Ballinlough 0-10
St. Peters, Dunboyne 0-10

An entertaining end to end contest saw Ballinlough and St. Peters, Dunboyne share the spoils in this A-League encounter played in Ballinlough on Sunday afternoon.

Ballinlough were missing a number of first team regulars, and took time to get into the swing of things. The visitors opened up a four point lead in the first ten minutes, full forward Michael Dunne converted a brace of frees, before Gerard Robinson and David McEntee split the posts.

The 'Loughs first score came from centre forward Sean Geraghty, who fired over a fantastic score off his left boot from a tight angle. Two minutes later, Peadar Byrne narrowed the deficit further with a well struck forty-five.

Dunne continued his impressive form with three rapid points (two from placed balls) to extend Dunboynes lead. Byrne responded for the Reds in the twentieth minute, after great work by young half forward Kevin Beirne. Kevin Devine converted a free soon after to leave three points between the sides.

Byrne closed the half with his third point of the afternoon, a splendid finish after good work by Sean Geraghty, James Baugh and Benji Smith. This left the visitors leading by seven points to five at the change of ends.

The momentum was with Ballinlough as the second half got underway, and they reduced the deficit to the minimum in the third minute of the period when Simon Deevy won a free, which Devine duly despatched. James Baugh then drew the sides level with one of the best scores of the afternoon. The wing forward capped his hard working display, with a superb finish after patient build up involving Benji Smith and Cian Mallen.

Dunne put St. Peters back in the driving seat with a further brace of frees, before a great point by Beirne and another Devine free levelled matters for a further time. The end to end action would not let up, and with five minutes left a well struck forty five in by McEntee once again put the visitors in front.

Devine continued his fine free taking form to level matters with just minutes remaining. Both sides had chances to win it as the clock ticked down, but there proved to be no further scores. Credit must be given to the Ballinlough backs who put their bodies on the line to ensure Dunboyne did not get a late winner, with Robbie Farrell, Emmet Smith and Podge Muldoon particularly to the fore. It was a great team performance by the home side and they will be delighted with the hard work and fitness levels  shown throughout, with the tireless running of Michael Geraghty, Niall Farrelly and James Baugh standing out.

Ballinlough: K. McGuinness, E. Smith, P. Muldoon, R. Farrell, B. Smith, P. Byrne (0-3), M. Geraghty, K. Devine (0-4), Cian Mallen, K. Beirne (0-1), S. Geraghty (0-1), J. Baugh (0-1), J. Tunney, S. Deevy, N. Farrelly. Subs: J. O'Higgins for J. Tunney, K. Rothwell for K. Beirne.

St. Peters, Dunboyne: J. O'Connor, D. Sweeney, J. Scannell, J. Meehan, C. Clarke, C. Finn, C. Doran, S. McEntee, S. Lavin, D. Clarke, G. Robinson (0-1), G. McCoy, D. McEntee (0-2), M. Dunne (0-7), C. Lowndes.

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