However, right from the start, The Stars were playing 2nd best to a Ballyhaise side clearly showing more hunger, desire, and no shortage of free-flowing football, and were deserving of a greater win than the 1-8 to 0-12 scoreline suggests.

2 mins in to the game, a long ball up the field and S Smith casually slotted over from 25yds, this was to be the 1st of many from his trusty boot. Soon after however, a good move from the home side started by Noel McIntyre, Kingscourt worked the ball up the field and Mark McKeown equalised from close range. Within minutes, J Donohoe & Ryan McCormack exchanged frees and after 7mins the scores were tied at 0-2 a piece, and a high-scoring game appeared inevitable as both sides moved the ball well. However, McCormack’s score was to be Kingscourt’s last of the 1st half, with the remaining 25 mins to see a further 5 points from Ballyhaise, but also 10 wides, which nearly proved costly. A fantastic free from S Smith from an extremely tight angle seen the visitors regain the lead and take complete control however Kingscourt remained in touch due to some poor finishing & final balls by Ballyhaise. However, with Ballyhaise in the ascendancy, S Smith soon added another score, and on 20 mins a defensive mix-up resulted in S Brady being fouled, and naturally enough S Smith punished Kingscourt again. As the half drew to a close, Kingscourt were lucky not to concede a goal with Daire McMahon managing to scramble the ball wide but S McCormack confidently dispatched the resulting 50, and just before the half Ballyhaise again, easily worked the ball through the Kingscourt defence for C Smith to score and leave the half time score Kingscourt 0-2 Ballyhaise 0-7.

Identical to the 1st half, both sides exchanged 2pts a piece in the opening 7 mins of the 2nd half, Sean Og Gargan nicely pointing from a narrow angle. Either side of a Ryan McCormack free, E Costello & C Lynch ensured Ballyhaise 5pt lead remained. However Ballyhaise resumed control and another defensive error by Kingscourt seen C Reilly notch his 1st score, and a rather soft free soon after, once again punished by the un-erring accuracy of S Smith, extended Ballyhaise’s lead to 7 points with less than 15 mins to go. Eager to notch their 1st victory of the season the Ballyhaise side were been roared on by their management and bench, determined not to squander this winning position, and it looked as they would run out convincing winners, with the home side appearing to be going through the motions at this stage.

However, a deep ball into the square by Thomas Malone was well fielded by Gavin Sheenan, who was fouled on 21yd line and from the resulting free, despite numerous men between ball & goal, Ryan McCormack managed to find the net and suddenly Kingscourt started to believe. Soon after, Thomas Pierce, who was now giving Kingscourt some possession at midfield played a quick ball into Domo McDaniel, and he coolly slotted over to bring the gap back to 3 pts with 10 mins to play. However, Ballyhaise re-grouped and steadily got back the momentum and appeared to have but matters beyond doubt, when J Donohoe pounced, on yet another defensive error from Kingscourt to put 4 points between the sides as we entered the final minute.

This score may have seen the visitors relax and 4 mins of injury time seen Kingscourt come with a final charge and great scores from Thomas Malone & Ryan McCormack either side of free from McCormack left the bare minimum between the sides. However, with Ballyhaise really hanging on now, Kingscourt did not get the usual “chance to tie” as the referee blew time on the resulting kickout.

On the overall game, Kingscourt can have few complaints, with Ballyhaise displaying greater appetite & aptitude for the game, and only some poor delivery & finishing in the 2nd & 3rd quarters meant that Kingscourt’s goal was a springboard back into the match, and not a mere consolation. For Kingscourt, there would appear to be a lot of soul-searching required ahead of the coming months, with a very difficult league run ahead of the championship start. A bright start to the league is but a distant memory, and while they are undoubtedly being handicapped by a growing injury list, a significant improvement will be required should they be looking to challenge for honours. Ballyhaise, however, will take great heart from this performance, not only did they battle to the end, they played some fantastic football, notably in the 1st half, and if they can maintain the same level of determination in all games, they will prove difficult opponent’s for anybody.

While there were not too many positives to be taken from the Kingscourt performances, Ryan McCormack kept them in if with some great scores, and Noel McIntyre, Thomas Malone & Thomas Pierce all worked tirelessly. For Ballyhaise, S Smith had a superb game with an array of fine scores from both play & frees, and he was ably assisted by J Donohoe, B McCrudden, S McCormack & B Lyons.

TEAMS:

Kingscourt

B McCormack, D McMahon, B Corcoran (C Kieran 40 mins), C Smith, M McGovern, T Wakely, N McIntyre, JP Reilly, N Smith, T Malone, R McCormack, T Peirce, D McCabe (S Sexton 50 mins), S Gargan (G Sheenan 40 mins), M McKeown (D McDaniel 47 mins)

Ballyhaise

B Maguire, G Smith, S McCormack, K Rooney, B Lyons, F Slowey, A Lyons, B Kelly, C Lyons ( M O’Rourke 60 mins), S Smith, E Costello, J Donohoe, C Reilly, B McCrudden, J Brady.

SCORERS:

Kingscourt: R McCormack (1-4, 1-3 frees), T Malone, Sean Og Gargan, Mark McKeown & D McDaniel (0-1 each)

Ballyhaise: S Smith (0-4, 0-2frees), J Donohoe, (0-4), E Costello (0-2), C Lyons, S McCormack,  (0-1 each).

Referee: Tony McDonald