Ballinlough 4-10 Dunshaughlin 2-03

Ballinlough made the trip to Dunshaughlin on Sunday morning for Round 4 of the Division 7 League and while it might sound like I’m harping on about it abit, this was Game 4 for a lot of these lads in a six day period…not exactly ideal but no-one can question the dedication and commitment from this group of men as they once again put in a shift to ensure the fixture didn’t fall by the wayside.

Harry Ryan opened the scoring with a point in the third minute before an early penalty for the visitors struck the outside of the post, but a point from Kit Óg Lynch in the eight minute gave Ballinlough a two point lead. The men in red were working well and put together some fine passes before the ball was worked to Alan Gibney, and while he might be most comfortable between the posts, young Gibney showed he has no problem finding the back of the net himself as he took a well stuck goal for Ballinlough in the ninth minute.

That score was the catalyst for a period of dominance for Ballinlough with Benji Smith hitting a goal before great work from Mark McCullen set Alan Gibney up for his second major of the morning in the 14th minute.

In between those scores a Dunshaughlin penalty was awarded but missed so they remained scoreless as Harry Ryan and Kit Óg Lynch added further points by the 20th minute.

Dunshaughlin finally got scoring with a well taken goal in the 27th minute but it was all Ballinlough in the opening half as Mark McCullen added two points and Niall McDonnell got his name on the score sheet with a well taken score to leave Ballinlough in a commanding lead at the break.

So when Referee Sean Clarke blew the half time whistle the score line read Ballinlough 3-07 to Dunshaughlins 1-00.

To be fair to the home side they kept battling and opened the second half with a point from play before the third penalty of the game was awarded and it was a case of third time lucky as the Dunshaughlin attacker found the net this time to improve their score.

Another great ball in from Mark McCullen, who was controlling proceedings effectively from his midfield station, set Ciaran Ryan up for his first score of the game in the 40th minute before another Dunshaughlin point from play kept them ticking over.

Ballinlough were dominant across the field however with David Rogers cleaning up in defense and Joshua Lynch exceptional with carrying possession and giving Ballinlough an out- ball time and time again. Up at the other end goal chances were coming thick and fast with Kit Óg Lynch and Mark McCullen both hitting the post before McCullen figured out it was easier to put the ball over the bar than under it with a good point in the 45th minute.

A free for Dunshaughlin in the 49th minute was as good as it got for them, as a cameo from Peader Byrne was capped with an excellent score from play in the 56th minute.

With the game never in any doubt Ballinlough still didn’t relent and finished the match as strongly as they started with Kit Óg Lynch going on a marauding run but while he was unable to provide the finish, Ciaran Ryan was on hand to blast the ball to an empty net in the 58th minute to cap off a fine Ballinlough performance.

So when Referee Sean Clarke blew the final whistle Ballinlough ran out convincing winners on a scoreline of 4-10 to Dunshaughlins 2-03.

Ballinlough Team: C.Monaghan, R.Farrell, D.Rogers, P.Muldoon, M.Farrell, L.Maguire, H.Ryan (0-02), M.McCullen (0-03), A.Gibney (2-00), B.Smith (1-00), N.McDonnell (0-01), K.Óg Lynch (0-02), J.Smith, J.Reilly

Subs: C.Ryan(1-01) for L.Maguire 24’, M.Tynan for N.McDonnell 33’, P. Byrne(0-01) for B.Smith 50’

Referee: Sean Clarke

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