Ellistown lose out by one point in provincial semi-final

Ballinagar edged the Kildare champions 0-9 to 0-8 in Tullamore

AIB Leinster Club JFC Semi-Final

Ballinagar 0-9

Ellistown 0-8

Ellistown's Leinster journey came to an end on Saturday afternoon as the home side, Ballinagar, qualified for the final of the AIB Leinster Junior Football Championship by the narrowest of margins.

Played in Glenish O'Connor Park, Tullamore the heavy overnight rain left the surface greasy and it possibly affected the normal Ellistown game plan.

After getting through the opening two rounds with one point wins it was Ellistown's time to be on the wrong end of the one point reversal.

In a tough battle throughout Ellistown had to overcome four point deficits on two occasions during that second half but despite 12 minutes of injury time it was the clock that eventually beat them despite finishing in the ascendancy.

Ballinagar were the more economical with their possession in the opening half as they lead by 0-4 points to 0-2 from their five shots at goal.

Eoin O'Loughlin did open the Ellistown account inside two minutes but a Geordi O'Meara free and a mark from Robbie Gallagher swung the tide in the home sides favour with only seven minutes on the clock.

Ciaran Lindy did level after 13 as he fired over from 40 metres but Ellistown spurned a great goal chance two minutes later when Conor O'Loughlin's and Evan Donnelly played a neat one two but O Loughlin's shot was brilliantly saved by Ryan Kinahan in the Ballinagar goal.

Ellistown continued to enjoy the majority of possession but they would hit five wides in total before the half time whistle sounded.

Ballinagar finished the half the stronger and late points from midfielder Morgan Tynan and a wonderful score from wing back Aaron Gorman left the Offaly champions with a two point half time buffer.

Ellistown didnt delay in returning and despite an goal chance for Shane Maughan a nasty head injury to centre back Darragh Watson in the next passage of play saw the influential centre back leave on a stretcher after an 9 minute delay.

Despite the setback Ellistown responded to two quick Shane Dwane efforts, one from a free.

Conor O'Loughlin, David Dunne and team captain Pat Martin all getting their names on the score sheet and with 48 on the clock Ellistown were back to within a point.

In the build up Pat Martin's point referee James Foley gave Ellistown an advantage but was quick to pick out Ballinagar's Adam Strong for the infringement before issuing a black card.

You would have expected Ellistown to take advantage of the numerical advantage but instead it was the Offaly side who hit three in a row to move four ahead again.

Robbie Gallagher with two and another O'Meara free left It 0-9 to 0-5 with 3 minutes of normal time remaining.With a total of 15 minutes to play, after 12 of injury was announced it was going to be an uphill battle for the visitors It also brought a close to the Ballinagar total as they failed to ad to their tally.

Bodies tired and as we moved into the 12 added minutes Ellistown showed great resolve and heart as they responded again to the deficit.

Three points in a four minute spell reduced the gap back to one again.

Max Lennox's shot from distance bounced over the bar before Conor Lindy and Eoin O'Loughlin set up a grandstand finish.
We were inside the closing five minutes of injury time and such was Ellistown's dominance you would have expected at least one shot on target but time ran out and Ballinagar were through to an away meeting with Dunsany of Meath next weekend

An over-riding feeling of what might have been for Ellistown as their season comes to an end.The Kildare Junior title is safely locked away for the winter months and after the success of Miltown last year Ellistown certainly flew the Kildare flag with pride.

BALLINGAR: Ryan Kinahan; Declan Crombie, Diarmuid Finneran, Adam Joyce; Jack Gorry, Brian Malone, Aaron Gorman 0-1; Adam Strong, Morgan Tynan 0-1; Conor McGuinness, Geordi O'Meara 0-2 (2 frees), Conor Shiel; Conor Bracken, Robbie Gallagher 0-3 (2 Marks), Steven Dwane 0-2(1 free). Subs: Jamie Ballesty for Stephen Dwane 61.; Jacob Beatty for Conor McGuinness 66.

ELLISTOWN: Oran Donnelly; Sean Lindy, Andrew McLoughlin, James Neilson; Oisin O'Loughlin, Darragh Watson, Pat Martin 0-1; Conor Lindy 0-1 (free), Shane Maughan; Evan Donnelly, Ciaran Lindy 0-1, Eoin O'Loughlin 0-2; Tadhg Watson, Conor O'Loughlin 0-1 Leo Lennox. Subs: David Dunne 0-1 for Darragh Watson 31; James Sutton for Conor O Loughlin 60; Darren Kelly for Tadhg Watson 60; Max Lennox 0-1 for Ciaran Lindy 61.Callum Donnelly for Oisin O Loughlin 70.

REFEREE: James Foley (Carlow)