1996/99
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Enigmatic Ballyglass rescued from the brink
Soccer
4 March 1998
GUINNESS FAI JUNIOR CUP (Seventh Round)
DRAMATIC CLIMAX AS MAYO CLUB'S ROLLER COASTER CUP RUN CONTINUES. . .
Ballyglass ............................ 2 Nenagh ................................ 2 (Ballyglass won 4-2 on penalties after extra time)
BIG MATCH VERDICT :: BY TOM KELLY
Ballyglass, in the very best tradition of making life exceedingly perplexing for themselves, have become only the sixth Mayo club to reach the quarter finals of the Guinness FAI Junior Cup. But they were fortunate to overcome their latest bout of football schizophrenia against Nenagh on Sunday in a game laced with incident and talking points.
Rarely has the game in the county produced a team which such a split personality. . .wonderful one minute, downright ordinary the next! Their enigmatic nature contrived to transform a match which they had firmly in their grasp into one they almost lost following a dramatic collapse. That they managed to survive their Jekyll and Hyde experience spoke volumes for their character and commitment, but it did not do much to help the collective cardiac condition of the watching faithful!
The important aspect for Ballyglass, however, is that they were in the hat for yesterday (Tuesday) evening's quarter-final draw, a passage achieved by way of a penalty shoot-out for the third time in the series. But the reality is that they cannot afford such an erratic performance again if they hope to maintain their amazing run in the competition.
Ray Prendergast, the experienced midfield star with a record number of appearances for the club (327), struck the decisive penalty which ultimately gave Ballyglass victory. He was placed in the winning position after Nenagh's Kevin Coonan, their outstanding defender, and Kevin Finn had missed the opening two penalties for the visitors.
Ballyglass goalkeeper Declan Prendergast, who had saved Coonan's attempt, could have won the game moments before his brother, Ray. But in a capricious personal display which was a microcosm of his side's overall performance, the colourful goalkeeper blasted his effort over the crossbar in much the same way as he had done in the previous round against North End.
"That's it. I am finished taking penalties," he uttered as he left the battleground a relieved but happy man.
It should never have gone to that, of course, from a Ballyglass point of view. They were two-nil up and coasting after fifty minutes and Martin Vahey, the side's star striker who postponed a holiday in Australia by 24 hours to play in the game, had a magnificent opportunity of putting the issue beyond doubt in the 67th minute. He was clean through with Nenagh goalkeeper, John Norton, at his mercy. But he somehow managed to poke the ball wide when it appeared easier to score.
Vahey missed a similar opportunity midway through the first half before making amends with a brilliant left-footed strike in the 49th minute.
Ballyglass, who started with tremendous zeal and spirit, opened their account in the 16th minute when the confident Stephen Ring headed the ball cleanly into the net following a cross from the left by Ray Prendergast.
Vahey, who was causing endless problems for the Nenagh defence with his pace until Kevin O'Meara was summoned from the substitutes' bench to manmark him, could have increased the margin six minutes later when he was set up by Paul Connolly's penetrating pass. But the 25-years-old attacker ballooned his finish over the crossbar.
There was a controversial moment five minutes before half-time when Nenagh's Tommy Lynch powered the ball into the Ballyglass net after the goalkeeper, Declan Prendergast, failed to hold a long-range shot by Kevin Finn. But the goal was disallowed by Galway referee Tom Staunton who correctly ruled that Lynch had fouled the goalkeeper.
Nenagh were in big trouble when they fell further behind four minutes into the second half with a brilliant Vahey strike following a precious pass by the prominent Stephen Ring. But the Tipperary side were galvanised when they pulled a goal back with twenty minutes remaining.
A corner-kick on the left by Darren Mitchell was headed into the net by Martin Donnellan, pouncing on a mistake by goalkeeper Prendergast who claimed the ball but failed to get it.
In a sensational twist to the encounter, Nenagh equalised ten minutes later when a low shot by midfield ace Donnellan crept under the legs of the Ballyglass goalkeeper and into the net.
A custodian noted for his reliability and consistency was now making basis errors at the worst possible time. But Prendergast redeemed himself in glorious circumstances eight minutes from the end.
Nenagh were handed a gift-wrapped opportunity of reaching the quarter-finals when they were awarded a penalty for a foul by central defender Justin Keady on Kevin Finn. Prendergast not only blocked the spot-kick by Darren Mitchell, but he also saved a ferocious shot on the rebound from Finn. All was forgiven. Prendergast was restored as the Ballyglass hero.
He made one further fumble during the penalty shoot-out, but his side were assured of a place in the last eight with converted penalties by Justin Keady, Mark Diskin, James Regan and Ray Prendergast.
The intrigue continues for another two weeks at least.
Ballyglass: D. Prendergast, M. Diskin, K. Staunton, J. Keady, C. Burke, S. Ring, P. Connolly, J. Reapy, R. Prendergast, M. Vahey, K. Connolly. Res: S. Hyland (for K. Connolly); J. Regan (for Reapy).
Nenagh: J. Norton, D. Flynn, P. Cullen, P. Meagher, K. Coonan, M. Donnellan, D. Mitchell, P. Kelly, J. Ryan, K. Finn, T. Lynch. Res: K. O'Meara (for Meagher); M. Fitzpatrick (for Kelly); M. McNamara (for Lynch).
Ref: T. Staunton (Galway).
* Star Rating: Stephen Ring. . .a big influence.
Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - March 1998
