Na Fianna proved to be too strong for Ballinlough in this Division 2 encounter played in Baconstown on Saturday afternoon.
Na Fianna...................3-12 Ballinlough...................0-06
The North Meath men got off to a good start, when Kevin Mallen pointed a free in the opening minute, but this was to be the only time during the Match when they found themselves in front. In fact, by the time the Lough split the posts again in the 20th minute, Na Fianna had found the target on five successive occasions, largely thanks to Dan and Jamie Queeney.
Ricky McDermott scored two nice points before the half was out, but it was Na Fianna who ended the first period better with two goals in quick succession. First, Conor Downey placed a low ball past Shane Smith in the Ballinlough goals, before Shane Barrett brought the half to a close with another well taken three-pointer. This late hammer blow to the Reds left them trailing 2-06 to 0-04, and with a mountain to climb in the second half.
Any hopes of a comeback were quickly put to bed when Na Fianna started with a scoring blitz. Another goal by Barrett, combined with points from Downey & Queeney put the tie beyond Ballinlough’s reach. Late points by Tommy and Mark McCullen were little more than consolation scores, as the tie came to its conclusion.
After their third successive league win, it looks like it could be shaping up to be a good year for this impressive Na Fianna outfit.
Best for Ballinlough on the day were James Baugh, Ricky McDermott & Padraig Muldoon.
Ballinlough: S Smith, R. Farrell, P. Muldoon, J. Baugh, M. Geraghty, D. Muldoon, N. Farrelly, M. McCullen, C. Mallen, T. McCullen, K. Devine, J. Reilly, R. McDermott, S. Geraghty, K. Mallen.
Subs: E. Smith for N. Farrelly, D. Lynch for K. Mallen, J. Higgins for J Reilly, J O’Reilly for T. McCullen.
Na Fianna: S. Geraghty, D Bailey, C. Cosgrave, J. Waldon, M. Farrelly, F. Foley, T Cosgrave, B. Queeney, J. Queeney, D. Queeney, D Barrett, C. Downey, J O’Lone, S. Barrett, D. Downey.