Ballyhaise book their place in semi-final

Ballyhaise booked a semi-final date with Kingscourt after overcoming the stubborn challenge of Cootehill Celtic in their ACFL Division Two play-off at Saint Felim's Park, Drumalee on Saturday afternoon last. Ballyhaise were the more consistent and more incisive team on the day and fully deserved their passage through to the last four of the competition. The winners began with a spring in their step and had Cootehill immediately backpeddling with the impressive Kevin Tierney putting Eamon Costello through for a quickfire goal after just three minutes of play. Despite early possession Ballyhaise laboured to build on their lead and after a lapse in their full back line Neil Kelly was on hand to rifle the ball into the Ballyhaise net to level the scores with 13 minutes on the clock. Stand-out performer Fergal Slowey was very much to the fore in the Ballyhaise defence at this juncture but a failure on the part of his side to deliver the ball quickly into their forward line meant that scoring was at a premium in the early stages for the green and gold brigade. The injury-hit Cootehill side defended their lines in gritty fashion in this opening period but eventually points from Raymond Cullivan and two from Stephen Smith pushed Ballyhaise ahead. Cootehill pulled two points back through Mark Mullen frees and as Ballyhaise sought to keep their opponents at bay some frustration set in and referee Jimmy Galligan had cause to issue a yellow card to Sean McCormack. Ballyhaise refused to panic though and they hit back with the perfect reposte in the 20th minute when Kevin Tierney broke through the Cootehill defence to set up Ali Pickett for a fine goal. Ballyhaise maintained their momentum thereafter and Stephen Smith added a fine left footed point before team captain Barry Kelly finished off a Ray Cullivan pass to leave his side ahead by 2-5 to 1-2 at half time. The second half began with Brendan Maguire making a fine save from Paul McCarney and in the 38th minute Barry McCrudden opened the second half scoring with a good point after another pass from Kevin Tierney. Meanwhile at the other end of the field, the Ballyhaise defence worked overtime to stymie the influence of Cootehill playmaker McCutcheon. The no-less influential Kevin Tierney impacted again on proceedings when he added an excellent right footed point to keep Cootehill under the cosh. Tierney's effort was quickly followed by two points by Ray Cullivan for the would-be winners as an air of inevitability began to hover over the contest. Indeed, when Stephen Smith added a goal the game did appear to be heading very much in favour of the Ballyhaise side. But to their credit Cootehill didn't throw in the towel and successive attacks saw them score points through Cathal McCabe and McCutcheon and a fine goal from centre forward Paul McCarney. Predictably though, Ballyhaise had the final say with Barry McCrudden closing the scoring to leave Ballyhaise deserving winners and in no doubt upbeat mood ahead of their clash with table-toppers Kingscourt. Ballyhaise: Brendan Maguire; Brendan Lyons, Martin Rooney Mark Brennan; Barry Kelly (0-1), Fergal Slowey, Sean Fay; Barry McCrudden (0-2), Ray Cullivan (0-3); Barry Reilly, Eamon Costello (1-0), Stephen Smith (1-3); Kevin Tierney (0-2), Sean McCormack, Ali Pickett (1-0). Subs: N Costello, D Duggan and D McGoldrick. Cootehill Celtic: Ciaran Boyle; Aidan McCabe, Barry McGahan, Christopher Sherlock; John Deery, Sean Fitzpatrick Joshua Hayes; John McCutcheon (0-2), Brian Sherlock; Mark Mullen (0-2), Paul McCarney (1-0), Cathal McCabe (0-1); Neil Kelly (1-0), Barry Dempsey, J Grogan. Subs; Gary McCrudden; Jason O'Connor; Kevin McCluskey. Referee: Jimmy Galligan (Lacken Celtic).