Connacht finalists Ballymote played Lahardane last Sunday in MacHale Park and unfortunality this game would be our last in the Championship series. Ballymote had a great start with Daniel Clarke playing at full back interrupting Lahardane attack and giving the ball to Conor Meehan who assisted Jack Hever at corner forward, and Jack found the back of the net and scored our first goal. A great start for Ballymote but Lahardane playing their usual attacking/pressure game came at Ballymote in full force and which resulted in Gerry Feely producing a great save to deny Lahardane their goal. However Laharadane did recover and scored 3 unanswered points. Ballymote weathered Lahardane attack for the rest of the first half Michael Rafferty and Colm Bryne took hold of midfield and with points from Peter Lyons from frees kept us ahead. An attack from Ballymote which Stephen Ross won and passed to Niall Colsh who shot for goal only to be denied by their goal keeper which resulted in a rebound and Lahardane scored an own goal. We were now 2-2. 0-4 up which brought us to half time.
Second half Ballymote struggled to take charge of the game and Laradhane scored a few unanswered points which put them in the lead. Ballymote needed to get back into the game and with the introduction of subs we seem to settle ourselves. Our backs played brilliantly lead by Daniel Clarke, Michael Doddy, Colm McCann, Aidan Caffrey and Robbie Flannery tried to keep Lahardane from maximising their attack. Ballymote goalie Gerry Feely minded not only our net but caught a ball under the crossbar and kept Ballymote in this game. With the introduction of Niall Brennan, Gabriel Rafferty, Conor Maguire, Ballymote attacked freely and Stephen Ross found himself with a great chance to reduce Laharane lead only to place the ball wide. Ballymote were 8 points down 10 mins to go and showed great resolve to claw back and reduce this to 4 points in the final minutes with a great goal from Niall Brennan and point from Niall Colsh. This was not our day and Laharadane went on to win the game. Final score Laherdane 1-15 Ballymote 3-5.. It brought the end of a great year for Ballymote something we are very proud of and will build on for the future. Team Gerry Feely, Colm McCann, Daniel Clarke, Kenny Meehan (Kieran Tighe), Robbie Flannery (Colin MaGuire), Michael Doddy, Aidan Caffery, Michael Rafferty, Colin Byrne (Gabriel Rafferty), Conor Meehan ( Niall Brennan 1-0) Niall Colsh 0-1, Stephen Ross 0-1, Jack Hever 1-0, Mark Irwin, Peter Lyons 0-3. Subs Marty Underwood, Ruairi Kilgarriff, Ciarian Anderson, Paul Mullin, Mike Furey, Conor McGettrick, Conor Scanlon, Adam Cunnane, Aaron Middleton, Cian Brennan, Gerard Brennan.
Gerry Monahan and Joe Brennan managed this team and lead them to make history for our club something the supporters, sponsors and committee are grateful for.
Back to club business AGM will be 25th November 8pm in Ballymote Community Health Centre.