St. Michaels 0-13, Ballivor 0-11       

Ballivor put up a courageous fight on home ground on Tuesday evening last but they couldn't prevent St. Michaels heading back to North Meath with two valuable points. The visitors who were short a few regulars on the night made hard work of their victory and it was two late points from Declan Reilly that pushed them over the line. 

Ballivor made an excellent start with two points in as many minutes but a point from Paddy Tobin on the run and an excellent 2 pointer from Daniel Murphy but the Michaels lads into the lead, a lead they held until the 44th minute. The home side could only add a further two minors for the remainder of the opening half as the visitors back division of Ryan Gaffney, Ciaran & Brian O'Reilly, Cathal Walsh, Matt Moriarty and Jack Griffin refused to fold to their opponents. Murphy raised a white flag at the end of the opening quarter while Tobin (2), Reilly (1) and the roving Brian O'Reilly and Matt Moriarty (1 each ) gave St. Michaels a deserved 0-9 to 0-4 half time lead.

Ballivor heeded their managers half time team talk with a better second half as they pointed 30 seconds into the new half and they continued in that vane until they levelled the match at 0-9 apiece on 44 minutes. St. Michaels were at sixes and sevens at this stage and it wasn't until substitute C.J. Lynch sent over from a placed ball that the visitors awoke from their slumber. Brian O'Reilly finished off an up-field move with a good effort from play, then following some handbag stuff referee Bernard Heaney sent a player from both sides for a early shower and he also showed Cian Sheridan of St. Michaels a black card. 

When play resumed Ballivor made it a draw match once again but it was St. Michaels who finished the stronger with two well struck minors from play from the boot of Declan Reilly.                                                                                                                                         

St. Michaels team and scorers: Graham Dooner: Ryan Gaffney, Ciaran O'Reilly, Cathal Walsh; Matt Moriarty (0-1), Brian O'Reilly (0-2), Jack Griffin; Cian Sheridan, Daniel Murphy (0-3); Robert Briody, Paddy Tobin (0-3), Declan Reilly (0-3), Scott Doyle; Lee Morris, Paddy Fitzsimons. 

Subs used: C.J. Lynch (0-1) for Doyle, Diarmuid O'Malley for Fitzsimons

Referee: Bernard Heaney        

Match report and photo: Pascal Reilly PRO.       

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