Derby victory sees Asdee/Bally advance to final

ASDEE/BALLY 4-07 BEALE- 2-07

COUNTY SEMI-FINAL.

25th April 2014

This North Kerry clash was played out in blustery conditions in O’Raghaillaigh Park Ballylongford on Friday last (25th). It took a while for both teams to settle into the game but it was on the 5th minute that the home side got the first score of the game from an on-form Darragh Keane. This was quickly cancelled out moments later however with a well taken point from Beale’s Cillian Walsh. The next kick-out was then claimed by the home side who worked the ball fast into the hands of Kieran O’Connor who slotted over a second point for the combination side. At this point the game ebbed and flowed with both teams kicking their fair share of wides. However, on the 13th minute, a passage of play, using quick, first time passing ended up Kieran O’Connor on the last move who slotted the ball neatly into the Beale’s net. An undeterred Beale responded however, with an excellent individual point from Daniel Ellis. Beale had a couple of goal chances after this but were unable to capitalize on them. As a result, Ellis’s point was to be the visitors’ last point of the half as the combination side began to dominate. Points from Kieran O’Connor, Owen Tydings and Darragh Keane respectively was nicely topped off by a second goal from Kieran O’Connor had the half time score-line reading Asdee/Bally: 2-5 Beale: 2pts. The second half began with Beale having all the work to do to be in with a fighting chance of entering a county final. The home-side however were determined not to let their opponents back into the game and began the second half at a blistering tempo. Having lost the throw-in, some good defending turned over the ball and went on the counter attack. The ball was put through some excellent passes with Darragh Keane, on the stroke of the 2nd minute, getting on the end of the move, beat goalkeeper Peter McMahon and blasted the ball into the roof of the net. The next score of the game came on the 7th minute also from Darragh Keane when he kicked over a well-taken point. For the next 10 or 12 minutes however Beale dug deep and began to battle their way back into the game. A point in the 8th minute and a well-taken penalty from Daniel Ellis gave the visitors the extra spark they needed to keep battling hard. Moments after the penalty Ellis pointed a well taken free to edge his team closer. The score-line now read Asdee/Bally 3-6 Beale 1- 4. Beale, now needing a goal got the perfect opportunity for a thrilling finish to the game, as they were awarded a deserved penalty as Owen Tydings committed a black-carded foul within the parameters of the square. Ellis stood up to make it two from two, but a fantastic save from goalkeeper Ryan Henry, denied his attempt. Asdee/Bally rallied by the save, upped the tempo once more. On the 15th minute, Kieran Dowd found himself one on one with the keeper and netted the ball from close range. There was to be no score until the 23rd minute when Beale made up for the penalty and netted the ball. A point from Neillus Mulvihill and Daniel Ellis on the 29th and 31st minute respectively edged them a little closer once again. Pádraig O’Neill however capped off a fine individual performance with the closing point on the 33rd minute. The final score-line read Asdee/Bally 4-7 Beale 2-6. Asdee/Bally will now play Castlegregory in the County Final on Friday next (May 2nd). Time and venue TBC. This promises to be a tight affair as both teams are closely matched and had to settle for a share of the spoils when they met in final round of the league a couple of weeks ago. Here’s hoping another county title will be residing in the parish come Friday night. Team and Scorers: 1. Ryan Henry 2. Pádraig O’Neill (1pt) 4. Seán Carmody 5. James O’Connor 6. Tadgh McEllistrim 7. Kieran Dowd (1G) 8. Seán Keane 9. John Neville 10. Jack Mulvihill 11. Darragh Keane (1-3) 12. Darren Murphy 13. Owen Tydings (1pt) 15. Kieran O’Connor (2-2).