Ballybofey seal promotion, but Lifford keep them waiting on title

Ballybofey United felt unable to toast promotion on a day when fiesty Lifford Celtic proved the title party poopers at the Finn Valley Centre.

Ballybofey United 1 Lifford Celtic 1

A first League title since 1999 remains in Ballybofey United’s palms but, while they secured promotion to Division 1 thanks to this hard-fought draw, the CT Ball Division 2 title hasn’t quite been clinchced just yet.

The champagne remains in the ice for another fortnight, although it is only a matter now of when not if they’ll have the silverware.

When Mark Griffin forced a breakthrough for Ballybofey in the 26^th minute, a win to secure that elusive League crown felt inevitable, but Lifford tore up the script.

Ballybofey were inhibited by a combination of nerves and poor finishing throughout a tetchy and niggly Finn Valley derby and when Marcus McDonald drew Lifford level on 57 minutes, it burst the balloons for the home side.

A decent crowd turned up in anticipation of Ballybofey ending their own 18-year wait for a League title.

Brian Lafferty played on the last side to taste glory and is now manager of a side that has blitzed their way through the season so far. Their goal difference is 60 and their only previous blot on the copybook was their draw at Drumkeen in January.

Neil Lloyd curled an early free over the top and Rory Dunleavy stabbed over as Ballybofey probed and Griffin drilled at Paul Given after playing a free short with Lloyd.

Lifford made it clear that they weren’t in town for the party.

Lee White’s side, who were Premier Division champions as recently as 2013, are in the promotion hunt themselves after tumbling down the divisions.

Stephen Roulstone hit the side netting before Daniel Lindsay’s free forced Ballybofey goalkeeper Chris Patton to claw away.

The dam broke when Ballybofey, with former Finn Harps man Lloyd at the hub of the move, the ball was worked out to the left-hand side. Griffin had plenty to do, but wonderfully got his way into position before prodding home, beating Given at the near post.

Alan Patton headed off the bar after Dunleavy’s corner caused panic and Given saved well from Damien Glackin. Striker Glackin has hit over 20 goals this season and wasn’t far off adding to his tally with an excellent volley that flew over Given’s bar after he connected to Dunleavy’s cross.

Griffin had a chance for a second early in the second half, but miscued and Lifford were on level terms when a Lindsay free evaded Patton and McDonald finished off the post, in spite of Brian Lafferty junior’s valiant attempt.

Given saved from Griffin and Lloyd floated just off target, while Dunleavy was chopped down as he weaved his way in with Ballybofey’s intent now evident.

The air by now was edgy and Mark Carlin whistled narrowly over as Lifford set about completely ruining Ballybofey’s big day.

Lifford held firm to earn the share of the spoils. Ballybofey are on the way to Division 1, but left feeling as if they should have had silverware to swing.

They host winless Copany in two weeks’ time when the champagne, surely, will spray.

After waiting since ’99, another 14 days perhaps doesn’t seem so long.

Ballybofey United: Chris Patton; Brian Lafferty, Paul Kelly, Shaun McGowan, Niall McCloskey; Rory Dunleavy, Neil Lloyd, John Lynch (Daragh Redmond 85), Mark Griffin; Damien Glackin, Alan Patton.

Lifford Celtic: Paul Given, Daniel Lindsay, James McNulty, Marcus McDonald, Stuart Carlin; Jack Mahon, Aidan Gillespie (Ross Porter 56), Stephen Roulstone (Matthew Carlin 70), Kevin McBrearty (Paul McNulty 41); Jason McBrearty, Mark Carlin.

Referee: Frank Duff.