Goalkeeper heroics help Walsh Island to dogged victory

A superb performance by Walsh Island keeper Noel Carty helped the North Offaly side to end Ballinahown's unbeaten start to the season. With regular goalkeeper Darren Costelloe unavailable, Ballinahown had to take the unorthodox measure of putting influential outfield player Kevin Gaylard - who recently attended trials for the Irish colleges squad - between the posts. This no doubt affected their chances of breaking down a quite stubborn Walsh Island side, who themsleves proved dogged and decently organised, but who never really threatened too much after taking an early lead. The decisive goal arrived in the 17th minute when Walsh Island forced a corner kick. Adrian Kiernan delivered a fine cross from the right and defender John McCourt rose highest to send a strong header past Gaylard and into the back of the Ballinahown net. Before Walsh Island made the breakthrough, Ballinahown almost poked their noses in front but Michael Fogarty's back post header was well stopped by the impressive Noel Carty. The Walsh Island 'keeper also saved competently from Jeffrey Farrell as the first half wore on and Ballinahown began to grow a bit frustrated with their inability to break the visitors down. For their part, Walsh Island only had brief sightings of Ballinahown's goal before the interval, with Jimmy Coughlan going closest to adding to the lead. The second half then became a battle between Ballinahown's attackers and Walsh Island goalkeeper Noel Carty, who continued to excel under serious pressure. Carty caught numerous crosses and corner kicks when his team came under sufficient pressure from Ballinahown and turned out to be the major difference between the teams.But Carty stood firm and arguably his best save of the match came in the final ten minutes when he somehow stretched to claw the ball out of the top corner of the net following Kevin Gaylard's superb effort. During the closing stages of the contest, as Ballinahown threw men forward, Walsh Island only threatened with a couple of long range efforts that ultimately disappointed. However, they clung onto the only goal of the game and emerged with a valuable win that lifts them up to fourth place, just a single point behind Ballinahown. Walsh Island manager Alan Flannery praised his goalkeeper. "In fairness, Ballinahown bombarded us during the last ten minutes or so and we have our goalkeeper to thank for getting three points. I thought it was a pretty close game. We took our goal well, it was a fine header by John McCourt. But our 'keeper had to be excellent to preserve the win. It's our first year playing at this level, though, so everyone is happy with a solid start of one win, three draws and a defeat," said Flannery. BALLINAHOWN: Kevin Gaylard; Oliver Nally, Ray Feeney, Philip Hogan, Conor Finn, Colin Harrington, Johnny Killian, Jeffrey Farrell, Damien Fox, Cian Brady, Michael Fogarty. Subs: David Canty for Killian (65 mins). WALSH ISLAND SHAMROCKS: Noel Carty; Ciaran Coughlan, Cathal Duffy, John Gallagher, John McCourt, Daniel Gorry, Barry Duffy, Aaron Reynolds, Jimmy Coughlan, Adrian Kiernan, Jason Carroll. Subs: Ryan Rickard for B Duffy (87 mins). Referee: Derek Foran.