Division 3 v Ballynacargy Report

ACFL Division 3

Multyfarnham 1-8 Ballynacargy 0-16

Thursday 31st May, Multyfarnham On a very warm evening in Multyfarnham we hosted league leaders Ballynacargy. Bal have been flying high in the league up until now and represented a good challenge for the men in maroon. The game was fairly balanced from the start with the level of intensity shown by the Multy lads shading it for them in the first few exchanges.

The level of work been put in by the lads paid off when Mark Kane hit a decent pass down the left wing to Nipper Feerick who carried strongly to escape his man and then pop the ball left footed over the bar. Enda Carter and Jimmy Corcoran in midfield were working hard and young David Wallace dropped back in to help the lads out with a burst of much valued speed and accuracy of passing when needed. The Bal forwards were proving a handful for the Multy backs and this was beginning to show as the frees began to stack up. Two frees in dangerous positions led to Bal gaining the lead two points to one. But Nipper Feerick was proving to be a real nightmare for the Bal defenders and he levelled the game with two quick well taken points from play.

But what proved to be an Achilles heel for Multy was the conceding of frees in dangerous areas. Once again two frees within scoring distance and Ballynacargy were back in front. The fact that Bal did not score from play until the 25 minute mark speaks volumes; and only goes to highlight more the issue of giving away stupid frees within scoring distance of our own goals. The next few minutes saw the Bal men go on a bit of a roll knocking over three more points with one of them being from a free. But just before half time Enda Carter contested brilliantly round midfield for a ball, looked up and fed a superb chest high pass into the waiting arms of the broad chested Snake Nolan. Nolan turned his man brilliantly and hit a low hard shot which travelled beautifully over the black spot for a point which kept it within three going into the break.

In the second half Multy fought harder than they have all year and if they manage to show this level of passion in their next match than only great things await. Nipper Feerick put in a man of the match performance scoring six points in total with one of them from being a free. At one stage he was through on goal, he hit a powerful dipping shot which the keeper somehow managed to tip onto the bar only to see the ball then bounce off the bottom of the post and out. It was an important moment which followed not long after Multy had scored their goal. The move started with Rory Boyce winning the ball and then driving forward down the right wing, Max Brady had slipped his marker and made a run into the right hand corner. Boycey played the ball over the defenders head and Max, soccer style, hit a low hard cross towards the top of the square. The ground was being eaten up by Snake Nolan as he thundered into position; he hit the ball beautifully with a right footed half volley and placed it neatly into the bottom corner away to the left of the keeper.

Multy stayed the course and gave Bal the fright of their lives but on the night, unfortunately, it was not to be. Mick McDonnell, playing in goal, chipped in with a free to add to the Multy scorers but in the end Ballynacargy saw the game out for the win. It is worth noting that half of the Bal scores came from frees. There is work to be done and everyone needs to pull together to keep the ship on a steady course. Next up is the championship match against Milltown which is being eagerly awaited.

1) M.McDonnell (0-1f), 2) S.Moran, 3)B.McLoughlin, 4)G.Feerick, 5)M.Kane, 6)L.Blake, 7)R.Boyce, 8)E.Carter, 9)J.Corcoran, 10)D.Wallace, 11)D.Nolan(1-1), 12)C.Cannon,13)E.Feerick(0-6,1f),14)M.Brady,18)J.Tighe 15) J.Keary for Wallace, 19) G.Loughrey for Nolan, 22) A.McGivney for Tighe, 16) M.Fitzpatrick for G.Feerick, 17) J.Orme for E.Feerick