Late points secure quarter-final place for St Joseph's against Ballyroan-Abbey

St Joseph’s are through to the quarter finals of the Senior Football Championship thanks to a remarkable comeback on Sunday evening in O’Moore Park. Ballyroan-Abbey will be beyond devastated, having led the game from 10th minute to the 56th. But Mick Dempsey’s St Joseph’s side kicked the last three points of the game to win by two.

It was a back-and-forth game with the sides trading scores from start to finish, with Davin McEvoy and Eoghan O’Flaherty the through-line on either side. 

St Joseph’s 0-14

Ballyroan Abbey 0-12

Oisin Hooney opened the scoring for St Joseph’s before Killian Byrne hit straight back. Mick Keogh kicked Joseph’s into the lead, but once they fell behind a minute later, they looked in serious trouble. 

Davin McEvoy’s first score of the day started Ballyroan on a run of four without reply including two fine strikes, one each from Aaron McEvoy and Padraig Mahon. Davin McEvoy then added the fourth as his side moved three points clear. 

St Joseph’s landed the next two through Keogh and O’Flaherty before Brian Whelan slotted one for St Joseph’s. Eoghan O’Flaherty marched up the field to find the next score, but it was Ballyroan Abbey who finished the half the stronger, adding two points through Colm Walsh and Davin McEvoy again to lead by 0-8 to 0-5 at half time. 

Dylan Doyle got the St Joseph’s ball rolling in the second half and the comeback was rightly on when O’Flaherty kicked them to within a single point. Shaun Fitzpatrick pushed Ballyroan out to 0-9, but Joseph’s had found their mojo. 

Brian Daly pointed in the 40th minute before Matthew Campion levelled the game midway through the half. Davin McEvoy kicked two on the bounce but St Joseph’s wrestled back control. Campion slotted his second before Josh O’Brien made it 0-11 apiece with eight minutes remaining. 

Brian Whelan struck a good score for Ballyroan, but it turned out to be their last score of the game. O’Flaherty levelled with five minutes to go before Brian Daly got the point that put them in front. 

St Joseph’s sealed their place in the quarter-finals in the 59th minute when Dylan Doyle landed the decisive score to give his side a two-point win. 

Ballyroan Abbey must now prepare for a Round 3 tie with Courtwood.