Ballinlough taste defeat in Simonstown
Simonstown Gaels...............1-10
Ballinlough..........................0-7
Ballinlough travelled to Simonstown hoping to pick up another brace of division 2 points, however the home side prevailed on a scoreline of 1-10 to 7 points.
The ‘lough’ made a bright start playing against the wind. Peadar Byrne opened the scoring with a long range free kick, he doubled his tally from the placed ball after Benji Smith was fouled close to goal following trademark foray into the opposition’s half. Sean Geraghty then increased the lead on 9 minutes with a well taken point from all of 35 metres. Seamus Kenny opened the sky blue’s account for the day with a point. Simonstown then took the lead a minute later with a goal parried from close range after a neat passage of play. Kevin Mallen restored parity for the team in red, kicking from a tight angle. At this stage the wide counter for the home side was steadily ticking over and it took a well taken free, dubiously awarded after what looked like a fair shoulder to shoulder challenge, to steady the ship for the home side. At half time the scoreboard read 1-3 to 5 points in favour of Simonstown.
The second half opened in a similar manner to the first with Byrne converting a free, after a foul on Ronan McGuinness outside the 45 yard line. The teams swapped scores with Kevin Devine registering for the team now playing with the wind. The game had been tit-for-tat throughout but this was to be the last time that the sides were level. Simonstown tagged on 6 unanswered points from this point to the end of the match as the north Meath side were guilty of some sloppy play. For the second week running Ballinlough had an opposition player sent off at the death, as the Simonstown centre back received his marching orders for a second bookable offence.
Ballinlough will be disappointed with the final 20 minute collapse but will be encouraged by the performances of some of the team’s younger members, with Emmet Smith and Sean Geraghty showing up well. Others to perform well were Byrne and Benji Smith.
Ballinough: K. McGuinness, R. Farrell, P. Muldoon, E. Smith, B. Smith, L. Maguire, C. Mallen, T. McCullen, P. Byrne, S. Geraghty, M. McCullen, R. McGuinness, K. Mallen, K. Devine, N. Farrelly. Subs: J. O’Higgins for C. Mallen (inj. 18 mins); J. O’Reilly for N. Farrelly (55mins); B. Smith for K. Mallen (55mins); J. O’Reilly for E. Smith (55mins).
Ballinlough..........................0-7
Ballinlough travelled to Simonstown hoping to pick up another brace of division 2 points, however the home side prevailed on a scoreline of 1-10 to 7 points.
The ‘lough’ made a bright start playing against the wind. Peadar Byrne opened the scoring with a long range free kick, he doubled his tally from the placed ball after Benji Smith was fouled close to goal following trademark foray into the opposition’s half. Sean Geraghty then increased the lead on 9 minutes with a well taken point from all of 35 metres. Seamus Kenny opened the sky blue’s account for the day with a point. Simonstown then took the lead a minute later with a goal parried from close range after a neat passage of play. Kevin Mallen restored parity for the team in red, kicking from a tight angle. At this stage the wide counter for the home side was steadily ticking over and it took a well taken free, dubiously awarded after what looked like a fair shoulder to shoulder challenge, to steady the ship for the home side. At half time the scoreboard read 1-3 to 5 points in favour of Simonstown.
The second half opened in a similar manner to the first with Byrne converting a free, after a foul on Ronan McGuinness outside the 45 yard line. The teams swapped scores with Kevin Devine registering for the team now playing with the wind. The game had been tit-for-tat throughout but this was to be the last time that the sides were level. Simonstown tagged on 6 unanswered points from this point to the end of the match as the north Meath side were guilty of some sloppy play. For the second week running Ballinlough had an opposition player sent off at the death, as the Simonstown centre back received his marching orders for a second bookable offence.
Ballinlough will be disappointed with the final 20 minute collapse but will be encouraged by the performances of some of the team’s younger members, with Emmet Smith and Sean Geraghty showing up well. Others to perform well were Byrne and Benji Smith.
Ballinough: K. McGuinness, R. Farrell, P. Muldoon, E. Smith, B. Smith, L. Maguire, C. Mallen, T. McCullen, P. Byrne, S. Geraghty, M. McCullen, R. McGuinness, K. Mallen, K. Devine, N. Farrelly. Subs: J. O’Higgins for C. Mallen (inj. 18 mins); J. O’Reilly for N. Farrelly (55mins); B. Smith for K. Mallen (55mins); J. O’Reilly for E. Smith (55mins).