Ballinlough made a prefect start to their league campaign with an empathic 22 point victory over Moynalvey at Ballinlough. Vinny Ryan's charges will be looking to make a quick return to Division 2 after being relegated last year.
The result was never in question after the Ballinlough forward line blitzed Moynalvey for four first half goals. Even on Valentine's Day there was no love shown by the Ballinlough forwards to the Moynalvey defence.
Ballinlough registered 1-3 from play within the opening 4 minutes, before Moynalvey got the scoreboard moving with a James Weldon free which turned out to be their only score of the first period.
The pick of the Ballinlough goals was a pile driver from county player Peader Byrne which nestled in the top corner of the net. The other goals came from Ken Rothwell, Colm Mallon and another major from Byrne. The game was essentially over at half time as the score board read 4-5 to 0-1 in favour of the North Meath men.
Moynalvey started the second half well by adding to early points from Weldon but that's how good it got for the men in maroon. Ballinlough added 5 more points in the second half coming from the impressive Byrne (2), Lorcan Maguire (2) and one from Rothwell. A fisted goal from Derek Muldoon was really the icing on the cake for the Ballinlough men.
They will hope to build on this result when they make the journey up to Meath Hill next Sunday. Ballinlough had good performances from Peader Byrne, Colm Mallon, Ken Rothwell and Tommy McCullen.
Ballinlough: K McGuinness, R McGuinness, P Muldoon, J Byrne, J O'Reilly, L Maguire (0-2), B Smith (0-2), T Mc Cullen (0-1), P Byrne (2-2), R Farrell, Colm Mallon (1-0), N Farrelly, D Muldoon (1-0), K Rothwell (1-1), C Mallon (0-2). Subs: Kevin Mallon, C Briody, P Briody, E Smith and S Geraghty.
Moynalvey - O. Regan, B. Dixon, P. Donoghue, W. Mahady, G. Fagan, P. Weldon, D. Smith, B. Conneely, S. Donoghue, D. Treacy, C. Collins, J. Weldon (0-3), D. Durkan, W. Harnan, R. Quinlan. Subs - G. Drum for Harnan, A. Brien for Smith, S. Collins for Quinlan, B. Byrne for Fagan, C. Ennis for Durkan.