Kiltane dig deep to take points off ‘Tubber
Ballintubber's Gavin Murphy breaks out of defence as Charlie Ginnelly of Kiltane goes in pursuit during last Saturday's clash at Ray Prendergast Memorial Park in Clogher. Picture: Tom Quinn.
Ultan Corrigan and Adam Carabine scored four points each as Kiltane beat Ballintubber in a notable away win for the Erris side, on Saturday evening.
Ballintubber hit eleven wides in this game and the Kiltane supporters enjoyed watching every single one of them, particularly in the closing stages with such a slender margin between the two sides.
It made up for an opening round three points defeat against Claremorris in what was a high-scoring game in Bangor Erris while for Ballintubber, this was their first defeat having beaten Kilmeena by a single point in Round 1.
Ballintubber were without the services of county players like the O’Connors and Michael Plunkett for Saturday’s game but it was another man with recent Mayo experience who got them up and running.
Bryan Walsh, who scored the winning point in the 2020 Connacht Final, scored a sublime point to get the contest up and running. Ultan Corrigan responded from a free and then Ciarán Gavin fired over a free of his own for the hosts. Adam Carabine popped over the next free for Kiltane.
Points from Stephen Burke and Gavin put Ballintubber two to the good but their lead was wiped out when John Ginty’s fisted pass sailed over heads wearing red and found a man in blue and yellow beyond the defensive line. That was wing-back Martin Gallagher and he took his goal chance with aplomb.
Just two minutes later, Ballintubber were back in front and the game, which had started rather slow, sprang into life. Jason Gibbons scored a highlights reel point from distance and Burke popped over his second of the half. Kiltane, however, would hit four unanswered points to put them three points in front at half-time. They were provided by Corrigan, Josh Carey and a brace of Carabine frees.
Ballintubber looked sharper at the start of the second-half and cut the gap to a point with singles from Ciarán Gavin and Alan Plunkett. Owen Doherty scored a peach from distance to keep Kiltane moving but David McHale’s point brought it back to the minimum. Corrigan’s free was met in response by another Gavin free, his third of the game, before Stephen Burke finally made it level in the 53rd minute.
The next score would be crucial and it would go the way of Kiltane. Ultan Corrigan scored his only point from play and two minutes later, John Ginty popped over to restore a two-point gap.
Noel Geraghty struck back for the hosts but Carabine fired over his fourth in the second minute of stoppage time, leaving Ballintubber in need of a goal to salvage victory. It did not materialise in the short timeframe remaining in the game and Alan Plunkett’s point proved to be the last kick of the game.
Scorers – Kiltane: Ultan Corrigan (3f) and Adam Carabine (4f) 0-4 each, Martin Gallagher 1-0, Josh Carey, Owen Doherty and John Ginty 0-1 each.
Ballintubber: Ciarán Gavin 0-4 (3f), Stephen Burke 0-3, Alan Plunkett 0-2, Bryan Walsh, Jason Gibbons, David McHale and Noel Geraghty 0-1 each.
Ballintubber: Brendan Walsh; Jack Walsh, Joe Geraghty, Gavin Murphy; Myles Kelly, Bryan Walsh, Noel Geraghty; David McHale, Jason Gibbons; Stephen Burke, Ciarán Gavin, Finnian Bourke; Gary Loftus, Stephen O’Malley, Alan Plunkett. Subs: Jamsie Finnerty (for O’Malley 44), Conor Finnerty (for Murphy 47).
Kiltane: Darragh Carey; Michael Needham, Shane Gallagher, Anthony Coyle; Martin Gallagher, Nathan Ginnelly, Sean Gaughan; Owen Doherty, Liam Donoghue; Ultan Corrigan, Adam Carabine, John Ginty; Ben Donoghue, Josh Carey, Charlie Ginnelly.
REF: Kevin Connelly (Hollymount-Carramore)
