Limerick Soccer - Ballynanty reach FAI Junior Cup final

Pat Sheehan reports on Ballynanty Rovers thrilling penalty shootout win over Collinstown in the FAI Junior Cup semi-final on Saturday.

Ballynanty won penalty shootout 5-4

Anyone lucky enough to have been in Jackman Park on Saturday evening will have experienced one of those “never to be forgotten occasions” when sport transcends all kinds barriers.

Ballynanty Rvs reached the final of the FAI Junior Cup for the first time since 1983 by virtue of victory over Dublin side Collinstown but the result only tells half the story.

An exciting penalty shoot out was needed to separate two committed sides but to see how the Limerick sporting public came together to cheer on Ballynanty Rvs was the highlight for me.

Seeing Pike, Geraldines, Janesboro (to name but a few) fans jumping for joy at Balla’s success showed the uniting power of sport. Knowing next week the same people will gladly kick Balla off the park makes it even sweeter.

Going into the tie Balla were underdogs to a Collinstown side who already accounted for Pike Rvs on the same competition.

The visitors took a first half lead and despite injuries to key players Balla showed great courage and bravery to fight back to win the game.

Balla goalkeeper and Captain, Stephen McNamara was the hero for the winners saving three penalties in the shoot out as well as some key saves during play.

He rightly received his man of the match award after the game but it could have gone to a number of the winning team.

Ken Meehan has developed into one of the best defenders in the local game and Saturdays game just added to that belief. He won everything that came his way and did so with no fuss.

Brian Doran was another hero for the winners with an excellent performance in the middle of the park. His work rate and distribution was top notch.

A lot of the younger lads on the side started nervously but played their way through it and came out the other side unscathed.

Ballynanty Rvs had a great chance to open the scoring after just three minutes. A David Dunphy free kick from the right found Ken Meehan racing in at the back post but his header smacked off the crossbar.

A minute later Collinstown went close when Anthony McCormack teed up striker partner Dylan Clarke, but his shot was straight at a grateful McNamara.

Dean Carpenter, who scored the winning goal in an earlier round versus Pike Rvs, let fly with a vicious dropping volley that was inches over the Balla crossbar and shortly after Daniel Matthews’ corner towards the front post saw Damien Cuffe lose his marker but sent his diving header whizzing just wide of the upright.

Balla’s nerves were on further display on 18 minutes when McNamara misjudged a tame looking back pass but luckily for the keeper the ball rolled just wide of the far post.

Balla’s insistence on a lone striker gave them very little scope to retain possession in the visitors danger zone and added to the pressure on the Balla rearguard.

Dempsey’s delivery from the right wing was missed by the Balla defence and fell kindly for the McCormack but the striker blazed his shot from six yards over the top.

Danny McInerney closed down a clearance from Cuffe and the ball rebounded toward goal but a back peddling recovery from Costigan saw the Dublin keeper stop the ball on the line.

The deadlock was broken on 30 minutes. Following a 50/50 clash in the middle of the park the ball bounced awkwardly for the Balla defence and McCormack was in like a light to chip the ball over the advancing McNamara for a fine goal.

The goal was a blow to Balla but they went close to equalising before the break after Ronan Ryan was tripped on the edge of the box. David Dunphy hit a rasping free kick that was too high by just inches.

The second half continued in the same vein with chances at both ends.

The half was only minutes on when a ball over the top caught the home defence napping and McCormack raced through. McNamara raced from his goal and clashed with McCormack but the striker recovered to regain possession before Tom Daly came to the rescue with a vital interception.

At the other end Dunphy’s free kick picked out Tony Fahy who headed narrowly wide.

The turning point in the game came midway through the second half.

Carpenter crossed from the left and McCormack’s header produced a fine save by McNamara and McNeil looked to have tucked away the rebound but a goal line clearance by Shane Doran proved crucial. The threat still wasn’t over as the impressive Matthews latched onto the loose ball but he was denied by another superb save from the Balla netminder.

That sequence of events seemed to give Balla the wakeup call they needed thereafter the home side seemed to get the upper hand. Even the loss of Tom Daly with 20 minutes remaining did not deter Damian Conway’s men.

Shane Doran sent Dermot Fitzgerald free on the left and when he delivered into the danger zone Fahy headed low forcing a good save from Costigan.

Ryan was again upended in the danger zone and on this occasion Dermot Fitzgerald took the free kick forcing Costigan to push the ball wide only as far as Ryan racing in at the back post but he headed wide of goal.

The Balla breakthrough came fifteen minutes from time when a throw in by Shane Doran was added to by Fahy and Dunphy raced in to blast the ball in home from 6 yards to send the home fans into wild scenes of jubilation.

Matthews went close for the visitors and Ryan drilled a low shot just wide of the target.

Balla had a great chance to win it at the death when Dunphy delivered a ball into the Collinstown area but Dermot Fitzgerald was unable to finish from close range.

Two tired sides took the field for extra time and not surprisingly chances were few and far between so penalties were called for.

The drama and tension of the shoot out was intense.

Six excellent penalties (O’Hanlon, Hughes and Dunphy for Balla) saw the sides locked at 3-3 when McNamara saved the visitors fourth kick. Dermot Fitzgerald made it advantage Balla but following Collinstown’s successful fifth Alex Purcell missed what would have been the winning kick.

Another save from McNamara went unrewarded as Eddie Radcliffe had his kick saved by Costigan. When McNamara made it three saves Brian Doran kept his cool to convert the winning kick.

Balla will meet St Michaels in the final at the Aviva Stadium on May 25th after the Tipperary men beat Sheriff yesterday with ex Fairview star Brian Buckley scoring the only goal of the game.

BALLYNANTY ROVERS: Stephen McNamara; Dara Hughes; Shane Doran; Ken Meehan; Tom Daly; David Dunphy; Brian Doran; Danny McInerney; Ronan Ryan; Alex Purcell; Tony Fahy. Subs: Derek O’Hanlon; Dermot Fitzgerald; Eddie Radcliffe

COLLINSTOWN: Ross Costigan; Kenneth Flood; Dean Carpenter; Damien Cuffe; Matthew Cullen; Daniel Matthews; Ian McNeill; Dylan Clarke; Anthony McCormack; David Dempsey; Mark O’Neill. Subs: Gareth Brogan; Michael Scully