Blackhall Gaels 1-10 Nobber 1-7

Blackhall Gaels got their 2021 Intermediate Championship campaign off to the perfect start on Friday night when they overcame Nobber in tricky conditions in Trim.

A misty and windy evening in Trim meant both teams had to deal with testing conditions, but it was Blackhall who got the better of the north Meath side by three points.

Playing into a stiff breeze Blackhall got off to the better start with debutant Luke Jennings getting the opening score of the game followed by Tadhg Brosnan to give Blackhall a 2-point lead after 5 minutes. Nobber counted with their own score from play as the teams continued to trade scores up to the water break with Blackhall leading 5-3 at the quarter mark.

Blackhall stretched that lead to 3 points when Paul Kelly pointed after a patient build up. Nobber had a goal chance on the 20-minute mark but a great, last-ditch touch from Blackhall’s Dan Carty defused the danger and happily conceded a 45. Nobber pounced again and a pair of points brought them back into the game. It was 6-5 when a Blackhall free in from 45m out was taken quickly, amid confusion in the Nobber defence and Paul Kelly duly dispatched to the net from a long ball to give Blackhall a crucial 1-6 to 0-5 lead at the half time break.

On the resumption it was Blackhall who again started the brighter and it could have been almost game over when the move of the game seen Brosnan field a great offensive mark and quickly feed the incoming Stephen Morris, but Morris couldn’t keep his shot low and blasted over the bar to leave Nobber trailing 1-7 to 0-5. If the first goal of the game was confusing the second wasn’t without its questions as Nobber were awarded a penalty on the 44-minute mark which Jordan Morris made no mistake with to leave the sides 1-7 to 1-6 at the water break in the second half.

5 minutes into the last quarter Nobber were level when full forward Karl Casserly pointed a free. For Nobber that was as good as it got though. Blackhall found another gear in the last 10 minutes and pointed 3 times without reply. Frees from Brosnan, Alan Nestor and a point from play from substitute Kealan Forde stretched the Gaels lead to 3 as the clock ran into the red.

Blackhall ran out 1-10 to 1-7 winners in Trim. Blackhall were well served in the backs by Hugh Smith, Stephen Morris, and John Kelly while Paul Kelly high scored with 1-2 but it was great to see both adult football debutants Luke Jennings and Kealan Forde getting on the scoreboard.

Blackhall Gaels – Tommy Dalton, Hugh Smith, Shane Whitty, Dan Carty, Donnacha Healy, John Kelly, Stephen Morris (0-1), Paul Kelly (1-2), Mark Mullally, Robbie McGuinness, Alan Nestor (0-3), James Kelly, Tadhg Brosnan (0-2), Donnacha Tobin, Luke Jennings (0-1)

Subs – Dermot Carty for Jennings, Colum McElligot for Healy, Kealan Forde (0-1) for McGuinness, 

 

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