Ballinlough 0-11
Duleek-Bellewstown 1-19

Duleek-Bellewstown came out all guns blazing in a picturesque Ballinlough this evening as the heavy rains of the day gave way to glorious sunshine for just over sixty minutes in Ballinlough, to allow for perfect conditions for football. 

The visitors were sharpest out of the blocks hitting four points in the opening ten minutes before Peader Byrne finally got Ballinlough off the mark in the 10th minute, while Simon Deevey added another fine score in the 13th minute. Further points were traded with Duleek-Bellewstown taking a point in the 16th minute while Ronzer McGuinness was exceptional in getting a hand to a ball that was going over the endline to somehow manage to fist it over the bar, to keep Ballinlough within touching distance. 

Peader Byrne kicked two more scores a couple of minutes later, both from frees, one of which was a spectacular effort off the ground, probably his best contribution to the game, to leave the sides level with 20 minutes gone on the clock.

Keith McGuinness was called into action in the 22nd minute when he pulled off a fine save to keep the Duleek-Bellewstown attack out and away from his goal mouth, so they had to settle for the point instead of the three points on offer. 

The visitors hit the next five points, four from play before early Substitute Junior Reilly, replacing the injured Robbie Farrell, stopped the rot and got the Ballinlough scoreboard ticking again in the 29th minute. Duleek-Bellewstown were to finish the half with a pointed free in the 31st minute before referee Seamie O’Connor called time, so we could all enjoy the half time oranges and tea, with the visitors going in the strongest on a scoreline of 0-11 to 0-06.

Ballinlough opened the second half with intent with Tommy McCullen scoring in the first minute, before Duleek Bellewstown hit back with the next two points from play. 

The pendulum finally looked like it might swing in Ballinlough’s favour with the dismissal of the Duleek-Bellewstown corner back in the 33rd minute, a straight red card.

Darragh Cafferry, operating out of corner back, worked himself into a favourable position and whilst a goal chance was on, he had to settle for a point to lower the deficit for the hosts.

But there was no stopping the Duleek-Bellewstown attack and they hit the next four points in the next five minutes to leave themselves nine points clear. 

At times it was hard to distinguish who exactly had the extra man as the visitors regularly broke through the Ballinlough defence, whilst the hosts struggled to get the ball beyond the half way line. 

Peader Byrne added another free to his haul in the 53rd minute just before the visitors hit the killer blow with a goal in the 54th minute, a pointed effort that came off the crossbar and which left goal keeper Keith McGuinness with no chance of keeping it out. 

Ballinlough reacted well to the concession of the goal creating two goal chances of their own in as many minutes with both of the McCullen Brothers finding themselves in scorable positions, but ultimately they both saw their efforts stopped short of the Duleek-Bellewstown goal line.

Jonnie Reilly added another point for Ballinlough in the 57th minute, but there was no let up from the Duleek-Bellewstown attack as they tagged on another two points from play, amazingly they scored 1-17 of their total tally from play... superb forwards or poor defence, I’m not sure which just yet !!! 

Ronzer McGuinnes kicked the final point of the game in the 62nd Minute and when referee Seamie O’Connor brought the curtain down on this event, there was nothing but despondent looks amongst the Ballinlough faithful.

Ballinlough: K.McGuinness, D.Cafferry, P.Muldoon, R.Farrell, M.Farrell, E.Smith, Jonnie Reilly, S.Geraghty, T.McCullen, B.Smith, M.McCullen, N.McDonnell, R.McGuinness, S.Deevy, P.Byrne Subs: Junior Reilly for R.Farrell (16mins)

Scorers: P.Byrne 0-04 (0-03f), R.McGuinness 0-02, Jonnie Reilly, Junior Reilly, T.McCullen, S.Deevey, D.Cafferry(0-01) each

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