Brady and Tierney inspire Ballyhaise comeback

Intermediate Football Championship

Ballyhaise 2-14

Cootehill 2-11

Paul Fitzpatrick at Kingspan Breffni

An inspired second-half performance from David Brady and a haul of 1-4 from Kevin Tierney were key as Ballyhaise secured a hard-earned win against an impressive Cootehill side on Saturday evening.

Cootehill led for most of the contest, deservedly, but Ballyhaise, showing great conditioning, raised their game on the home stretch and two late goals made the difference.

At the midway point, Cootehill held a two-point lead, thanks a great goal from Shane Sexton in the 10th minute.

The Celtics had lost by nine points to the Annalee Park men at the quarter-final stage last season but matched them almost all the way here and were actually the superior for long spells.

Ballyhaise were the better side in the opening exchanges, Kevin Tierney kicking the first point from play off the left boot and adding the second with the right to give them a two-point lead after four minutes.

As the half wore on, though, Cootehill were the team playing with more urgency. They were sharper in most areas and began to win the man-to-man battles, with Sean O’Connor impressing in defence and Sexton very lively up front.

The Celts’ first score arrived when Jamie Smith zipped a super pass to Sexton and the inside forward did the rest, turning sharply and sending a rocket of a finish to the bottom of the net.

Stephen Smith responded with a well-struck free at the other end but Cootehill were up for the challenge and would tack on four points in a row.

Jamie Smith barrelled through and drove over the first and a Cillian McGahan free, a quality point from Sexton and a free from the same player made it 1-4 to 0-3. Ballyhaise awoke from their slumber before the interval to add two important scores from Stephen Smith (a lovely effort from play and a free) to leave it 1-4 to 0-5 at the short whistle.

The match really ignited in the second half. Sexton won a long ball and was fouled for McGahan to tap over and put three between them but Ballyhaise took charge of the next seven or eight minutes.

Their outstanding player, David Brady, really took the game by the scruff of the neck. He played a good ball over the top for brother Michael to fist over and then landed a huge score from 45 metres but Cootehill were not backing down.

By now, this was proper championship fare, played at a high tempo with end-to-end action. Jamie Smith did well to field a high ball from Enda Hessin and drive over but Ballyhaise quickly replied with another fine effort from Tierney.

Ten minutes after the restart, the sides were level when Darren Reilly and Eoin Clarke combined to release Michael Brady, who sent over a brilliant point from the right wing. Just when Ballyhaise had the momentum, though, Cootehill came again.

Sexton was fouled and McGahan converted; then, McGahan floated over a beauty from 40 metres and the same man was almost in for a goal.

Ballyhaise were living dangerously but soon created a goal chance of their own, Martin Conaty driving over the bar after a great run our of defence from Darren Reilly.

Then came what looked like a defining score. The pacy Sexton tore through the centre and found Hessin, who spotted Smith lurking at the back post and the young attacker coolly slotted home with a soccer-style finish to make it 2-8 to 0-10.

Ballyhaise went straight up the field and Eoin Clarke was denied a goal by a brave save from Ryan Carroll; a free ensued, which Tierney converted just before the water break.

On the resumption, Niall Costello – standing in for injured goalkeeper Gary O’Rourke - saved smartly from Caoimhin Carney; moments later, a Ballyhaise goal chance was thwarted when John McCutcheon blocked down Conaty.

There was scarcely time to draw breath. Colin McKiernan palmed over, then Sexton pointed (another goal chance). By now, David Brady was at full-forward and Darren Reilly had moved on to Sexton and these changes had the desired effect.

Brady was excellent in the closing stages. He won a high ball and was fouled for a penalty which the impressive Tierney tucked away powerfully. That left one in it and Brady then latched on to another high delivery from brother Michael and fed Conaty for the equaliser.

Brady’s fingerprints were all over the goal that clinched it. He won possession 30 metres out and drove at the Cootehill defence. Ref Conor Dourneen played advantage and the big man kept going, beating a defender and squaring the ball for Colin McKiernan to palm home.

McGahan hit back with a free but Darren Reilly knocked over the final point, again after Brady turned the ball over.

Tempers frayed towards the end, with Dean Connolly picking up a red card. He will miss the next game against Ballymachugh but on the evidence of this, Cootehill, despite losing, will take a lot of beating from here on in.

Ballyhaise, meanwhile, survived a stern test of their resolve and remain towards the very top of the betting for Gilroy Cup honours.

Ballyhaise: Niall Costello, Adam Heaslip, Darren Reilly (0-1), Marcus Duffy, Aodhagán Watters, Eoin Clarke, Aaron Watson, Conor Lyons, Michael Brady (0-2), Brían O’Rourke, Sean McCormack, Shane McKiernan, Kevin Tierney (1-4, 1f, 1-0 pen), David Brady (0-1), Stephen Smith (0-3, 2f)

Subs: Colin McKiernan for O’Rourke (ht), Jarlaith Brady for Lyons (ht), Martin Conaty (0-2) for S Smith (44 mins), Francis Moore for S McKiernan (56)

Cootehill: Ryan Carroll, Caoimhin Carney, Diarmuid Carney, Dean Connolly, Dermie Connolly, Alan Curran, Cian Farrelly, Enda Hessin, John McCutcheon, Cillian McGahan (0-5, 3f), Sean O’Connor, Stevie O’Connor, Ryan O’Reilly, Shane Sexton (1-3, 1f), Jamie Smith (1-2)