Ballysaggart were clued in straight from the start of this All Ireland semi final. The background checks on the Sligo side enabled them to form a gameplan to expose their defensive fragility.
Predominantly used on the wing as a ball carrier all season long, Shane Bennett moved inside to team up with Stephen.In the first half hour, his pace unlocked two goals and two frees. Stephen broke double digits again with 1-2 from his overall return of 1-8 coming in general play. Manager Adrian Meagher seemed surprised at how Calry/St Joseph’s responded on the field and on the line. “They could have played two in front of them and it’s no good but they didn’t. In fairness to played man on man and we got a few chances.”
The hours are clearly being put in behind the scenes to prepare them properly for each unknown quantity. Stephen Bennett remarked afterwards about blocking out the lazy analysis and leaning on the inside information from management. “As we said at the start of the year, the manager and the two selectors we were listening to them and no one else. You would hear so much stuff but we don’t believe any of it. We knew that they were a great team. They won three Connacht finals. If you were playing a Galway team, you would treat them with every bit of respect. That’s our mentality anyways and it worked out.”He labelled the bookmaker’s pre-match prices as “stupid”. No nasty surprises lay around the corner.
They weren’t lacking in motivation either as Meagher recalled a difficult couple of weeks in the parish. “We had a tragedy in Ballysaggart. The two Murphys lost their mother only two weeks ago and we said it in that dressing room that there is no team going to beat us today. I was standing in the middle of them and they were fair calm and they weren’t going to leave anyone down today. We are delighted for them because it’s a little bonus for them. She was at a Munster final with us. Herself and her mother in law Biddy were our two number one supporters. Biddy was here today and Eileen was looking down on us and this is for her.”
Every aspect of community life becomes entangled in the GAA club. They all rose early to gather for mass at 8 am. “Father Cullinane, he couldn’t make it but he has been unbelievable for us. We had a good mass this morning, he mentioned the match an awful lot during the mass and it was brilliant!”The team departed at half 9 and stopped in Abbeyleix along the way.
Calry/St Joseph’s exited the tunnel to generous applause but Ballysaggart poured out to the screeching hordes.On a day of harsh wind and sleet showers, Christy Murphy pointed towards the scoring goal when the euro flipped in his favour. Matty Meagher needed to be on high alert when the sliotar dipped dangerously in the opening minute. Stephen Bennett’s treble including an awesome over the shoulder effort from 65 metres eased them down. Calry were carrying a slight threat but Kieran Fennessy and Barry Murphy drove them away. When Shane Bennett kicked in a scruffy goal on 13 minutes a glaring gap opened. It was a matter of time before the second arrived. Chris Madden dived spectacularly to deny Shane a second but it was only a momentary reprieve. Stephen sent in a bullet drive from the 65 that glanced Shane’s stick to deceive Madden. Debate rumbled upstairs about who was claiming it but Stephen credited his younger brother afterwards to tidy up the confusion. That second goal took the competitive sting out of the contest. Two on the trot from Kenneth Cashell was followed by a seventy metre screamer from Kieran Bennett (who ruled the centre). Stephen Bennett shortened the grip in the third minute of injury to leave the supporters rubbing their eyes at the scoreboard down at the town end (3-10 to 0-2).
Calry/St Joseph’s put no dent into that 17 point deficit on the resumption. They drew the second half (1-3 to 0-6). Six minutes in, Ronan Walsh was lurking on the periphery of the square to divert Stephen Bennett's top corner attempt goalwards. The sweeping falls of sleet almost forced the referee to consider bringing the players in for a period. The remaining minutes were all about stout defence. In the worsening weather conditions, Calry/St Joseph's dug in until the end mainly through Keith Raymond but they could find no way past the reliable Matty Meagher between the sticks.The defence only allowed three points from play. In this 13 game campaign, 12 goals have gone through them.
Creggan Kickhams of Antrim emerged from the opposite side with a 2-10 to 0-13 win over Fullen Gaels. They defeated the Armagh champions to take the Ulster crown in their second final appearance. Oran McCann recorded seven points in the provincial decider and followed that up with another seven in the All Ireland semi final.Conor McCann was involved with the Antrim under 21s when they caught Wexford cold to reach the All Ireland final.
Ballysaggart will prepare in the same manner and trust the knowledge of their mentors. They won’t need to worry about the support base either who will rest their vocal chords to create another racket on February 8.
Every aspect of community life becomes entangled in the GAA club. They all rose early to gather for mass at 8 am. “Father Cullinane, he couldn’t make it but he has been unbelievable for us. We had a good mass this morning, he mentioned the match an awful lot during the mass and it was brilliant!”The team departed at half 9 and stopped in Abbeyleix along the way.
Calry/St Joseph’s exited the tunnel to generous applause but Ballysaggart poured out to the screeching hordes.On a day of harsh wind and sleet showers, Christy Murphy pointed towards the scoring goal when the euro flipped in his favour. Matty Meagher needed to be on high alert when the sliotar dipped dangerously in the opening minute. Stephen Bennett’s treble including an awesome over the shoulder effort from 65 metres eased them down. Calry were carrying a slight threat but Kieran Fennessy and Barry Murphy drove them away. When Shane Bennett kicked in a scruffy goal on 13 minutes a glaring gap opened. It was a matter of time before the second arrived. Chris Madden dived spectacularly to deny Shane a second but it was only a momentary reprieve. Stephen sent in a bullet drive from the 65 that glanced Shane’s stick to deceive Madden. Debate rumbled upstairs about who was claiming it but Stephen credited his younger brother afterwards to tidy up the confusion. That second goal took the competitive sting out of the contest. Two on the trot from Kenneth Cashell was followed by a seventy metre screamer from Kieran Bennett (who ruled the centre). Stephen Bennett shortened the grip in the third minute of injury to leave the supporters rubbing their eyes at the scoreboard down at the town end (3-10 to 0-2).
Calry/St Joseph’s put no dent into that 17 point deficit on the resumption. They drew the second half (1-3 to 0-6). Six minutes in, Ronan Walsh was lurking on the periphery of the square to divert Stephen Bennett's top corner attempt goalwards. The sweeping falls of sleet almost forced the referee to consider bringing the players in for a period. The remaining minutes were all about stout defence. In the worsening weather conditions, Calry/St Joseph's dug in until the end mainly through Keith Raymond but they could find no way past the reliable Matty Meagher between the sticks.The defence only allowed three points from play. In this 13 game campaign, 12 goals have gone through them.
Creggan Kickhams of Antrim emerged from the opposite side with a 2-10 to 0-13 win over Fullen Gaels. They defeated the Armagh champions to take the Ulster crown in their second final appearance. Oran McCann recorded seven points in the provincial decider and followed that up with another seven in the All Ireland semi final.Conor McCann was involved with the Antrim under 21s when they caught Wexford cold to reach the All Ireland final.
Ballysaggart will prepare in the same manner and trust the knowledge of their mentors. They won’t need to worry about the support base either who will rest their vocal chords to create another racket on February 8.
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