BALLINAHOWN FC 1
ABBEYLEIX ATHLETIC 2 (AET )
John Dingle
CCFL Senior Division CLU Ballinahown were dumped out of the Counties Cup at the TUS grounds on Sunday morning last.
The tie was level after 90 minutes play but First Division Abbeyleix Athletic struck for the winner in extra time. In spite of having a numerical advantage for the closing stages of extra time, Ballinahown could not force an equaliser.
After advancing in the Paddy Cotter Cup a week earlier, the Blues looked set for another knockout success when taking an early lead. Ciaran O’Reilly created the opening on the right and, as Athletic failed to clear, Lee Scanlon was on hand to finish to the net.
Brian Gill then fired over with Neil Macken also off target as Abbeyleix struggled. The Blues faded somewhat and Athletic then came more into contention.
The visitors were back on level terms after 33 minutes when a corner kick delivery to the far post was headed back into the danger zone and Ben Freeman netted from close range. Ballinahown looked to restore their lead and Macken had two chances either side of a corner kick.
When play resumed, Abbeyleix had to thank their goalkeeper for keeping them level early on as Cathal Mannion was denied. The early home pressure continued with a corner being earned and Clive Harris coming close on two occasions, but the home team soon ran out of ideas though.
Although two divisions below them, Abbeyleix were proving a match for their top-flight opponents, the last home chance falling to Gill but his free kick flew wide. Twenty minutes of extra time was now called upon to try and separate the teams.
The extra time proved disappointing for Blues manager Noel Harris and his team, the shock winning goal came just three minutes into the first period. Abbeyleix were awarded a penalty kick but lost a man before it could be taken, substitute Darren Bowe sent off for foul language.
There was a more satisfactory outcome to the penalty award as Jamie Stratford sent the keeper the wrong way with the kick completing a turnaround in fortunes for the visitors. Ciaran O’Reilly looked to make up for his earlier foul for the penalty but fired wide in the last action of the first period.
Ballinahown now had an extra man for the 10 minutes that remained but failed to take advantage. The home team made a disappointing exit as Abbeyleix looked more likely to increase their lead.
An early corner fell to the Blues but Sam Quinn had a chance to wrap up the tie at the other end only to be denied by the keeper. Athletic’s number one Cathal Shaughnessy also did well to thwart David Harrington and Gill.
The home team could not raise their game for the closing stages as an equaliser proved beyond them. Abbeyleix easily held out and Ryan Quinlan had the last chance to seal the victory for the visitors.
Ballinahown make an early exit from the cup in an early contender for shock of the season.
