League

Ballinalack
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Brennon John got the match started through his kick off. Cathal Ferguson showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Críostóir Kirby in the 7th minute of the match. Bebhinn Doyle sent away a hard shot on goal in the 8th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 14th minute, Críostóir Kirby hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Cathal Ferguson made a fantastic save in the 17th minute, when Bow Johnson sent off a good shot on target. In the 21st minute Críostóir Kirby shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Cathal Ferguson saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Críostóir Kirby in the 25th minute of play forced Nutgrove AFC's goalkeeper Cathal Ferguson to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Harrigan McAlphie took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ennis Gallagher, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 34 played minutes Ballinalack got a freekick which was hit by Tipper McStephen. If Bow Johnson had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 43rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Disappointed in the 0-1 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Críostóir Kirby to make the kick off. After some fancy dribbling in the 52nd minute, Críostóir Kirby managed to get in a good position for a shot. Ballinalack's supporters rose to their feet, but Críostóir Kirby was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Cathal Ferguson breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 56th minute, Brennon John fired away a shot on goal. He put a little to much spin on the ball and sent it just wide of the right post. Ennis Gallagher's late challenge caught a Ballinalack's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Ennis Gallagher helped the player get up and apologised. The supporters of Ballinalack booed when Nutgrove AFC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 60 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ennis Gallagher didn't get a good kick on the ball. The attack was good, but when Bow Johnson in the 72nd minute was about to shoot he didn't kick quite good enough and the ball went high over goal. When Bow Johnson came up free with the goalie in the 75th minute, the Ballinalack fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Bow Johnson couldn't finish the play. After 78 played minutes Nutgrove AFC got a freekick which was hit by Críostóir Ghee. Ballinalack were awarded a corner in the 84th minute after Nutgrove AFC's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. Raymond Martyn took the corner. In the 88th minute, Críostóir Kirby got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. The supporters of Ballinalack booed when Nutgrove AFC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 89 match minutes in a wonderful position. Declan McPhilip didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 92nd minute of the match Raymond Martyn sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Cathal Ferguson skillfully saved the ball. After 94 minutes of play, Ballinalack's Bow Johnson made it 2-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Cathal Ferguson was left in no man's land by his defense there! The final whistle blew with the score still tied, and both teams left the pitch thinking about the missed chances that could have given their team the win.