Rathkenny 1-13 Ballinlough 1-10

Rathkenny made it two wins in as many outings in round 2 of the Intermediate Football Championship on Saturday evening.

Caoloch Halligan got Rathkenny off the mark inside one minute, clipping over a free a few yards inside the 45 yard line. Ballinlough added a point of their own just two minutes later from a dead ball to even things up. Rathkenny were dominant around the middle in the early stages and throughout, with great work from Brian Meade, Donal Keogan and James Macken creating scores from play for Keith Curtis and Halligan (2). On 13 minutes, a shot from Curtis dipped fortuitously over the head of the Ballinlough keeper and into the top corner with the help of the crossbar. Halligan added is fourth of the day after fielding a ball in midfield and tagging on a fine score to leave Rathkenny 6 ahead going in to the water break.

A point from a free closed the gap for Ballinlough at the beginning of second quarter but Rathkenny added two more points from the boot of Halligan to cancel out two Ballinlough frees scored before half time.

HT - Rathkenny: 1-9 Ballinlough 0-6 

Ballinlough started the second have stronger and tipped over two frees inside 5 minutes to narrow the gap. On 7 minutes, a Donal Keogan turnover and quick move led to a score for Curtis after picking up the ball inside and calmly splitting the posts. Scores were harder to come by for Rathkenny in the third quarter but the the rear guard and men in the middle consistently forced turnovers and won battles around the middle and at the back. A fortuitous goal of their own on 19 minutes would have given Ballinlough hope but Rathkenny finished strongest with Curtis and Halligan once again tagging on points that saw Rathkenny take home both points.

The result topped off a fine day for the club. Congratulations to Sean O'Hare and Meath minors on their fantastic All-Ireland final win.

Rathkenny: Cathal McCabe, Adam Byrne, Thomas McGuiness, Ross Gore, Keith Timmons, James O'Hare, Robbie Garry, Brian Meade, Donal Keogan, James Macken, Caoloch Halligan (0-08), Andrew Bellew, Charlie Cullen, Keith Curtis (1-05), Will Gore; Subs; Louis Timmons for C Cullen, Niall Brannigan for A Bellew, Mark Byrne for W Gore

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