February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
With two Kilmurry players sent off during the second half, the aggression spilled over into the crowd as an ugly brawl broke out which had to be quelled by gardai. It was hard to fathom if the scrapping among rival fans was due to frustration with what they were witnessing as this was a contest woefully lacking in any quality.
In fairness to Kilmurry, they started in a positive manner. However, as David Brady and Ronan McGarrity began to dominate at midfield, Ballina were in front by 0-7 to 0-5 at the changeover. In keeping with the dour nature of the exchanges, there wasn’t a single score for the next 22 minutes, but, in the meantime, Michael Hogan and Evan Talty were sent off, and Ballina took full advantage as Pat Harte hit three points from play in the final 5 minutes to seal the Mayo club’s victory.
Ballina’s opponents will be Leinster champions Portlaoise who surprising held off Crossmaglen of Armagh by 0-8 to 0-7 in another tense encounter at Parnell Park. The fact that Crossmaglen, with so much physique, talent and experience, could muster only 7 points was due in some way to Portlaoise’s tenacity, but they contrived to miss far too many opportunities.
When Portlaoise edged in front with 6 minutes remaining, Crossmaglen had wides from Michael McNamee, John McEntee and Aaron Kernan, and their plight wasn’t helped as Oisin McConville was struggling with an injury.
It was the sort of day that the winner’s talisman throughout the Leinster campaign, Colm Parkinson, didn’t even have to be at his best. It was more of a grind, and Portlaoise just about did enough to reach a first final in 22 years.
NFL
Tyrone retained the Dr. McKenna Cup with a resounding 3-14 to 1-10 victory over Derry in last Sunday’s final at Casement Park. Eamonn Burke had rocked Tyrone with a first-minute goal. However, two goals by Colm McCullagh and a third from Stephen O’Neill soon redressed the balance.
In the National League Div. 2A, Longford registered a second win to go top of the table when they defeated Fermanagh by 0-12 to 0-10 at Pearse Park. Goalkeeper Damien Sheridan crucially saved a Fermanagh penalty in the 61st minute, and from then on Longford had the edge.