'We’re just haunted that we got another crack at it' - Ballinora live to fight another day

Cork senior footballer Neil Lordan intervened late on. 

Ballinora's James Lordan and Ilen Rovers' Peadar O'Driscoll go high for the ball during the McCarthy Insurance Group I'A'FC final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Pic: Eddie O'Hare

There were mixed emotions from the Ballinora and Ilen Rovers camps after their Cork IAFC final ended in stalemate.

Cork senior footballer Neil Lordan came to Ballinora’s rescue in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage after Ilen breached the three-up rule and he scored a two-point free to level the game, 0-15 to 2-9.

“The ref was a bit iffy about it but thankfully he gave us the call,” the Ballinora full-back said.

“We’ve been playing games like that all year, where we’ve let ourselves a good bit of work to do, especially at the end of games. Thankfully, the ball went over the bar because I had a two-point free a minute or two before and I ballooned it wide.

“I would have had a lot of regrets if I didn’t have that second chance and we’re just haunted that we got another crack at it.

“I knew I was really annoyed with how the other one had gone and I’d have had a lot of regrets in the future if the game ended like that.

“I just settled down a bit and willed the ball over the bar, to be honest. It actually wasn’t that good a free, the wind could have carried it over!

“Ilen Rovers got soft goals and obviously we’d have regrets about our shots, but I think our shot-selection was good at times and I think that’s more important. The next day, hopefully the ball does go over the bar - on another day, Mike Quirke would have scored the penalty and got a few more extra points as well.

“We’re looking forward to the next day.” 

Ilen Rovers manager Florence O’Driscoll was disappointed that his side did not see the contest out after being three points up after 60 minutes.

“Ballinora were probably the better team on the balance of play, we’ve to be honest about that,” he said.

“We put ourselves in a winning position, not to win it - not to rob it - is kind of disappointing but it is all back to play for again. We just have to be ready for the next day, whenever that is going to be.” The west Cork outfit breached the three-up rule soon after Ian Wycherley had brought the deficit back to two points. And Neil Lordan then converted the levelling orange flag.

“No issue with the three up rule breach. It is tough on the lads because you are fighting up to the last second," O'Driscoll concluded.

"It is a mental issue and it can happen. Three weeks ago, we gained from that rule. It was a mistake and if you make a mistake you get punished. The lads are disappointed but we will go again. Things looked against us in the last 15 minutes and we fought back. It looked like only one winner but we still put ourselves in a winning position so there are an awful lot of positives to take.

“It will be all about our reaction, how we are going to be mentally and physically.”