We travelled to Ballynacaragy on Saturday last to take on St. Joseph’s in Round 4 of the Championship. As a result of been beaten in the previous round, this game was crucial if we were to secure a quarter final place. With only a point separating these sides on the table coming into the game, both sides knew a victory would leave them on top with a game left to play in the group stages.

Given the heavy rain in recent days, Ballynacaragy are to be commended for the condition of their surface and to be able to facilitate two Championship games and this was after a very successful Matt Slevin Memorial tournament held earlier in the day at the same venue.

With so much at stake the first half was understandly a cagey affair. St. Joseph’s made a good start and scored the first point from play. Barry O Mara responded with a excellent score from the right after some great build up play by Ken Conroy to find O Mara in space. St. Joseph’s responded immediately and went ahead after a fine team move.

Matthew Hope replied for Bun when he collected a pass from Mark Donnelly to fire over from distance with a great curling effort. St. Joseph’s upped the ante and hit the next two points to help them assert some control of the game. Bun, as has been evident throughout the year, we’re not going to be rattled and they picked off the next score, Aidan Finnan kicking an excellent free from 40 metres out.

St. Joseph’s then enjoyed a purple patch and two points from play in quick succession helped them to establish a 0:06 to 0:03 lead with five minutes remaining of the half. Bun replied though with two frees from Barry O Mara and Aidan Finnan on the stroke of half time to leave just a point between the sides.

Bun started the second half in a productive fashion. A brilliant turnover in defence led to a sweeping move down the field involving Andy Whitney, Barry O Mara and Finian Newman before he offloaded to Ken Conroy to apply the finish with the left. 

Ronan Scally then ventured forward from corner back to kick an inspirational score off his left to put Bun ahead for the first time in the match. They defended heroically over the next ten minutes and indeed they held St. Joseph’s scoreless for twenty minutes of the second half.

The key score of the game came on the 37th minute mark. O Mara and Conroy combined to set up Luke Kiernan who showed brilliant composure to slot the ball into the bottom corner of the net. Given there was four defenders in front of him, it made the finish all the more impressive.

This score gave great heart to the Bun team and they turned over their opponents several times to really take a grip on the game. A long ball from Finian Newman was broke by O Mara to the in rushing Kiernan and he again applied the finish to raise a white flag this time on 46 minutes. This was to be Bun’s last score of the game.

While the inevitable fight back from St. Joseph’s came, Bun held firm. Liam Mitchell, in goals, dealt superbly with a number of dangerous balls into the box and his distribution was equally impressive. A point on the 52nd minute brought the arrears to four. In the first minute of injury time, St. Joseph’s pounced on a Bun mistake to score a crucial goal to leave one in it. A late late effort from them curled wide before Brendan Keena sounded the full time whistle.

This was a very important win for Bun and leaves them top of the table going into the final round of games. If they want to remain there, they will need a similar performance against a resolut St. Paul’s side in two weeks time.

Team: Liam Mitchell, Simon Moorehead, Joe Tormey, Ronan Scally, Noel Yourell, Andy Whitney, Matthew Hope, Aidan Finnan, John Kiernan, Luke Kiernan, Ken Conroy, Enda Newman, Mark Donnelly, Barry O Mara & Finian Newman. Subs: Peter Tormey for Mark Donnelly (48 Mins), Fintan Finnan for Finian Newman (52 Mins), Brian Maguire for Enda Newman (59 Mins), Tommy Murphy, Conor Newman, Enda McGowan, Jonny Nolan, Darragh McCormack, Gavin Lyons, Cian Tighe and Garvan Dolan.