We travelled to Castletown on Sunday to take on Ballinagore in Round 4 of the Championship. On a blustery day for football with the wind blowing across the pitch, suiting neither side, it was Ballinagore who came away with a narrow win after a gripping encounter.

The key score of the game was also the first score of the game. Ballinagore turned over the ball and worked a fine team move to create the opportunity for their corner forward to finish powerfully to the net.

Bun responded to this early set back. Barry O Mara clipped over a fine score on the turn after a great run forward by Dave Newman from full back. A Ken Conroy free after Ronan Scally was fouled was cancelled out by a Ballinagore score from play. 

A Ballinagore free and a two point effort from play stretched their lead on the twenty minute mark but Bun finished out the half strongly and cut into the deficit. Two identical Conroy points from play on his wrong side gave the team a huge lift. An O Mara free after Matt Hope was fouled left the score reading 1:06 to 0:05 at half time.

The introduction of Aidan Finnan at half time certainly gave the Bun supporters and his team mates a huge lift. Ballinagore would score the first two points of the half to open a six point lead. Bun took a stranglehold on the game for the next ten minutes. A two pointer from play from Finnan and a fine score from O Mara left three points in it with fifteen minutes remaining.

A point from play by Peter Tormey on his introduction put two between the sides but two points from Ballinagore stemmed the tide. Bun through everything into the last ten minutes. A two point free from Darragh Lyons left two between the sides as injury time started. As the five allotted minutes elapsed the referee awarded Bun a free on the edge of the arc for a 3 up infringement by Ballinagore before inexplicably changing his mind and awarding a free the other way. Ballinagore took full advantage of the decision and scored the insurance point to leave the score 1:11 to 0:11 at the full time whistle.

This was a nail biting finish and while Bun will be disappointed to lose the game there are certainly plenty of positives to take from the match. Next up is St. Joseph’s in two weeks in what is the final group game before the knockout stages.

Team: Liam Mitchell, Conor Newman, Dave Newman, Ronan Scally, Matt Hope, John Kiernan, Simon McGovern, Simon Moorehead, Noel Yourell, Finian Newman, Luke Kiernan, Enda Newman, Ken Conroy, Barry O Mara, Mark Donnelly. Subs: Aidan Finnan for Dave Newman, Peter Tormey for Enda Newman, Darragh Lyons for Mark Donnelly, Gordon Medforth for Noel Yourell, Eoin McGowan, Brian Maguire, Gavin Lyons, Joe Tormey, Padraig Walsh, Andy Whitney, and Darragh McCormack.

Footnote: Before throw in a minutes silence was observed for Peter Gallagher who died during the week.