Evan O'Connor's dramatic two-pointer secures third successive Carrigdhoun JAFC title for Ballygarvan

Cormac and Cillian Fitzgearld of Fitzgearld & Partners present the Man of the Match award to Evan O'Connor. Pic: David Creedon.

Ballygarvan 1-14 (1-2-10) Carrigaline 0-16 (0-4-8)

Evan O’Connor last-gasp two-pointer proved to be the difference as Ballygarvan claimed their third successive Procure.ie Carrigdhoun Junior A Football Championship title by defeating local rivals Carrigaline at Shanbally.

Ray O’Halloran was another hero for the victors, scoring 1-4 from play. The full-forward’s goal kept Ballygarvan in the game after Carrigaline raced into a 0-4 lead through orange flags raised by Ian Sheerin and Kealan Daly, the goalkeeper splitting the posts from a free.

O’Halloran rifled the back of the net in response to finish a well-worked move that was set up by Niall O’Dowd in the 11th minute.

Carrigaline hit back through Andrew Doherty and a Jack Kelly two-pointer, which put them further in front at 0-7 to 1-0. Tim Cronin also scored in a first half that ended with Tomas Vaughan raising an orange flag with a free.

It was 0-11 to 1-5 at the break but Ballygarvan restarted with O’Halloran getting his fourth point. Dylan O’Connor, Evan O’Connor, and O’Dowd then scored in quick succession putting the defending champions ahead for the first time.

Ballygarvan's Evan O'Connor passes the ball back to Niall Dowd as Carrigaline's Dylan Sutton tries to inteercede. Pic: David Creedon.

Carrigaline won the ball from the kick-out and pushed up in numbers, which led to a free and Vaughan ensuring parity. That was just the second time that the two clubs were level, and Ballygarvan reacted with Dylan O’Connor nailing a free from outside the arc, their first two-pointer.

Carrigaline went to their bench in search of momentum, which involved bringing on Dan Greene and Ronan Kelleher. The pair combined to help set up Sheerin to get two points in quick succession, just before Cronin kicked over to free to put their side in front at 0-15 to 1-11.

Carrigaline kept going, determined to kill the game off with just under five minutes left to play. The club even managed to create a goal chance for Vaughan, and the corner forward rattled the crossbar. Ballygarvan cleared their lines and made room for Dowd to get his third and final point, which made it a drawn game for a third time at 1-12 to 0-15.

They won the kick-out and set up O’Connor for the two-pointer that won it, despite Cronin kicking a free in the dying seconds from right in front of the posts.

Scorers for Ballygarvan: R Halloran 1-4, E O’Connor 0-4 (1 2pt), D O’Connor (1 2pt f), N O’Dowd 0-3.

Scorers for Carrigaline: I Sheerin 0-4 (1 2pt), T Vaughan (1 2pt f), T Cronin 0-3, K Daly (2pt f), J Kelly (2pt) 0-2 each, A Doherty, K Kavanagh 0-1 each.

BALLYGARVAN: C Fitzgerald; P Ryan, A Dunne, Z Davidson; S Fenton, S O’Donovan, D O’Mahony; P O’Halloran, D O’Connor; E O’Connor, M O’Mahony, C O’Regan; D Mackey, R O’Halloran, N Dowd.

Subs: C Downey for R O’Halloran (43 inj), S Brooks for P O’Halloran (54), C O’Leary for O’Regan (60).

CARRIGALINE: K Daly; A Doherty, L Ahern, P Laverty; B Murphy, C Barry, J Kelly; K Kavanagh, I Sheerin; D Sutton, J McGrath, K McNulty; T Vaughan, B Pope, T Cronin.

Subs: D Greene for Sutton (h-t), R Kelleher for Doherty (49), S Horan for Vaughan (58).

Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan (Valley Rovers).