Ulster Intermediate Football Intermediate Football Championship at Toome
Derrylaughan 3-21 All Saints 6-12 AET (Derrylaughan won 5-4 on penalties
It was penalty heartbreak for All Saints Ballymena on Saturday in Toome after they bowed out of Ulster at the hands of Tyrone champions Derrylaughan.
All Saints led both at the end of normal and extra time only for points from James Donnelly giving Kevin Niblock’s side a lifeline.
Conor Stewart looked to have won the game at the end of extra-time only for Tyrone star Brian Kennedy to win possession before setting up Donnelly for the equaliser.
In the shootout, it was Derrylaughan ‘keeper James Kennedy who denied Peter McReynolds with Ballymena’s second kick. After conceding five goals in normal time and one more in extra time Kennedy became the unlikely hero of the hour as he got down to his left to keep McReynolds well hit shot out
With both teams on target for the rest of the shoot-out, Brendan McDonnell nailed Ballymena’s pressure fifth kick before Com O’Hagan sent Derrylaughan through with the final kick of the afternoon.
It was cruel on the Ballymena men who worked themselves into a three point lead with a second goal from star man Paddy McAleer early in the second half.
Derrylaughan plonked Brian Kennedy at the edge of the square where he scored two goals to give them a lifeline back into the game.
It was a classic game and one that will be talked about in years to come. It was just a pity there had to be a loser.
The fact both sets of fans applauded the Ballymena players off at the end of the game spoke volumes for the level of respect at the end of a clean, sporting but high-octane game.
After all talk of playing rules, this is a game the Football Review Committee could take a lot from.
Derrylaughan had the wind in the opening moments but it was Ballymena who had the ball in the net. A direct ball to Sean McVeigh created havoc before McAleer punched to the net.
It was the perfect start but Ballymena struggled with their own kick-out as Derrylaughan settled with a point from James Donnelly.
Sean McVeigh repeated the dose with a second Ballymena goal for a 2-0 to 0-1 lead before Donnelly added a second.
After trailing by seven points against Termon in the preliminary round, Derrylaughan don’t make a habit of panicking and three points from Tomas Carney helped them back within a point after 23 minutes, 2-1 to 0-6.
When All Saints needed a response, it was McAleer who fired over to continue a fine performance. With Emmett Killough and Conor Stewart at midfield, it gave Liam ‘Baker’ Bradley the luxury of playing with McAleer and McVeigh in attack.
At the other end Peter McNicholl played as the sweeper to limit the Derrylaughan path to goal.
There was another boost for All Saints before half time when Ronan McKillop’s kick went all the way to the Derrylaughan net after being missed by everyone and the Antrim champions led 3-3 to 0-8 ahead at the break.
The Tyrone net was bulging again as early as 23 seconds of the second half. It was a direct move and involved three key All Saints players.
Stewart played the ball forward, McVeigh won it in the air and Paddy McAleer finished to the net to open a seven-point lead.
With nothing to lose, Derrylaughan moved the towering Brian Kennedy to the edge of the square.
When Shane Scullion’s diagonal ball was plucked by Kennedy, he turned to hammer to the back of the net. It was just what his side needed, cutting the cap to three points, 4-4 to 1-10.
Like they did all afternoon, there was a response from Ballymena with pacey wing back Patrick Ferris at the heart of the counter-attack before Stewart squeezed a low shot past Kennedy in the Derrylaughan net and into what appeared to be a commanding lead. However All Saints began to drop deep and it invited a green wave on to them.
When Kennedy’s low shot squirmed under goalkeeper Stewart there was one minute left to play and the sides were level, 5-4 to 2-13.
Connell Lemon and Liam Cushnahan exchanged points before Conor Stewart’s 62nd minute score looked to have won the game. There was time for one more attack and when Derrylaughan were awarded a questionable free, Donnelly took the game to extra-time.
Within 10 seconds of the restart, Brian Kennedy had the ball over the bar but All-Saints response with their sixth goal. McAleer was involved and the move was finished by Brenndan McDonnell.
Home and hosed? Not yet. Ciaran Gervin hit 1-1 for Derrylaughan in as many minutes and the Tyrone champions led 3-17 to 6-7 half time into extra time.
There were no more goals but there was plenty of drama. When Michael McCarry’s free levelled matters, All Saints found another gear and three more points gave them a two-point lead.
Two Carney frees had the sides level again with penalties looming. But not yet. Conor Stewart looked like he had won the game before the final throw of the dice and a high ball tossed in on top of Kennedy. was held firm before playing James Donnelly in on his left foot and he saved the day for Derrylaughan.
Now it was down to penalties with goalkeeper Kennedy’s save from Peter McReynolds, it was the final action in an afternoon of inches, millimetres and drama.
What a game. Both sides deserve immense credit but it was Derrylaughan who advanced. All Saints players will play this game over and over again in their heads in the years to come. They were every bit as good as their opponents but cruelly pipped at the post.
Derrylaughan: James Kennedy; Colm O’Hagan (0-1), Ciaran O’Hagan, Liam Cushnahan (0-1); Liam Gervin, Conor Kennedy, Sean Robinson; Brian Kennedy (2-1), Shane Scullion; Conor Hughes, Fergal McAliskey (0-2), Danny Ball; James Donnelly (0-5, 1f), Tomas Carney (0-9, 84, 1 45), Ciaran Quinn
Subs: Ciaran Gervin (1-1) for Quinn (38), Caoilean Hughes for Ball (43), Darragh Carney (0-1) for McAliskey (54), Mark Robinson for Cushnahan (60), McAliskey for C Carney (78)
All Saints: Ryan Stewart, Michael Read, Kavan Keenan (0-1), Cal O’Brien; Peter McNicholl; James McDonnell (0-1), Shaun O’Callaghan (0-1), Patrick Ferris; Conor Stewart (1-2), Emmett Killough; Connel Lemon (0-1), Ronan McKillop (1-0), Ciaran Campbell; Sean McVeigh (1-0), Paddy McAleer (2-4, 1f)
Subs: Brendan McDonnell (1-1) for Campbell (47), Michael McCarry (0-1f) for McKillop (53), Joe Rafferty for Ferris (60+2), Peter McReynolds for Killough (80+1)
Referee: Diarmuid Boylan (Monaghan)
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