Ballinlough 6-01-13 (33) Dunderry 4-01-13 (27)

Dunderry set down an early marker with a two pointer from play in the opening minute, before Ballinlough hit back with the perfect response, Darren O’Higgins rifling the net in the fourth minute to put Ballinlough ahead.

That score was followed up with a lovely point from play for Daire Shine, but Dunderry hit back with two points of their own to level the sides. Further points were traded with Kit Óg Lynch accurate for Ballinlough, before the men in red took the lead when Oisin McDermott commanded midfield before sending a fine ball into Tom Shine and he made no mistake firing over in the eighth minute.

Ballinlough were really motoring well now and were rewarding once again with a piece of brillant individual skill as Brandon Brunton took possession some 30 metres away from goal, before ducking and weaving his way past the Dunderry defence to bury the ball past the Dunderry keeper and boost Ballinloughs lead once again.

That score seemed to wake Dunderry up a little as they hit the next point from play, before a rare error from Alan Gibney in the Ballinlough net gifted them possession from the kick-out, the ball worked swiftly to the back of the net in the 11th minute and Dunderry were right back in this game.

Darren O’Higgins got his first point of the game before Dunderry nailed a free, and then Tom Shine pushed Ballinlough ahead again with a tidy point from play.

It was Dunderry who grasped the lead next in what was a high octane opening period of football, a high ball in caught cleanly and rifled to the the net in the 16th minute gave the Dunderry men a two point lead.

That score was followed up by two points from play to leave Dunderry leading by four, but Ballinlough were working their chances well when again Oisin McDermott was pivotal around the centre of the park before releasing the ball to Benji Smith, and the veteran sneaked his way in and finished to the net with aplomb in the 18th minute.

Dunderry hit the next two points from play to restore their lead to three points but that was a short lived lead as excellent defending from Robbie Farrell set Ballinlough on their way once again, and with Darren O’Higgins doing all the hard work he then opted to gift a goal to Kit Óg Lynch who made no mistake in front of goal to level the sides once again in the 23rd minute.

Kit Óg followed that score up with a lovely point from play that was all his own doing before Dunderry pointed themselves in the 29th minute to level proceedings once again.

But the final score of the half belonged to Ballinlough and Daire Shine as he sent over a fine point in the 32nd minute, so when Referee Shane Waters blew the half time whistle Ballinlough led on a scoreline of 4-07 to Dunderry’s 2-12.

From the restart the Ballinlough men started with intent with points from Kit Óg Lynch and Darren O’Higgins to extend their lead. Points were then traded as Harry Ryan cancelled out a Dunderry point from play and then came a pivotal moment in the game on the 40 minute mark.

Dunderry worked the ball forward well and were in on goal, only to be denied by an excellent goal line clearance from Alan Gibney, who not only stopped the ball going over the line, but also worked it well and away from danger.

From that clearance Ballinlough now raced up the field with possession and following great work from Harry Ryan and Mark McCullen, the ball was shifted to Daire Shine, who added Ballinloughs fifth goal of the contest and put the men in red six points clear.

Substitute Charlie Lynch added his name to the score sheet with a fine point from play in the 42nd minute before Darren O’Higgins clipped over from a tight angle, the Lough men now leading by eight points.

This game was by no means over as Dunderry were awarded a penalty in the 47th minute which was duly dispatched to the back of the net, but Ballinlough responded exceptionally well, Daire Shine landing a monster two pointer from the kick out to immediately take the sting off the goal concession.

In a further show of resilience Darren O’Higgins capped off a superb individual performance with his second and Ballinloughs sixth goal in the 50th minute.

Credit to Dunderry they kept chipping away and were rewarded with a point from play and a second penalty goal in the 55th minute.

Further points were traded with Darren O’Higgins accurate once again, and there was no sense of panic amongst the Ballinlough ranks in the closing stages despite Dunderry lofting balls in to try and reclaim a goal or two, but the defence stood strong with Robbie Farrell in particular, providing the experience and cleverness to stop any late Dunderry attack.

After almost five minutes of added time Referee Shane Waters finally blew the full time whistle, Ballinlough taking a more than deserving first round win on a scoreline of 6-15 to Dunderry’s 4-15. A great start to the campaign for the lads who will be going to build on this fine performance going forward.

Ballinlough Team: A.Gibney, C.Fleming, R.Farrell, D.Caffrey, H.Ryan(0-01), O.McDermott, T.Shine(0-02), M.McCullen, E.Briody, B.Brunton(1-00), D.Shine(1-04(one 2pt)), S.Tunney, K.Óg Lynch(1-03), D.O’Higgins(2-04), B.Smith(1-00)

Subs: J.Connell for C.Fleming H/T, C.Lynch(0-01) for K.Òg Lynch 38’

Referee: Shane Waters

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