Ballinlough 1-02-12 (19) St.Ultans 1-02-06 (13)

Ballinlough welcomed St.Ultans to the Park for Round 1 of the Division 4 League, and it was the Lough men who kicked off proceedings with a win on home ground.

The opening period of the game was marred by wides from both sides with Ballinlough in particular guilty of struggling to get to grips with the strong wind advantage and following a hat full of missed opportunities, they finally opened their account in the eighth minute when Sean Tunney fired over from play.

Harry Ryan eventually got the measure of the breeze in the 10th minute and he sent over a fine two point free to leave Ballinlough leading by three, but all their early work was undone when a lapse in defence allowed St.Ultans to waltz through and fire to the net to level the sides.

Robert O’Brien was excellent in defence all evening and his interception in the 12th minute set Brandon Brunton on his way. Brunton then laid off to Oisin McDermott who made no mistake sending the ball flying over the bar to restore Ballinloughs lead.

St.Ultans restored parity with a point from play, and they soon took the lead with another point in the 19th minute, but Ballinlough hit back with a point from play for Harry Ryan, and their second two pointer of the evening, this time Oisin McDermott raising the Orange flag from play in the 26th minute to leave Ballinlough leading by two.

Dan O’Brien got his name on the scoresheet with a well taken score before St.Ultans finished out the half with two points from play. So when Referee Gus Martyn blew the half time whistle Ballinlough held a slender lead of one point on a scoreline of 0-08 to St.Ultan’s 1-04.

From the restart St.Ultans started at a blistering pace and could have had a second goal, Ballinlough fortunate to see the goal effort rattle the crossbar before Robbie Farrell was in the right place at the right time to clear his lines after the rebound.

Some very patient build up play for Ballinlough was rewarded when Jack Connell fired over in the 35th minute to extend Ballinloughs lead.

Points were traded with St.Ultans pointing in the 36th minute and Oisin McDermott responding two minutes later, before Ballinlough took a firm grip of proceedings when Jamie Casserly sent in a high ball and Luke Harte was on hand to win it and fire to the net in the 43rd minute to boost Ballinloughs lead to five points.

Another effort from Jamie Casserly in the 45th minute required a deft flick off Mark McCullen to see it over the bar before St.Ultans finally hit back with a point from play in the 42nd minute.

The next score for St.Ultans came about in comical fashion as Referee Gus Martyn penalised Ballinlough for a breach of the three back rule, all was fine except for the fact there was no less than five Ballinlough players in their own half at the time the infringement was called so it was a rather bemusing call.

With the wind at his back the St.Ultans kicker opted for the two points and landed the free in the 48th minute to reduce the deficit back to three points.

Jamie Casserly settled Ballinlough again with a well taken score in the 51st minute, before good pressure from Conor Rennicks saw an Ultan’s goal chance go wide of the posts.

Harry Ryan pointed again following great work from Benji Smith and Ferghal Gibney, before Ryan added another in the 55th minute.

Robert O’Brien was once again superb in defence as another of his clearances found Benji Smith and he fired over in the 56th minute to leave Ballinlough leading by seven points.

A two point score from play for St.Ultans was scant consolation in the 58th minute, and it was Ballinlough who took the plaudits and the final score of the game when Harry Ryan added his sixth point of the evening just before the whistle.

So when Referee Gus Martyn blew the full time whistle Ballinlough took the win on a scoreline of 1-16 to St.Ultans 1-10.

Ballinlough Team: A.Gibney, R.O’Brien, R.Farrell, C.Rennicks, J.Lynch, O.McDermott(0-04(one 2pt)), F.Gibney, E.Briody, M.McCullen(0-01), B.Brunton, H.Ryan(0-06(one 2ptF)), J.Connell(0-01), D.O’Brien(0-01), S.Tunney(0-01), L.Harte(1-00)

Subs: K.Óg Lynch for J.Lynch 19’, B.Smith (0-01) for S.Tunney H/T, J.Casserly(0-01) for B.Brunton 37’

Referee: Gus Martyn

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