harrington (1-3, 1f, 1’45) for Farrell (HT), Paul Julian for Melaniff (36mins, inj)

Emo: Joe Byrne; Eddie Brophy, Benny O’Connor, Niall Wheeler; Glen Brophy, Killian Finane, Conor Lawlor; Michael Lawlor (0-1), Mark Kearney; Billy Sheehan (0-2), Paul Lawlor (0-4, 1f, 1’45), Darren Strong (0-1); David Gorman, Ken Lawlor, Paul Kirwan.
Subs: Ciarán Finane for Sheehan (16mins, inj), Darren Brophy for C Lawlor (37mins), Eamon Strong for C Finane (47mins), Johnny Booth for Gorman (53mins), Rory Moore for Kirwan (57mins)

REF: John Flynn (The Rock)

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