Oola hold onto senior status with extra time win over Ballylanders

BALLYLANDERS’ stay in the Irish Wire Products Limerick Senior Football Championship came to an end after a 2-14 to 1-14 loss to Oola after extra time in relegation play-off in Hospital.

Oola looked to have the game won heading down the stretch of regular time but Ballylanders came from six points down to force the extra two periods.

Paddy Ryan once again was a star turn for Oola with a superb tally of 1-6 and they also sprung a surprise by introducing Limerick hurling star Darragh O’Donovan to help them over the line.

Oola went six clear in the early stages of the first period of extra time and this time Ballylanders were unable to make a stunning comeback.

It was a tight opening half with Jack Ryan’s goal edging Oola ahead at the break, leading by 1-4 to 0-5.

Ballylanders failed to register a score in the opening quarter of the second half. Oola extended their advantage with three Paddy Ryan frees and a Tom Ryan two-pointer putting Ballylanders behind the eight ball.

Oola took the foot slightly off the pedal and it opened the door for Ballylanders to make a comeback.

Danny Frewen and Eoin O’Mahony landed scores from placed balls and then O’Mahony fired over a two-pointer and all of a sudden there was just three between the teams.

Oola still looked in a strong position but Ballylanders landed an equaliser when Ciaran Kelly deflected the ball to the net.

The east Limerick men would have had every reason to lose focus after surrendering such a lead but Shane O’Grady’s goal edged them in front in extra time and they never looked back.

Oola will hope to improve for 2027 with their youthful squad having gained massive experience at this level. For Ballylanders, it’s a tough loss but they have the capabilities of making a swift return to the top level next year.

SCORERS - OOLA: Paddy Ryan 1-6 (4fs), Tom Ryan 0-5, Shane O’Grady 1-0, Eamonn Landers 0-2, Colin O’Grady 0-1; BALLYLANDERS: Danny Frewen 0-7 (3fs), Eoin O’Mahony 0-6 (2 ‘45s, 1tpf), Ciaran Kelly 1-0, Shane O’Donoghue 0-1.

OOLA: Cian McGrath; Paudie Crowe, Niall McCormack, Seán Hanley; Dylan McGrath, Eoin Fitzgibbon, Colin O’Grady; John O’Callaghan, Tom Ryan; Michael Ryan, Shane O’Grady, Darragh Coughlan; Mikey O’Brien, Kevin Maher, Paddy Ryan; Subs: Eddie Stokes for Maher (h-t), Cian O’Donovan for McGrath (36 mins), Chris Thomas for C O’Donovan (41 mins, inj), Darragh O’Donovan for O’Callaghan (51 mins), Kevin Maher for Coughlan (80 mins).

BALLYLANDERS: Declan O’Connor; Daniel Murphy, Pa Holian, Jordan Sheehy; Daithi Dennehy, Cillien O’Brien, Liam Dennehy; Robbie Downey, Eoin O’Mahony; Cathal Dennehy, Shane O’Donoghue, Oisin Browne; Darren Frewen, Danny Frewen, Aaron Buckley; Subs: Adam Frewen for Buckley (40 mins), Ciarán Kelly for O’Donoghue (42 mins), Martin Frewen for O’Brien (50 mins), Jason Leigh for Downey (50 mins).

Referee: John O’Halloran (Bruree).