McDaniel the difference as Ballinagore make the climb

Ballinagore 0-15, St Joseph's 1-8

By Paul Hughes

Ten points from Tommy McDaniel, including a handful of two-pointers, proved crucial at TEG Cusack Park last Sunday afternoon, as Ballinagore’s meteoric resurgence in the ranks of Westmeath football continued with victory over neighbours St Joseph’s in this year’s Westmeath junior 1 football decider.

Michael Ennis’s charges deservedly claimed the Hugh Daniels Cup after shutting down a St Joseph’s revival early in the second half, and McDaniel was key as they built up enough of a cushion to brush off a late goal from the Streamstown men.

The maroon and whites led 0-10 to 0-3 at the break after some classy scores from McDaniel and Brandon Carey, with St Joseph’s, despite having ample possession, struggling to generate end product.

Paddy Malynn’s troops hit back early in the second half with a couple of two-pointers and reduced the arrears to three points at one stage, but Ballinagore had more gas in the tank and always looked more likely to impact the scoreboard. By the time the men in green and gold netted a stoppage-time goal through sub Mikey Lynam, the result wasn’t really in doubt.

Before that goal, Ballinagore had kept their opponents to just six scores over the course of the hour thanks to some tight, disciplined defending from an experienced rearguard led by Enda Claffey and Peter Deegan.

St Joseph’s had their moments but really lacked intensity going forward, while Ballinagore, well-served not only by McDaniel but also Carey, Paddy Ennis, Cody Finnane and marauding wing-back Robbie Keegan, always looked more decisive in the final third.

Ballinagore’s return to intermediate ranks comes after they won all seven of their championship games, a remarkable achievement considering they only made it out of junior 2 competition a year ago. They now have a Leinster campaign to look forward to as well, starting with a home tie against Barcelona Gaels.

It was St Joseph’s who started this final the brighter, with Jordan McDonnell making amends for missing an early free with a nice point off his right, after being teed up by Dean Slevin.

However, Ballinagore, benefiting from a slight breeze, took over from there, with McDaniel getting a shot away for a fine two-pointer just before being closed down by Ros Elliffe. St Joseph’s had two wides on the board before McDaniel fired another two-pointer, this time from a free.

Seconds later, Ballinagore looked to be through for a goal after some eagle-eyed distribution from Carey, but the ball was recycled to Paddy Ennis, who divided the posts. McDaniel then added another free and at the quarter-hour mark, Ballinagore led 0-6 to 0-1.

Things could have got worse for St Joseph’s on 17 minutes when Cody Finnane latched onto a long ball before turning and shooting, only for Saints netminder Alan Farrell to keep it at bay. St Joseph’s then broke downfield but, not for the last time, found Ballinagore in fine shape defensively.

Twenty minutes elapsed before the Streamstown outfit added a second score, with Dean Slevin driving over the bar after a patient build-up. They won the subsequent kickout and Ros Elliffe slotted over their third, and St Joseph’s appeared to have finally settled into the game.

However, they had little success for the remainder of the half, and Ballinagore punished them accordingly. Colin Coleman should have scored after being fed by Cody Finnane, but the maroons followed up this wide with a free from Paddy Ennis, before Brandon Carey (28 minutes) found his range with a magnificent two-pointer to put six between the sides.

That lead became seven at the break when Tommy McDaniel’s low-trajectory free just about made it over the bar.

St Joseph’s needed scores, preferably a goal, and almost found an opening just before the short whistle when Dean Slevin’s dangerous ball just missed the grasp of Ben McDonnell in front of goal.

After the restart, however, the south Westmeath outfit came out fighting and inside the first minute, Andy Scally’s punt from distance evaded the outstretched paw of a teammate and bounced over the bar for two points.

A second two-pointer followed on 33 minutes, a tremendous effort from Alan Conlon, and the Saints could have equalised moments later when Ros Elliffe plucked the ball out of the air, turned and shot, but Ballinagore’s Cathal Daly blocked.

St Joseph’s struggled to build on this progress and with 39 minutes gone, Ballinagore moved four points clear again, with Paddy Ennis doing the legwork to set up Tommy McDaniel for a point from play off his left boot.

Back came St Joseph’s four minutes later, with Dean Slevin kicking his second point after some exciting play down the right flank, instigated by Jake Gannon.

From there however, the Saints ran out of steam, their frustration exacerbated by a brilliantly executed two-point free by McDaniel on 48 minutes, putting five between the sides.

St Joseph’s followed this up by posting a wide, punished again by Ballinagore when Eoin Robinson found Peter Reynolds for a point from play.

Then, with five minutes to go, Ballinagore were nicely poised when McDaniels again showed great tenacity, running at the St Joseph’s defence before kicking over the black spot to make it 0-15 to 0-8.

St Joseph’s needed a miracle, and on 59 minutes, Jordan McDonnell had a shot deflected out for a ‘45’. Bizarrely, St Joseph’s opted to tap and run rather than lob the ball in and around the square.

With a minute of stoppage time gone, that much-needed St Joseph’s goal arrived, albeit too late, when sub Mikey Lynam – hovering around the square – got the decisive touch to a long ball from Ben McDonnell.

A dramatic second goal from the Saints then looked on the cards when Aaron McDonnell found himself running towards the Ballinagore goal without a marker in sight, but the move broke down, and the full-time whistle sounded. Amid jubilant celebrations from the Ballinagore faithful, captain Robbie Keegan collected the Hugh Daniels Cup from Westmeath GAA chairman Frank Mescall.

Scorers - Ballinagore: T McDaniel 0-10 (1 2pt, 2 2ptf, 2f), B Carey (2pt) and P Ennis (1f) 0-2 each, Peter Reynolds 0-1. St Joseph’s: M Lynam 1-0, A Scally (2pt), A Conlon (2pt) and D Slevin 0-2 each, J McDonnell and R Elliffe 0-1 each.

Ballinagore: Cathal Daly; Luke Seery, Enda Claffey, Conan Feery; Cathal Kelly, Peter Deegan, Robbie Keegan (capt.); Daragh Seery, Peter Reynolds; Eoin Robinson, Tommy McDaniel, Brandon Carey; Colin Coleman, Cody Finnane, Paddy Ennis. Subs used: Jack Gannon for Kelly (inj., 23), David Keegan for Coleman (48), Philip Reynolds for Peter Reynolds (57), Donal Barrett for Ennis (60+1).

St Joseph’s: Alan Farrell; Thomas Conlon, Dylan Drake, Brian Fitzgerald; Andy Conway (capt.), Jake Gannon, Daniel Keegan; Noah McDonnell, Ros Elliffe; Ben McDonnell, Dean Slevin, Brian Keegan; Jordan McDonnell, Alan Conlon, Andy Scally. Subs used: Pearse Weir Norris for T Conlon (38), Mikey Lynam for N McDonnell (46), Aaron McDonnell for B Keegan (46).

Referee: Brendan Keena (Ballynacargy).