Loughcrew 1-16 Blackwater 0-08

It was a relatively short trip for both sides this evening as Loughcrew welcomed Blackwater to Ballinlough for Round 2 of the Regional Football Championship and it was the hosts who raced into a three point lead with Harry Ryan, Sean Reilly and Joe Blake all finding the sticks in the opening period.

It took Blackwater a little longer to settle but when they did they hit back with points from Carnaross pair Paddy McDermott and Darragh O’Reilly to lower the gap. Another Harry Ryan free was followed up with a great score from play, his Ballinlough club-mate Seanie Geraghty and St.Brigids David Gibney combining well to set Ryan up in the 14th minute.

Indeed Loughcrew could have being further ahead only for a glorious goal chance skimmed off the post for Joe Blake and they were to lose the influential Harry Ryan through injury in the 18th minute.

With Ryan off the field it was Oldcastle’s CJ Healy and St.Brigids Joe Blake who assumed free taking duties and they were to account for three more scores by the 23rd minute, all from the placed ball.

Blackwater to their credit were fairly accurate with their own free taking, Kilmainhams Dylan Morgan proving very effective as he added two further points for his team before the half time whistle. So when Referee Paddy Clarke called for the ball Loughcrew led on a scoreline of 0-08 to Blackwaters 0-04.

Loughcrew opened the scoring in the second half with a lovely effort from CJ Healy from a tight angle before Dylan Morgan was accurate again with a Blackwater free in the 34th minute.

The Loughcrew rearguard were defending well and continued to deny Blackwater any clear cut chances but again they weren’t taking their own chances at the other end, Joe Blake finding himself 1v1 with the keeper in the 39th minute but he was to be denied by an excellent save from the Blackwater netminder who deflected the ball over the bar.

Another blow for Loughcrew came a moment later when they lost Pearse Sheridan to a black card and for the first five minutes with the extra man Blackwater made them pay, points from Dylan Morgan and Paddy McDermott helped lower the deficit. But Manager Davy Nelson will be thrilled with how his charges applied themselves from there on in as Loughcrew added four points in as many minutes with Oran Mulvaney sending over a lovely point, along with scores for Joe Blake, Michael Flood and CJ Healy to give Loughcrew a commanding lead by the 50th minute.

A Blackwater point from midfielder Liam Ward was all they could muster in response and with Loughcrew playing with massive confidence Ballinlough’s Seanie Geraghty intercepted a pass and set Darren Gibney on his way, and the Moylagh full back did ever so well to send over a super point in the 53rd minute.

Everyone wanted to get in on the scoring action now and Oldcastle’s Lee Healy added his name to the list with a point in the 54th minute, he was taken off a moment later so good job it went over !!

While Loughcrew were performing well as a defensive unit, particular mention must be given to Dylan Garrigan who was exceptional throughout the game and played a large part in keeping the oppositions score down.

To cap off a resounding victory there was time for substitute James Cooke to get in on the scoring action as he kept his composure to finish to the net in the 57th minute to give Loughcrew an unassailable lead.

So when Referee Paddy Clarke blew the full time whistle Loughcrew took a much deserved victory on a scoreline of 1-16 to Blackwaters 0-08.

Loughcrew Team: D.Scully, D.Garrigan, Darren Gibney(0-01), S.Gibney, D.Caffrey, M.Flood(0-01), L.Healy(0-01), S.Reilly(0-01), O.Mulvaney(0-01), S.Geraghty, P.Sheridan, H.Ryan(0-03(2f)), C.J Healy(0-04(3f)), J.Blake(0-04(1f)), David Gibney

Subs: C.Brown for H.Ryan 18’, B. Gray for David Gibney 46’, J.Cooke(1-00) for D.Caffrey 53’, S.Guirke for L.Healy 55’, M.Corrigan for D.Scully 57’

Referee: Paddy Clarke

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