County Senior Football League, Division 2, Round 11.

Templenoe 2-16, Ballymacelligot 1-13.

Templenoe are promoted to Division 1 of the county senior football league for the second time in the club’s history, after the hosts got the win they needed against Ballymac and by virtue of Templenoe’s head to head result against John Mitchels, who were also the mix for a promotion spot going into the last round.

The match was played in beautiful sunshine. It took both sides a bit of time to settle, before Templenoe captain Adrian Spillane opened the scoring in the 6th minute. Ballymac almost had the perfect response when the lively Jack Joy’s effort came off the base of the post and his follow up shot was well saved by keeper Mark Looney. Soon after Brian Crowley was through on goal at the other end and he kept his composure well before dispatching the ball to the net, just as the Ballymac defenders were closing in on him for a brilliant finish. After a series of wides, the visitors finally registered their first two scores towards the end of the first quarter courtesy of Donal Daly and Aidan Breen to make it 1-01 to 0-02.

There was more to come from Brian Crowley in the second quarter with two scores either side of a Darragh Sweeney white flag for the visitors. In the ensuing passages of play, Templenoe had scores from Stephen O’Sullivan (2) and Aidan Crowley, while Niall Collins and Donal Daly found the range for Ballymac. Then in added time a precision pass by Brian Crowley across the square was fisted home by Stephen O’Sullivan to give the wind assisted hosts a seven points lead approaching half time. Donal Daly got one point back for Ballymac just before the interval and they were no means out of it, even if they might have been disappointed with some of their shooting.

Half Time Score: Templenoe 2-06, Ballymacelligot 0-06

At the restart Ballymac immediately used the wind to their advantage with the first 2 pointer of the day thanks to Donal Daly. Stephen O’Sullivan and Michael Quirke traded scores, before Jack Joy raised a second orange flag for the visitors with a well struck free. Suddenly, the gap was now down to two points. But for the second county league game in a row just when Templenoe needed it most Gavin Crowley landed a two pointer of his own to steady the ship a bit, which made the score 2-09 to 0-11 at the end of the third quarter.

Aidan Crowley consolidated Templenoe’s position with a pointed free. However, Ballymac with their own status as a Division 2 side still not assured, were not going to give this game up without a fight and in the 48th minute amid a bit of a goal mouth scramble just about managed to raise a green flag with substitute Michael Quirke getting the final touch. This left just two points between the sides once more. Adrian Spillane and Aidan Crowley settled the nerves of the home support with a brace of points. Ciaran O’Connell replied with a score for the visitors, however they unable to follow this up. With victory in sight the hosts finished with a flourish and had four unanswered points through Stephen O’Sullivan (3) and Micheál O'Mahony to seal the win. Donal Daly did register one last score, but it mattered little, though Ballymac too breathed a sigh of relief at the end, when it was confirmed that they avoided relegation.

Not long after the final whistle it was calculated that Templenoe were promoted to Division 1 of the county league. A feat only achieved once before back in 2015, when Templenoe won the Division 2 title and remained in the topflight division for four years.

Congratulations to our players and management on another proud achievement for the club. 

Final Score: Templenoe 2-16, Ballymacelligot 1-13.

Scorers:

Templenoe: Stephen O’Sullivan 1-06 (4f), Brian Crowley 1-02, Aidan Crowley 0-03 (2f), Gavin Crowley 0-02 (1tp), Adrian Spillane 0-02, Micheál O'Mahony 0-01.

Ballymacelligot: Donal Daly 0-06 (2tp), Michael Quirke 1-01 (1f), Jack Joy 0-02 (1tp) (1f), Aidan Breen 0-01, Darragh Sweeney 0-01, Niall Collins 0-01 (1f), Ciaran O’Connell 0-01.

Wides:

Templenoe:  5

Ballymacelligot: 10

Teams:

Templenoe: Mark Looney, Dara Casey, Kieran O’Neill, Kieran McCarthy, Mark Casey, Gavin Crowley, Martin Reilly, Colin Crowley, Adrian Spillane, John Spillane, Micheál O'Mahony, Ciaran Crowley, Stephen O’Sullivan, Brian Crowley, Aidan Crowley.

Subs Used: John Moriarty, Conor Murphy.

Ballymacelligot: Christy Leen, Padraig Rediy, Daniel O’Shea, Eoghan Joy, Adam Sheehy, Tadhg Brick ©, Diarmuid Galvin, Aidan Breen, Cathal White, Niall Collins, Jack Joy, Darragh Sweeney, Darragh Regan, Donal Daly, Ciaran O’Connell.

Subs Used: Sean Martin, Michael Quirke.

Referee: Evan Horan

McCarthy Insurance Group Senior Football County League Division 2