Ballinagar claim Leinster title as success story rolls on

Ballinagar 2-9 Dunsany 0-8

By Tom Gannon

Ballinagar continued what has been a dream journey for them in 2024 and ended Dunsany’s hopes in the Leinster Club JFC final at Páirc Tailteann on Sunday afternoon.

After a sluggish start, Dunsany never looked like troubling the Offaly intermediate champions and Ballinagar were good value for their seven-point victory. It brings the curtain down on a fine year for the Meath junior champions.

Dunsany were slow out of the blocks and the men from Offaly sprinted to an 11-point lead after only 22 minutes. The Meath side really struggled to get any sort of momentum particularly in the middle third.

On the flank, Ballinagar captain Geordi O’Meara was proving to be a handful, securing 1-2 in the first half. Robbie Gallagher was also to the fore at full forward. Gallagher was constantly breaking tackles and making good progress on the ball in Dunsany territory. Ironically, Gallagher is the grandson of Dick Mee from Trim, who won an All-Ireland with Meath in 1954.

It wasn’t until the closing stages of the first half,that Dunsany really settled into the contest. Kevin Cahill’s charges rattled off the final three points of the half to reduce Ballinagar’s lead back to eight at the break. Eoin Harkin was at the forefront of Dunsany’s successful attacks and he secured three out of Dunsany’s four points in the opening 30 minutes.

Dunsany came out in the second half with more intent and did create a lot more opportunities for themselves. However, they were lacking in the scoring department and ten wides in the second half told its own story.

Ballinagar had two goal opportunities in the final ten minutes to rub salt into the wounds, but these chances went awry for the Offaly men. Ultimately, however, Ballinagar cruised to victory and ended Dunsany’s hopes of winning the Sean Eiffe Cup.

After trading a point apiece early on, a turnover from a Dunsany kickout led to Ballinagar’s Conor McGuinness bursting forward and he set up Geordi O’Meara, who finished brilliantly to the back of the net.

Moments later, Morgan Tynan’s shot from distance came back off the Dunsany post and landed nicely for McGuinness who tapped over. Two points in a row from O’Meara gave Ballinagar a 1-4 to 0-1 lead after 15 minutes.

The situation went from bad to worse for Dunsany when Ballinagar corner forward Steven Dwane secured 1-1 within 30 seconds. A successful free for Dwane was followed up by Dunsany once again getting turned over, and a powerful run from Jack Shiel gave him the opportunity to link up with McGuinness, who set up Dwane for Ballinagar’s second goal.

With only five minutes left in the half, Dunsany were in serious trouble. They had only secured a single point and had shipped 2-6 down the other end. Two frees from Eoin Harkin sandwiched a Mark Horan point which slightly improved the interval scoreboard from the Meath side’s perspective. At half-time, Ballinagar led 2-6 to 0-4.

Benny O’Brien’s side picked up from where they left off and kick-started the second half with two frees courtesy of O’Meara. Dunsany then hit back with a long-range effort from Harkin. Dunsany started to move the ball with more fluency, but the final product wasn’t there and they hit five wides within the third quarter.

A point courtesy of Jack Cottrell reduced the gap back to eight once more with 15 minutes left on the clock. Dunsany continued to press up on Ballinagar but to no avail.

Ballinagar had two opportunities for further goals, the first came when a mix-up from a free left the Dunsany net unattended an Gallagher’s attempt on an open goal just went wide.

Moments later, Ballinagar hit Dunsany on a counter attack, and Conor Bracken found himself clean through. However, his shot on goal came back off the left-hand post of Niall Flynn’s net. Dunsany did have a goal chance themselves up the other end through Cottrell, but sub Eoin McGuinness pulled off a fantastic block.

Eoin Harkin did secure one final free just at the final whistle but it was too little too late as Ballinagar broke Dunsany hearts.

Scorers - Ballinagar: G O’Meara 1-5 (3 frees, 1 45’); S Dwane 1-1 (1f); M Tynan 0-2; C McGuinness 0-1. Dunsany: E Harkin 0-6 (3f); M Horan and J Cottrell 0-1 each.

Ballinagar - Ryan Kinahan; Jack Gorry, Diarmuid Finneran, Declan Crombie; Adam Joyce, Brian Malone, Aaron Gorman; Adam Strong, Morgan Tynan; Geordi O’Meara, Conor McGuinness (0-1), Jack Shiel; Conor Bracken, Robbie Gallagher, Steven Dwane. Subs – Jamie Ballesty for Dwane (34 mins) Eoin McGuinness for Malone (47), Jacob Beatty for C McGuinness (60), Dean Pierce for Bracken (62).

Dunsany - Niall Flynn; Alexander Smith, Gavin Byrne, Pauraic Byrne; Cian O’Sullivan, Harry Cahill, Declan Smyth; Shane Brennan, James Cahill; Mark Horan (0-1), Eoin Harkin, Lorcan Byrne; Luke Horan, Kris Gorman, Jack Cottrell (0-1) Subs – Cathal Bourke for G Byrne (14 mins), Cathal Murphy for Brennan, Alex Brady for L Horan (both H-T).

Referee - Enda Kelly (Westmeath).