O'Neill earns Clonbullogue valuable draw with injury time two pointer
Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship Group 2 Round 1
WITH his county colleague Aidan Bracken sticking to him like glue the whole way and ensuring a much more sparse volume of possession than he is accustomed to, Keith O'Neill escaped his clutches twice to salvage a point for Clonbullogue in a hard fought Offaly Senior Football Championship group 2 encounter in Ballycommon on Sunday evening.
Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship Group 2 Round 1
Ballycommon 1-12
Clonbullogue 1-12
O'Neill got away to turn the tide for Clonbullogue with a 38th minute goal and then just when it looked like Ballycommon had both points won, he earned them a point with a breathtakingly brilliant two pointer, struck with the outside of his right foot to the right of the arc two minutes into injury time.
Bracken could not have done much more on O'Neill and curbed his influence better than most but the flying Offaly forward showed his class when it really counted.
It was the third draw in this weekend's opening round, the second in what will be a very tight weaker group 2 with Bracknagh and Clara also drawing earlier in the afternoon.
It was a compelling game, very mediocre in the first half but much improved with a lot more football played in the second half. It could have swung either way and while Ballycommon had their hands on the win in injury time, both sides will be glad of the draw.
It was a particularly important result for Clonbullogue who had a horrible first season in senior football in 2025 but are in much better shape and health now. A defeat would have been a hammer blow for them and they deserved a draw for the way they kept going against a Ballycommon side who worked so hard to stop their county players from running the game.
Ballycommon put their own county men on Clonbullogue's big name players with David Dempsey marshalling Jack McEvoy at midfield and both Bracken and Dempsey largely succeeded in their primary task but O'Neill ended up Clonbullogue's saviour and McEvoy kept plugging away, working hard.
The first half was a tough, uncompromising and instantly forgettable affair. Ballycommon were the better side early on and led by 0-4 to 0-1 after 12 minutes. A Keith O'Neill two point free helped Clonbullogue onto level terms, 0-5 each after 19 minutes and Gareth Mann's point gave Ballcyommon a 0-6 to 0-5 interval lead.
Ballycommon continued to work hard at forcing Clonbullogue into contact in the second half but the visitors had what looked a significant 1-7 to 0-6 lead after 41 minutes. O'Neill and McEvoy combined brilliantly for Clonbullogue's 38th minute goal, O'Neill applying an expert finish with Tommy Dempsey also involved in the lead up.
Clonbullogue produced another flying movement a minute later and should have got a second goal but Robert Conneely made a great save from Eoghan Kinsella. O'Neill pointed the '45' and a four point lead was a very big one in a low scoring game.
Ballycommon were in bother as Chris Kenny was wide with a free and then took on a two point shot that wasn't on but Tom Mealiffe settled them with a huge two pointer from near midfield and Chris Kenny got an excellent 46th minute goal for a 1-8 to 1-7 lead.
The teams were level twice before points from David Dempsey and Conor Dunne pushed Ballycommon two ahead as it went into injury time. With Clonbullogue goalkeeper Cian Corcoran finding it hard to find men from kickouts, Ballycommon had chances to extend their lead late on but Gareth Mann had two poor wides.
Ballycommon looked like they still had enough done until Keith O'Neill did what every side wants their county men to do and produced a truly magical score when it mattered most – Ballycommon will be disappointed at it though as they had the ball in hand on the half back line but the hard working Karl Dunne kicked it away in the direction of the one man they didn't want to see in possession.
MATCH ANALYSIS
MAN OF THE MATCH
Stephen Conneely (Ballycommon): Had Ballycommon held on, Aidan Bracken probably would have got it as he had been so influential in curbing Keith O'Neill but the Clonbullogue attacker ended up with 1-7, 1-2 from play and that was a game defining contribution.
It boils down to a choice between Ballycommon's Stephen Conneely and Clonbullogue's Daryl Quinn. Quinn had a really productive game for Clonbullogue, scoring three points and carrying the ball well but the long serving Conneely shades it. He was very effective at blocking runs and tackling, he covered vast ground, handled a huge volume of ball and carried it forward very well.
You could also make a case for O'Neill as his contribution decided the outcome but Conneely is the choice.
The battle between Clonbullogue forward, Ruari O'Neill and Ballycommon corner back Zach Wright was intriguing to watch. Wright also concentrated on just marking his man and did well though O'Neill handled a lot of ball and had a couple of scoring assists.
THE SCORERS
Ballycommon: Chris Kenny 1-1, Gareth Mann 0-4 (1f), Tom Mealiffe (2p) and Conor Dunne 0-2 each, Brian Todd (f), David Dempsey and Stephen Conneely 0-1 each.
Clonbullogue: Keith O'Neill 1-7 (1 x 2pf, 1 '45', 2f and 1 x 2p), Daryl Quinn 0-3 (1 x 2p), Jack McEvoy and Tommy Dempsey 0-1 each.
THE TEAMS
BALLYCOMMON: Robert Conneely; Matthew Dempsey, Aidan Bracken, Zach Wright; Jack Kenny, Karl Dunne, Brian Todd; David Dempsey, Tom Mealiffe; Paul Conway, Gareth Mann, Stephen Conneely; Conor Dunne, Chris Kenny,Ian Scally. Subs – Sean Conway for Scally (33m).
CLONBULLOGUE: Cian Corcoran; Sean Moran, Peter Bennett, David Dempsey; Harry Judge, Ryan Dempsey, Ian Curry; Lee Dempsey, Jack McEvoy; Eoghan Kinsella, Daryl Quinn, Ronan O'Neill; Ruari O'Neill, Keith O'Neill, Tommy Dempsey. Subs – Oisin Dempsey for Tommy Dempsey (57m).
Referee – Chris Dwyer, Clara.
REFEREE WATCH
Chris Dwyer handled it well. There were a couple of times both sides had legitimate calls for frees not given and Clonbullogue could have got one in before their final equaliser but he was very fair. Him and his linesmen communicated well with mentors and he let it flow.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
Keith O'Neill's two pointer at the end commanded complete respect. The ball wasn't flowing for him and he couldn't get away from Aidan Bracken but when the opportunity presented itself, he had the confidence to take it on and the skill to convert.
VENUE WATCH
A real traditional rural venue, Ballycommon was in great shape and the club had ample stewards to manage the fixture.
WHAT'S NEXT
Ballycommon travel to Clara while Clonbullogue have a bye in round 2.
STATISTICS
Wides: Ballycommon – 12 (7 in first half); Clonbullogue – 7 (3 in first half).
Yellow cards: Ballycommon – 1 (Karl Dunne); Clonbullogue – 0.
Black cards: 0
Red cards: 0