Ballinameela's Jim Curran takes on Stradbally's Trevor Costello during their County semi-final at Fraher Field. | Photos: Sean Byrne
Stradbally 0-8; Ballinameela 1-5
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Not a game for purist or historian, the standard of football produced over the hour didn’t suggest either of these teams will mount a serious challenge for the Conway Cup come October 17th.
Of course, Stradbally and Ballinameela have a chance to atone in next Saturday’s replay in Cappoquin (throw-in 2.30pm), but both know they’ll have to lift their game considerably if they’re to test Ballinacourty in the final.
The first score of the game was recorded until the 16th minute (which tells you something) as Shane Ahearne deputising for the usual free taker Niall Curran slotted over from a free from 14 metres.
The champions added further points through Ger Power and Stephen Cunningham six minutes later which, despite their errant shooting, suggested a rout was on the cards. How wrong we were to make such an assumption, despite Eoghan Walsh’s 30th minute free being Ballinameela’s only first half score.
While the standard of football did improve somewhat in the second half, it was, nonetheless, pretty difficult to watch and to find positives from at times.
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