Gowna despite fielding without a number of key players including county stars Dermot McCabe, Gerard Pierson, Paddy Brady and Ciaran Brady and too much experience and know-how for visiting Ballyhaise in Gowna on Saturday evening 23rd april, and ran out comfortable winners on a scoreline of 2-10 to 0-8. The home side got into their stride from the off and dominated the opening half playing some outstanding football. At the break they led by 1-7 to 0-0, and even at this stage the Ballyhaise task looked a hopeless one. However, the Ballyhaise side settled down in the second-half and made a match of it. Indeed, if they had taken some of their scoring opportunities in this period the game could have been closer at the finish. Ciaran Og Brady was the winners top scorer with 1-3, while the veteran Bernard Morris turned in his usual wholehearted display in the midfield sector. Overall it was a disappointing performance for the Ballyhaise side, but to their credit they showed good character in that second-half, and manager Phelim Plunkett can take this as a real plus. It has to be said that they just didn't do themselves justice on the day, but will have learned from the experience. Gowna - Ronan Bannon; Pauric Soroghan, Gearoid Reilly, Cathaldus Harten; Emmet Madden (0-1), Gavin Harten, Ciaran Briody (0-2); Bernard Morris, Niall Madden (0-1); Ciaran Fitzpatrick (0-1), Ronan Shiels (1-0), Ciaran Og Brady (1-3); Pauric Brady, Mark McKeever (0-1), Damian Fitzpatrick (0-1). Subs - Darragh Phillips for Pauric Soroghan; Joe Brady for Ronan Shiels. Ballyhaise - B. Maguire; Fergal Slowey, Barry Lynch, Adrian O'Rourke (0-1); Barry Kelly (0-1), Michael Rooney, Brendan Lyons; Mark O'Rourke, Jim Brady; Conor Lyons, Cathal Buggy, Eamon Costello (0-3); Colm Reilly (0-1), Gerry McCrudden (0-1), Adrian Delaney. Subs - Stephen Smith (0-1) for A Delaney; Barry McCrudden (0-1) for M O'Rourke. Tweet

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