Senior Championship - Group C
Bornacoola 2-11 Sean O'Heslins 2-11
Bornacoola saved the best wine of a frustrating championship season until last when they produced a wonderful display of attacking football against Ballinamore in Cloone in their final round robin game of the tournament. Effectively, this was a game that meant little to the already eliminated Bors, while O'Heslins needed to secure the victory in order to be sure of qualification for the second phase.
After the disappointment of defeats by Allen Gaels and St. Mary's the loyal Bornacoola following could hardly have been full of confidence as an experimental Bornacoola took to the field minus the services of Peter Mallon, John Mc Guinness, Brendan Quinn, Daragh Cox, John Reynolds and Morgan Shanley. This meant a total re-jigging of the starting fifteen, with Feargal Mc Gill moving to goals, Micheal Duignan to full forward and starting places for Aiden Reilly and Ray Hanley.
Perhaps most significantly, last year's midfield partnership of Pat Farrell and Gary Mc Closkey found themselves side by side for the first time in nine months and this was to provide the platform for an exciting and at times breathtaking display which confounded many of the critics and reassured the faithful of exactly what this team are capable of. Ballinamore began the game with Paul Kieran at full forward, and from the throw-in the tactic was obvious: play it long to Kieran. However, with the Bors so dominant in the middle diamond O'Heslins found this a difficult ploy to implement and whenever the ball did reach the Leitrim star, Derek Digger Duignan was in commanding form at full-back and limited Kieran to a single point from play.
Yet Ballinamore had started quite brightly and led throughout a first half which was notable mainly for the squandernmania of the Bornacoola forwards as they struggled to find the target, despite enjoying the lion's share of the possession. However, it was a happy Declan Bohan who saw his team approach half-time a single point in arrears (0-6 to 0-5) when disaster struck as a slip up in the Bornacoola defence allowed Declan Murray through for the easiest of goals. It gave the scoreboard a lop sided appearance, and one which did not reflect the nature of a very close encounter.
The second half was all Bornacoola, as led by captain Seamus Mallon at no.6 they launched attack after attack on a beleagured O'Heslins reargaurd. Farrell (despite his obvious injury) and Gary Mc Closkey were untouchable at midfield while Micheal Duignan kicked some scores of unquestionable quality. Brian Mallon too made a huge impact on the game when transferred into attack, while Johnathan Duffy was enjoying his finest hour of the season at wing forward.
This second half dominance was all the more remarkable for the fact that of the four subs introduced by Declan Bohan, three were making their senior championship debuts. And it was one of these, Brian Reilly, who got to the end of a Seamus Mallon punt to scramble a goal for the Bors which left them three points to the good midway through the second half. It served as a wake up call for the townsmen and they began to exhibit some of the football which has placed them among the favourites for the 2000 Championship.
As Bornacoola's wides tally continued to mount, the accuracy of Ciaran Mahon and Paul Kieran from frees was offering O'Heslins a vital lifeline. Then the Bors rattled the net with a memorable goal. A lightening fast passing movement, which began in the full back line, was expertly finished to the net by Mark Mc Closkey and it seemed like a major shock could be on the cards. But Ballinamore replied with a wonder goal of their own as county centre back Ciaran Murray soloed through from his own defence to unleash an unstoppable shot to the Bornacoola net. A pointed free from Kieran meant O'Heslins were now two points clear as the teams entered the closing five minutes.
A huge push was called for from the Bornacoola lads and it duly arrived as two late points ensured the spoils would be shared. However, the Bors were awarded a 30 yard free in the last minute which could have sown up the proceedings. Micheal Duignan hit it accurately but a little short and a relieved Ciaran Murray grabbed the ball under the crossbar as Joe Dorrigan sounded the full time whistle. A titanic struggle had ended with a let off for Ballinamore, but the one point earned was enough to ensure their progress to the quarter finals.
Bornacoola: Feargal Mc Gill, Shane Reynolds, Derek Duignan, Brian Mallon, Dermot Shanley, Seamus Mallon, Ray Hanley, Pat Farrell, Gary Mc Closkey, Jonathan Duffy, Philip Howard, Trevor Howard, Mark Mc Closkey, Micheal Duignan and Aiden Reilly. Subs: Bernard Faughnan, John Shanley, Brian Reilly and Bobby Shanley.