Tallow 4-17
Ballysaggart 2-22
Late late drama saw Tallow snatch what can only be described as a thriller at Fraher Field, cruelly denying a brilliant Ballysaggart at the death.
Mark O'Brien's last minute goal gave Tallow the points as it was injury-time heartache two weekends running for Ballysaggart.
Tallow started the game brightly and raised a green flag on two minutes when Tommy Ryan was allowed time and space to turn and fire home from close quarters.
Ballysaggart made the perfect response to that early setback - reeling off six successive scores, courtesy of Stephen Bennett (3); Kieran Bennett (2) and Christy Murphy.
A fine score from Ryan Grey broke that momentum, with Tommy Ryan clipping over two difficult frees to level proceedings for the second time.
A wonderful Stephen Bennett dead ball had Ballysaggart one to the good at the water break, and the game burst into life after the stoppage.
Tallow moved in front when Paul O'Brien found the radar before Ryan Grey capitalised on a poor puckout. Ballysaggart worked the ball upfield and Adrian Meagher's men struck gold - Stephen Bennett plundering home the loose sliotar.
Tallow raised the perfect response as a Darah Buckley shot from distance cannoned the upright but down it fell to O'Brien who made no mistake from a few yards out.
Kieran Bennett levelled the scores with his third point of the half before a wonderful curling effort from his brother Stephen saw the tide turn once more. Kenneth Cashel seemingly got a touch on his long free soon after, before points from Ryan and Buckley levelled matters for the fifth time.
Ryan and Bennett traded dead balls before a fourth point from play for Kieran Bennett and another free from Stephen gave Ballysaggart a somewhat deserved 1-13 to 2-8 advantage at the interval.
Second Half
The old cliche that goals win games proved pivotal as the half grew on, and there were some beautiful scores at the beginning of the second period.
Ian Beecher sent over a fine point from the right-hand sideline for Tallow, before an impressive Kyle Bennett effort and a Stephen Bennett shot on the short grip cancelled that out.
Darragh Mulcahy split the posts from the middle of the park, before a great piece of skill and a requisite score from the impressive Ryan Grey. A Tommy Ryan free levelled matters for a seventh period, before an outstanding Ryan Bennett catch and Kyle Bennett point looked to be the score of the game.
That score of the match, and quite possibly the score of the whole season, was to come on 39 minutes when Shane Bennett bombed through a litany of onrushing defenders from half-back before rattling the sliotar into the top-left corner past a helpless Shaun O'Sullivan.
That put Ballysaggart five points up and it looked to be their game to lose. Tallow showed admirable character and resilience and continued to throw the kitchen-sink at their near neighbours.
Paul O'Brien and Jordan Henley chipped in to reduce that deficit as three points seperated the sides at the second-half water break - Ballysaggart 2-17 Tallow 2-14.
Tallow Leave It Late
Stephen Bennett knocked over another free before Kyle Bennett had an opportunity to put the game to bed, but blew the sliotar just right and wide when bearing down on the Town End goal.
That profligacy was duly punished and Tallow ambushed up the pitch and nicked goal number three. They recycled possession well at the edge of the square, and substitute Mark Stewart shot low across the 'keeper into the bottom left corner to make it a one point affair with ten points remaining.
Steven Mangan's well-taken point handed 'Saggart some breathing room, but it didn't last long as Grey and Buckley were on hand to level proceedings for the eighth and final time.
Two inspirational scores from Ronan Walsh and Sam Ryan looked to be enough to push Ballysaggart over the line to a first senior win, before Buckley and Kieran Bennett traded further scores.
Three minutes of added time were announced as a vocal crowd roared both teams home, and there was a lengthy delay as Tallow midfielder Darragh Mulcahy looked to have picked up a nasty injury. In desperate need of a goal, Tallow sent the whole squad into the square and with the sliotar falling in his path, corner back Mark O'Brien swung at full throttle and his delicious first time strike simply flew past Michael Ryan into the net causing an eruption in the stands.
Referee Nicky Barry blew the full-time whistle, Tallow nicking it cruelly at the death, with Ballysaggart left to wonder just what they have to do to win at senior level.
Tallow: Shaun O'Sullivan; Ben Aherne, Jake Beecher, Mark O'Brien; Ken Kearney, Jordan Henley, Kieran Geary; Darragh Mulcahy, Robbie Geary; Bob McCarthy, Ian Beecher, Darah Buckley; Paul O'Brien, Ryan Grey, Thomas Ryan.
Subs: Mark Stewart for Thomas Ryan (39); Dean Beecher for Bob McCarthy (60); Rob O'Sullivan for Darragh Mulcahy (60+2)
Scorers: Thomas Ryan (1-05, 0-05f); Paul O'Brien (1-02); Ryan Grey (0-04); Mark Stewart and Mark O'Brien (1-00 each); Darah Buckley (0-03, 0-02f); Darragh Mulcahy, Jordan Henley and Ian Beecher (0-01 each)
Ballysaggart: Michael Ryan; John Roche, Darren Meagher, Sam Ryan; Ryan Bennett, Shane Bennett, Steven Mangan; Cailean O'Gorman, Kieran Bennett; Christy Murphy; Stephen Bennett; Chris O'Gorman; Kyle Bennett, Kenneth Cashel, Janey O'Brien.
Subs: Kieran Fennessy for Janey O'Brien (37); Ronan Walsh for Kenneth Cashel (41); Tomas Nugent for Christy Murphy (57); Kenneth Cashel for Ryan Bennett (60+2)
Scorers: Stephen Bennett (1-09, 0-04f, 0-02 '65); Kieran Bennett (0-05); Shane Bennett (1-00); Kenneth Cashel and Kyle Bennett (0-02 each); Sam Ryan, Steven Mangan, Christy Murphy and Ronan Walsh (0-01 each)
Referee: Nicky Barry (Passage)
