It was pretty much point for point until the end in this West Limerick Junior B Football League Semi-Final. However in the second minute of four minutes of injury time (a dog ran onto the pitch at the start of the second half delaying proceedings until umpire Hammy Dawson caught him and brought him out of the ground), Miley OâDeasy punched a long hopeful punt into the box over the bar to give Ballymucker the narrowest of leads. From the nexthttp://cdncache1-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png attack the men from Ballyhoura broke through and won a free just outside the 21 and to the right of the posts (it turned out to be a good professional foul by John âBombâ OâToole.). Ballymucker 'keeper Fergal OâDeasy (no relation of Mileyâs), impressive throughout, made a tremendous block and diverted it out for a 45. The 45 dropped short, Ballymucker scrambled it clear and the ref blew for full time. Would have been absolutely sickening and gut wrenching to lose it after having taken a slendour lead deep into injury time.
That was a very decent Ballyhoura team, would expect them to go on and do well in the West Junior B Championship later in the summer. For our lads Miley OâDeasy was sensational at full forward and was probably the difference betweenhttp://cdncache1-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png the sides scoring 0-05 in total (0-04 from frees). Itâs unfair to single out players for special mention such was the gallant team performance from 'Mucker but iâm going to go ahead anyway and mention a few. Billy âBotsâ OâConnell at right half back, Johnny Murphy centre-back, Seamie OâDeasy (brother of Fergalâs) in midfield and finally at centre-forward 38yr old Willie Power who did a tremendous job curbing the influence of Ballyhouraâs star man Sean Quane (first cousin of former Limerick football legend John Quane). The Ballymucker subs also made a positive contribution when lads were tiring late on in the second half due to a lack of training in recent weeks (the management team walked out on the team in May due to a disagreement with the club chairman Pat Pitz, who after a bad defeat in a challenge match against Tournafulla went to the Limerick Leader and in a printed interview questioned the performance of the management team) so there has been training only on Sunday morningâs now after mass by stand in player/manager Willie Power.
On we march to the West Limerick Junior B Football League Final. Plenty to work on, still conceding too many goal chances and canât keep relying on the class of Fergal OâDeasy between the sticks to keep us in games. Doubt that St. Fenians will spurn them in the final. Great win all the same, third win over Ballyhoura Shamrocks in the league in four years. Weâve never won the West Limerick Junior B Football League, so just relieved to get through to the final tonight. Itâs been 2001 since we last got there. Up Ballymucker.