Heartbreak once more for Bal’ as Bun’ regain title

Gerry Buckley reportsPerennial bridesmaids, Ballynacargy suffered the heartbreak of yet another defeat in a Westmeath intermediate football final when they lost out by three-point margin to a better-balanced Bunbrosna side in an entertaining game in Cusack Park last Sunday afternoon.Over the hour, the new champions (who last won the title four years ago) were the better side. Powered by a dominant midfield of Aidan Finnan and Kieran Murphy, they never trailed throughout the match. They raced into a four-point lead by the midpoint of the first moiety, extending this to six by the interval and, in truth, never looked likely to be overturned on the change of ends, despite a gallant Ballynacargy fight back. Staunch defending from the men in blue and white kept out a number of genuine goal chances for the losers, whilst the ‘Bun’ forwards were still able to notch up an occasional point at the other end.This eagerly-awaited contest was played out in front of 3,200 spectators (some 500 more than attended the senior and minor finals a week earlier at the same venue) on a fine autumn afternoon. Bunbrosna were pre-match favourites, having triumphed by six points against the same opposition in an earlier round, but there was a genuine feeling among the Ballynacargy fans that the trauma of final defeats in 2005, 2008 and 2009 could be erased last Sunday.After an excellent rendition of Amhrán na bhFiann by St. Loman’s, Mullingar clubman, Emmett Cahill, match referee Niall Ward got the contest under way at the designated time of 3.30pm.It took both sides some time to settle and they had registered a brace of wides apiece with less than four minutes on the clock. A period of scrappy play near the ‘Bun’ goalmouth epitomised the disappointing quality of the early exchanges, before Tom Rehill’s wind-assisted charges took a firm grip in and around centrefield. Playing into the Dunnes Stores end of Westmeath GAA headquarters, Bunbrosna registered four points in quick succession between the 11th and 14th minutes. Barry O’Meara set up the impressive Andrew Whitney for the first of these and, directly from the kick-out, Finian Newman passed to Fintan Finnan who duly doubled the winners’ advantage. Team captain, Aidan Finnan, who led by example all through, then teed up Peter Tormey and the one-time county panellist rifled over a classy score. A foul on Finian Newman enabled Fintan Finnan to double his tally from a well-struck free, taken from the ground.With exactly a quarter-of-an-hour elapsed, overlapping ‘Bal’ corner back, Aidan Scally could have taken his own point but opted to pass the ball to Dwayne Maher and the chance was wasted. The ground was devoid of atmosphere at this juncture, with the crowd surprisingly muted. Three tricky frees from Fintan Finnan came to nothing, the third one being added to by Brian Maguire, whose shot came back off the upright with Andrew Whitney firing the rebound wide. ‘Bal’ eventually registered on the scoreboard in the 23rd minute, Liam O’Reilly converting a 35-metre free after Michael Loran was fouled at the end of a sweeping move.However, the joy of fans dressed in blue and gold was short-lived as the winners added another 1-2 without reply by the 27th minute. A low-trajectory shot from Kieran Murphy was tipped over the crossbar by Ballynacargy goalie Richard Price and, within a minute, centre half back Liam Mitchell charged forward to shoot a fine point. With three minute of normal time remaining, a solo run by Kieran Murphy set up Andrew Whitney and the centre half forward rifled a great shot to the net via the fingertips of Richard Price. Peter Tormey almost got in again for another ‘Bun’ score before ’Bal’ got a much-needed lifeline in the 29th minute, a fine move involving Danny Scally and Liam O’Reilly ending with an outstanding finish by Dwayne Maher past Damien McCormack for a tonic goal.Willie Murtagh followed up with a good solo run, but a weak shot into McCormack’s grateful arms. Three