Stars come from 12 down to overhaul Ballyhaise

SFC quarter-final

Kingscourt Stars 2-14

Ballyhaise 1-12

Paul Fitzpatrick at Kingspan Breffni

It is perhaps a cliché of analysis that Kingscourt Stars are never beaten – but sometimes, clichés are true. Down by 12 points towards the end of the first half in this clash, the Stars looked set to exit the championship.

However, wind-assisted after the break, they dominated possession and, despite kicking 16 wides and dropping six shots short over the hour, they found a way to win it. Substitute Caoimhin Magee’s late goal, struck from 40 metres into an empty net, put some gloss on the result – the five-point margin was harsh on Ballyhaise – but Kingscourt were the better side overall and rose to the challenge in the decisive moments.

The early exchanges were cagey. Cian Shekleton delivered a neat ball into Padraig Faulkner, who dragged his shot wide, but soon after Ciarán Dermody – arguably the Stars’ best performer in the first half - found himself in acres of space and curled over an easy opener after five minutes.

Ballyhaise responded almost instantly. Eoin Clarke produced a brilliant pass to Padraig Moore, who gathered near the endline and clipped over neatly to level.

Kingscourt dropped a couple of early efforts short and saw Jordan Morris dispossessed as he tried to power through, Ballyhaise very deliberately focusing on shutting down the marquee forward at this stage.

That defensive focus may have given others room to flourish but Kingscourt weren’t at the races in the opening stanza and Ballyhaise grew in confidence.

Michael Brady slipped through on goal but was brought back for an advantage; Kevin McGovern popped over the resultant mark to nudge Ballyhaise ahead. Then came a well-worked score – Darren Reilly tore up the field from wing-back and found Brían O’Rourke, who arrowed over. With momentum flowing, Brady converted a free and Ballyhaise led 0-4 to 0-1 after 14 minutes.

From the resulting kick-out, Ballyhaise struck a killer blow. The ball was moved quickly to Moore, who laid it off smartly, and Brady buried it to the roof of the net for a fantastic goal.

Suddenly, the underdogs were rampant. Moments later, goalkeeper Gary O’Rourke strode forward and boomed over a two-point free off the ground from 48 metres.

When Brady then unleashed a huge strike of his own for another two-pointer, Ballyhaise led 1-8 to 0-1. Kingscourt were stunned, their kick-out malfunctioning, and they looked in grave trouble.

Colin Kelly’s side needed a lifeline and got one in the 21 minute when Peter Corrigan made a towering fetch. The ball was worked to Shekleton, who threw a dummy before curling over a fine score, a badly needed reply.

Ballyhaise kept pressing, though. Killian Brady got on the end of a good pass from Sean Óg Teevan and clipped over to restore the cushion. Kingscourt had a goal chance when Morris played Odhran Cunningham in but his low shot was smothered and further wides followed from Faulkner and Morris.

Then came another outstanding Ballyhaise score. Eoin Clarke, from fully 50 metres, bent a booming outside-of-the-boot effort over the bar for a two-pointer. That made it 1-11 to 0-2 with a minute left in the half.

Kingscourt finally struck back and in hindsight, it was a key score. Joe Dillon broke through on goal and seemed certain to palm over a simple point but instead cleverly squared to Dermody, who rifled to the top corner. It was the break they needed, cutting the gap to a more manageable 1-11 to 1-2 at half-time.

Kingscourt had clearly reset at the break and came out with a pre-planned move from the throw-in. Faulkner, on the sideline, stormed forward, took the pass and slotted over.

At the other end, Moore cut inside and pointed well but that would, amazingly, be Gerard O’Kane’s side’s final score as Kingscourt hogged the ball.

They could have had a goal - Dillon appeared at the back post for a gilt-edged goal chance but palmed straight at O’Rourke – but Shekleton, with the referee’s arm raised for advantage, lashed over a superb two-pointer with his left foot.

That lifted Kingscourt and though they kicked a string of wides – including Morris seeing a two-point free come back off the upright – they were on top.

Shekleton then clipped over from the right wing with his left boot and, moments later, produced a wonderful turn to leave two defenders in his wake before floating over another point. The deficit was narrowing.

Ballyhaise had a chance to steady themselves when Gary O’Rourke lined up another long-range free, but he went short to Brady and the shot dropped into the goalkeeper’s hands. Moore, too, found himself bottled up as the Stars’ defence threw themselves into challenges.

Dillon, who made a huge difference on his introduction, landed a spectacular outside-of-the-boot two-pointer, although there were appeals that he might have been inside the arc.

Michael McKeon then pumped in a dangerous high ball which O’Rourke did well to deal with, and Dillon clipped wide. By then Kingscourt had racked up 15 wides but crucially, Ballyhaise were not creating chances. The question was, could the Stars close the gap before time ran out.

Into the closing stages, Morris was fouled and Shekleton pointed the free. That left it 1-12 to 1-10 on 59 minutes. Moments later, Shekleton held his nerve to arrow over a two-point free, drawing the sides level at 1-12 apiece as the clock ticked into injury time.

The Stars were rampant now. Dillon soared for a huge catch at midfield and showed composure to pop off a clever left-handed handpass which the impressive Aaron Shekleton knocked over, nudging them in front. Ballyhaise tried to respond but Clarke’s effort tailed away tamely.

Dillon then looped over another score and the contest was slipping away from Ballyhaise, who gambled late on.

Goalkeeper O’Rourke understandably pressed upfield, leaving the goals untended. Kingscourt turned them over and Magee, spotting the net unguarded, lofted in from 40 metres to seal a memorable comeback victory.

Kingscourt Stars: Tom Martin, John McKeon, John McCullough, Shane Gray, Odhran Cunningham, Aaron Shekleton (0-1), Séan Burke, Padraig Faulkner (0-1), Paddy Meade, Barry Tully, Peter Corrigan, Ciarán Dermody (1-1), Jordan Morris, Kevin Curtis, Cian Shekleton (0-8, 2pt, 2ptf, 1f)

Subs: Joe Dillon(0-3, 2pt) for J McKeon (27), Caoimhín Magee (1-0) for C Dermody (49), Michael McKeon for K Curtis (54)

Ballyhaise: Gary O’Rourke (0-2, 2ptf), Fionan O’Reilly, Aodhagán Watters, Darren Reilly, Aaron Watson, Ben Smith, Cormac Clarke, Eoin Clarke (0-2, 2pt), Brian O’Rourke (0-1), Colin McKiernan, Michael Brady (1-3, 2pt, 1f), Sean Óg Teevan, Kevin McGovern (0-1, 1m), Padraig Moore (0-2), Killian Brady (0-1)

Subs: Jarlaith Brady for D Reilly (temp, 30, reversed ht), Shane Briody for K McGovern (49), Jack Maguire for K Brady (55), Jarlaith Brady for C Clarke (59), Martin Conaty for S Teevan (60), Adam Heaslip for F O’Reilly (64)

Ref: Pat Clarke