A goal two minutes from the end of the game by Colm Mallen helped Ballinlough get off to a winning start in this Division 2 A-league match in Dunganny on Sunday afternoon.
Dunderry played with the aid of a strong breeze in the first half but despite this it was Ballinlough who took an early lead with a good point from Colm Mallen, but inevitably the wind advantage started to have a major influence on the game and with Damian Clarke lively at centre half forward for Dunderry they went, 0-3 to 0-2, ahead midway through the first half. The Ballinlough defence, led by Padraig Muldoon, did particularly well to deal with much of the long ball that was delivered into the Dunderry attack but it was defender Evan Stephens who moved into enemy territory to kick a couple of great points to put his team ahead, 0-5 to 0-2, at half time.
Dunderry were wasteful at times during the opening half and they must have feared the worst when Ballinlough were soon back on level terms early in the second half with points from Peadar Byrne ,Sean Geraghty and Colm Mallen, to leave the scores at; 0-5 to 0-5, after 34 minutes.
But Dunderry were far from finished and instead of playing deeper they took the game to their opponents and were again in the lead, 0-9 to 0-8, with only five minutes left on the clock and they extended their lead after Stephen Coogan pointed a free to push them two points clear approaching the last couple of minutes. Ballinlough launched a couple of attacks but Dunderry appeared to have the situation under control until the lively Jonnie Reilly made a brave interception in the middle of the field and instigated a move that involved Peadar Byrne and Sean Geraghty before Kevin Devine saw his shot parried by keeper David Jennings and the on rushing Colm Mallen showed all the attributes of a good corner forward to be in the right place at the right time and poke the ball into the net to seal a one point victory.
Balinlough: S. Smith, B. Smith, P. Muldoon, R. Farrell, M. Geraghty, D. Muldoon, N. Farrelly, Cian Mallen, T. McCullen, J. Reilly, P. Byrne, S. Geraghty, C. Mallen, K. Mallen, R. Mc Dermott Subs: K. Devine for K.Mallen, M. McCullen for Mc Cullen, R. McGuinness for McDermott and G. Reilly for Reilly.