Ballylanders snatch late win while reigning champions Monaleen off to winning start

Ballylanders secured a late victory with a last minute goal against St Kierans in Bruff last night, winning by the minimal, 1-13 to 1-12. Meanwhile in Clarina, defending champions Monaleen saw off a dogged Rathkeale side 3-12 to 1-12.

In Bruff, Inter County goalkeeper David McCarthy would prove to be the hero for Ballylanders, landing the crucial late goal to snatch the win for the 2014 champions. McCarthy was only introduced as a substitute minutes before goaling.

Seamus Mangan had Kierans ahead at the break with his goal putting the west side ahead 1-5 to 0-5 after 25 minutes. The teams would then exchange a couple of scores prior to the half time whistle, with Kierans holding a slim 1-7 to 0-8 lead.

The game was dominated by the sides two free takers with Jimmy Barry Murphy notching 0-7 (0-6f) for the winners, whilst Sean McSweeney scored 0-6 of his sides scores, 0-5 by virtue of placed balls.

St Kierans looked to have done enough to come away with the spoils before McCarthy stepped up.

Monaleen proved too strong for a stubborn Rathkeale side last night. The sides were level 0-3 a piece before Brian O’Donovan opened Monaleens goal account.

Graham O’Connell would add another for the city side who would take a commanding 2-7 to 0-4 lead into half time.

Early on in the second period, O’Donovan notched his second goal to pull the champions 3-9 to 0-7 clear. Yet Rathkeale refused to give up. Helped by 0-7 from Eoghan O’Connor and a goal 5 minutes from time from Keith Hartnett, Rathkeale pulled within 6 points of Monaleen who closed out the game comfortably.