Bracks go marching on
Ballinabrackey 1:14 Clann na nGael 0:09
A quick turn around from the Premier Championship success just beforehand, our intermediates took to the main stage in Pairc Tailteann for the Preliminary Semi-Final against Clann na nGael. Ballinabrackey started well with a fantastic point from play from Damien Carroll but Clann na nGael responded quickly with a point of their own. With very defensive play form Clann na nGael another score was hard to be got but Barry Thompson escapes his man to kick a point over the bar. Missed opportunities from Ballinabrackey allowed Clann na nGael to settle as they slotted a free over the bar, followed by another point from play leaving the score at the water break Ballinabrackey 0:02Clann na nGael 0:03. Quickly after the water break Damien Carroll received a yellow card. Michael Kearney made a great run up through the middle to get a score for Ballinabrackey to leave the sides level. A well taken free from Damien Carroll put the Bracks ahead but Clann na nGael were quick in response to leave the sides level once again. At this stage, it looked like a tough, tight battle was going to be ahead. Two more brilliant points from Danny Quinn and Damien Carroll meant Ballinabrackey were leading 6 points to 4 points at half time. Clann na nGael got the first score of the second half as they pointed over a free but they continued to trail for the remainder of the game. Damien Carroll and Danny Quinn took more excellent scores for Ballinabrackey as they tried to put Clann na nGael our of their sight. Unfortunately, a spanner was thrown in the works and Damien Carroll received a harsh second yellow card to leave Ballinabrackey with 14 men for the remainder of the match. Although, this is when the Bracks powered through and all 14 men showed for every ball. Nicky Judge coming up from centre back kicked a point from play followed by the decided of this match which was a goal buried in the back of the net by Sean Bannon. Clann na nGael responded with one more point before the second half water break leaving the score as Ballinabrackey 1-09 Clann na nGael 0:06. Danny Quinn got the first point from play after the water break and Clann na nGael put another on the board. More well taken scores from Sean Kavanagh, Dean McNamee, Danny Quinn and Chris O’Connor ensured the Bracks soared to a Semi-Final spot. This ended a great weekend for Ballinabrackey in all 3 grades. They will play St. Michaels in Navan next Sunday as they fight for a county final spot.
Team : Dean Pluck, Adam O’Brien, Nicky Judge(0:01p), Michael Kearney (0:01p), Sean Bannon (1:00p), Derek Flynn, Richie Coffey, Chris O’Connor (0:01p), Sean Coffey, Danny Quinn (0:04p), Damien Carroll (0:01p)(0:03f), David Carroll, Sean Kavanagh (0:01p), Seamus Curry, Barry Thompson (0:01p)
Subs: Dean mcNamee(0:01p) for Barry Thompson
Evan Daly for David Carroll
Trevor Bannon for Sean Kavanagh
Colly McNally for Seamus Curry
Erick Clancy for Derek Flynn
