Goals Provide Devine Inspiration for Modeligo

          Modeligo are through to a first ever County Intermediate football Final after they beat a fancied Ballinameela side to capture a first Western Intermediate title whist appearing in their first final at this level.

Ballinameela were hotly fancied to come through from this game and win a third title at this level since 2009 and then go on to win the county title which would secure their senior status once more twelve months after dropping down after their second short stint in the top flight in the last decade but Modeligo had worked hard in the build up to this game and fully deserved their win in this one.

Come this time of the year when duel clubs are in contention for more than one title it must be very difficult. All year clubs are left without meaningful games for much of the summer and then come late autumn the successful clubs are severally penalised as they have to rotate between codes with only a short space of time between games and this is something that could well have affected Ballinameela who two weeks ago win the County Junior hurling final and a week later qualified for this final beating Ballinacourty’s second string side.

The side in green and white opened the scoring in this game with a point from Jamie Troy inside a minute of the throw in and they followed it up with a hat-trick of scores from the very impressive Shane ‘Shiner’ Troy including one after some good work by Sean O’Donovan in the build up.

Ballinameela’s first score came from Kevin Phelan from a fisted effort and followed it up with an effort from his brother Brian to leave just two points between the sides after nine minutes.

Points from Shane Troy, Sean O’Donovan and John Devine followed for Modeligo before Conor Buckley pointed for Ballinameela on 16 minutes to leave just four between the sides (0-7 to 0-3).

Modeligo in this game showed a terrific hunger and they extended their lead with former inter county player from Justin McCarthy’s time in charge of the Waterford senior hurling team Pat Fitzgerald pointed and they put themselves into a very good position going into the second half when five minutes from time Tom Devine from a quick free finished past James McGrath to give his side a 1-8 to 0-3 lead at the break.

Modeligo continued where they left off at the start of the second half as they hit early points from Mick Devine and Michael Troy to extend their lead before Michael Culloo put over a free.

 Modeligo soon upped their game and they were always on top for the remainder of the game as Pat Fitzgerald, Shane Troy and Keith Hickey with a delightful score all raised white flags while Tom Devine had the umpire reaching for a green flag eight minutes from the end.

 Ballinameela hit a goal three minutes from the break, Brian Phelan the player responsible for the waving of a green flag but for them it was to put a mere gloss on the scoreboard on this occasion.

Ballinameela will be disappointed with this defeat to their neighbours and will be even more disappointed with the margin of victory on the board on the night, but they know that for now the year is not over and they will work hard in the coming days and weeks to prepare for their Munster Club Championship fixture.

For Modeligo there will have been lots of celebrations after this game, but they will die down very quickly as the year is not over yet.

There is a trip ahead for them to the city to play Kilmacthomas in a county final this weekend that nobody in their wildest dreams could have predicted a few weeks back let alone at the start of the championship some months back now.

That game for most will be a real 50/50 clash and both will feel that they can add to their roll of honour and while most will argue that whichever of the two does go up to play in the senior grade for 2019 is likely to come straight back down for now neither side will be too worried about what others are thinking about what will happen next it, it is what happen this year that is all the matters now.

Modeligo: Thomas Walsh; Nicky O’Donovan, Brian McCarthy, Robbie Buckley; Sean Hennessy, Sean O’Donovan, Niall Browne; Rian Reddy, Mick Devine; John Devine, Shane Troy, Jamie Troy; Michael Troy, Tom Devine, Pat Fitzgerald.

Subs: Keith Hickey for Niall Browne, Pa Walsh for Pat Fitzgerald, Gavin Dalton for Michael Troy, John McGrath for Jamie Troy, Cian Byrnes for Nicky O’Donovan.

Scorers: Tom Devine 2-0, Shane Troy 0-5 (1f), Pat Fitzgerald 0-2, Sean O’Donovan, Mick Devine, John Devine, Jamie Troy, Michael Troy, Keith Hickey 0-1 each

Ballinameela: James McGrath; Cian Culloo, Michéal Shine, Keelan Looby; Paul Curran, Davey Phelan, Paidi Prendergast; Lorcan Looby, Kevin Phelan; Liam O’Brien, Brian Phelan, Donagh Looby; Conor Buckley, Mikey Phelan, Jim Curran.

Subs: Micheal Culloo for Mikey Phelan, Shane Flavin for Donagh Looby, Rob Shine for Jim Curran, Michael Kiely for Liam O’Brien, Shane McGovern for Cian Culloo.

Scorers: Brian Looby 1-1, Kevin Phelan, Conor Buckley, Michael Culloo (f) 0-1 each

Referee: Tommy O’Sullivan