Did anybody watch the game that could give some small report. My internet was acting up so I didn’t manage too see it. Heard it was apparently one of the best games of football played in the championship for a long time. Ballydonoghue we’re just wouldn’t go away and got the rewards? Heard a lot of complaints about match officials any insight?
If anyone wants to watch a high class club game then I can only recommend it. Gneeveguilla have lots of talent and so no surprise they have gone up to Div 1 while Jason definitely influenced Ballydonoghue that had well stuck in - they maintained composure even when the pressure was max and max it was.
The constant ebb and flow had the game drawn at practically every juncture, including water breaks, even HT in extra time, and there was class in every respect from both sides throughout - fielding, finding your man, fellas making themselves available, some mouth watering scoring, etc.
Probably a bit extra of off-the-ball stuff off-camera and there was a dozen yellows with a 'no black card' policy. That it was full on from start to finish had the commentator believe that even the physios would require physio, busy as they were - and yes, even the commentator had a really great game in every respect, and that the pitch was perfect was no harm.
As you might imagine the ref had a very hard job and did well, spotting plenty of things I only twigged when I thought it through. The only two instances I couldn't reconcile was our alleged own goal which from a partially blinded angle looked like the Gneeveguilla forward pushed goalie Darragh O Shea in possession over an already fallen Jim Cremin and over the line into the back of the net - would need to see it again though. Then Paul Kennelly's penalty goal was for a brutal buffalo attack on a Ballydonoghoor closing in on goal - as much as I hate to say but I think the point of impact was outside the small square, but then again I'm not forensically aware on these things. So there you go, even those instances cancelled each other out.
Jack Kennelly had some awesome points while Jason's younger brother Michael Foley did some serious work at the death - fielded one that would be up with the best of Mick O'Connell. Though suffering injury Jim Cremin pipped an absolute beaut of a point that would have us all in a different place at 5pm this Sat if our county boys had the same spur of the moment presence of mind - in fairness as a No 10 he was trying to do too much, covering too much ground, operating between both end lines.
As I write the flow is coming back to me now - yes, Brian Ó Seanacháin was sublime with his on the ball work alone while both Gogartys put in notable shifts, with a nice point worked down the field if my memory serves me right, and as as did Jason but couldn't do it often enough as he was centre of attention. Jack Behan and Sheehy also made some classy forays in possession that kept the score board ticking over - a few more of his butcher daddy's juicy steaks and Behan will be a different proposition, he has already had much live-weight gain since I last saw him in active service!
Now the more I look at the team sheet the more I realise that the more I name the more I leave out, even down to subs O'Donnell, Kissane and 3rd Foley brother Stephen, who contributed if on split shifts.
Ah I wouldn't be the best analyst nor would I be familiar with Gneeveguilla players though Doyler was always a danger and Brosnan at CHB was a force, and there were others - in fact they have half a dozen players who I reckon are among the best club players I ever saw in terms of class and plenty of the auld hoorism in 'em too.
As the camera was 100% on the ball I would have missed off-the-ball effort but I sensed Paul Kennelly was notable in this respect as he was picked up in the background a BIT.
Now that's an off the cuff account - if I saw it again it would be different and while my heart had me enjoy it that bit extra, I'd say a neutral would also appreciate it as a classy full 90+ min affair. That both teams were evenly matched also added to it no doubt, the root of the brilliance was much that both sides kept driving that bit extra bit out of each other.
That half of each team were cramped made for that rare sight of fellas literally dying on their feet - another 5 mins and the ref would be the last man standing and that is less of an exaggeration that you think. That sharpshooters kicked wild wides at the death just tells you how far though laddos were, mentally as well as physically.
_____________________ I'll add a few random biteens here if I have another look _______________________
I think our hoors came from 4 points down towards the end of normal time with 4 unanswered ones - that period alone is probably worth the fiver sub, points were v sublime and Gneeveguilla had ones as good at other stages. As for Paul Kennelly's penalty, also worth the sub, so go on, double your money!
A notion I also got was that the water breaks gives teams a chance to review counter-tactics but then again that was magnified by the closeness of it all and while both teams were well mentored, I'd say management may have cancelled each other out, well they had to as one flaw and the opponents would have terminated the show - and so it was all before your eyes on the field of play.