minutes’ injury-time were signalled and, in the second of these, Fintan Finnan kicked a terrific free from near the stand sideline, leaving the scoreboard at half-time reading: Bunbrosna 1-7 Ballynacargy 1-1.Fintan Finnan started the second half as he ended the first, by converting a free from 25 metres from goal, to put ‘Bun’ seven points ahead. His opposite number, Liam O’Reilly did well to convert a free at the other end from a tight angle. ‘Bal’ captain Declan McGuinness soon embarked on a great run goalward before laying off the ball to Michael Loran, but Liam Mitchell managed to scoop the ball off the line as a goal looked certain. To compound Ballynacargy’s woes, ‘Bun’ counterattacked and registered another point from the boot of Barry O’Meara, to regain their seven-point advantage. ‘Bal’ then got a major boost when the hitherto-anonymous Willie Murtagh caught the ball from a Dwayne Maher free and the midfielder rifled a glorious shot from a tight angle into the ‘Bun’ net.Full back Noel Kiernan soon produced a great catch from another Maher delivery. ‘Bun’s Andrew Whitney and ‘Bal’s Liam O’Reilly were both badly off target with attempts for a point, before Danny Sammon’s troops reduced the deficit to a goal, when Dwayne Maher instinctively added to Liam O’Reilly’s free for a fine point. The latter player was off target from a scoreable free as the midpoint of the second half approached.A major turning point ensued when a great low shot from Michael Loran was brilliantly saved by Damien McCormack and the rebound fell kindly for the inrushing Daniel Keena whose shot was superbly kept out by an alert Conor Newman.A minute later, Dwayne Maher converted a 30-metre free after Declan McGuinness was fouled. Conor Newnan was again prominent in defence as ‘Bal’ went all out in search of another goal, while Peter Tormey settled ’Bun’s nerves at the other end with a wonderful solo point.Michael Loran shot a very bad wide for Ballynacargy when at least a point was on offer, the referee surprisingly allowing play to continue with the winners’ wing backs, Kevin Tormey and Simon Moorhead, both lying injured after an accidental clash.Substitute Padraig Walshe caught the eye with a great catch to precipitate a move which ended with Andrew Whitney scoring a neat point. Dwayne Maher replied with another successful free after Danny Scally was fouled. Fintan Finnan was wide from a good opportunity before the Newman twins combined delightfully for Finian to open his account with a fine point. Peter Tormey was wide from what seemed a routine chance from a free before Dwayne Maher rounded off ‘Bal’s account with a terrific free from a tight angle.No scores were added by either side in stoppage time (almost three minutes) and Bunbrosna’s delight at the final whistle was in sharp contrast to Ballynacargy’s utter deflation.After the match, chairman of the Westmeath GAA County Board, Tom Farrell congratulated the winners and allowed the soon-to-retire Football Board chairman, Des Maguire, to present the new version of the Peter Geraghty Cup to his former club, with Aidan Finnan accepting the trophy on behalf of an overjoyed Bunbrosna side.Bunbrosna: Damien McCormack; Conor Newman, Noel Kiernan, Sean Walshe; Kevin Tormey, Liam Mitchell (0-1), Simon Moorhead; Aidan Finnan (capt), Kieran Murphy (0-1); Finian Newman (0-1), Andrew Whitney (1-2), Fintan Finnan (0-4, 0-3 from frees); Peter Tormey (0-2), Brian Maguire, Barry O’Meara (0-1). Subs: Conor Lyons (for Mitchell, 41 mins), Padraig Walshe (for Kiernan, 46 mins), Ronan Scally (for K.Tormey, inj, 51 mins).Ballynacargy: Richard Price; Aidan Scally, Kieran Sheridan, John Keena; Owen Burke, Brian Slevin, Timmy Mescall; Andrew Heduvan, Willie Murtagh (1-0); Danny Scally, Declan McGuiness (capt), Liam O’Reilly (0-2, both from frees); Daniel Keena, Michael Loran, Dwayne Maher (1-4, 0-3 from frees). Subs: Mark Wallace (for Slevin, 29 mins), Mark Murphy (for Murtagh, 54 mins), Sean Fagan (for O’Reilly, 58 mins).Referee: Niall Ward (Garrycastle).