Ballinlough 3-01-07 (18) Duleek-Bellewstown 0-20 (20)

Ballinlough welcomed Duleek-Bellewstown to a much quieter park than recent days for this Round 2 clash in Div.2 of the All-County Football Championship.

The home side started at a blistering pace with Shane Lynch firing them into a four-point lead with a point from play after a couple seconds, and then an excellently taken goal a moment later.

It didn’t take Duleek-Bellewstown too long to settle though and they rattled off the next three points from play to leave one point between the sides in the fourth minute.

Ballinlough responded well when Peader Byrne sent in a speculative effort towards the posts in the seventh minute and as it just drifted wide of the sticks, excellent hands from Tommy McCullen kept the ball in play before offloading over this shoulder to the onrushing Jamie Casserly, and he did very well to keep his shot low and under the keeper to roll it to the back of the net to give Ballinlough their four point lead back.

Like the last time Duleek stepped things up again, but this time they got a good run on Ballinlough and turned their four-point deficit into a two-point lead as they rattled off six points without reply by the 22nd minute.

Jamie Casserly pointed for Ballinlough in the 24th minute to leave one between the sides, and both sides had decent goal chances with Senan McDermott pulling off a fantastic save before Shane Lynch was denied by the Duleek-Bellewstown net-minder down the other end in quick succession.

Another Duleek-Bellewstown point in the 27th minute left two points between the sides, but Ballinlough finished the half as the started it with the raising of a green flag, Declan Galligan and Peader Byrne combining well before sending the ball forward where Joe Farrelly slotted home in the 28th minute.

That score was to be the last of the half as despite chances for Duleek-Bellewstown, they were kept out by resolute defending in particular from Joshua Lynch who managed to intercept passes several times and get his team away from danger.

So, when Referee Adrian Corcoran blew the half time whistle Ballinlough led on a scoreline of 3-02 to Duleek-Bellewstowns 0-10.

Upon the restart Ballinlough extended their lead with two points from play before Duleek-Bellewstown hit back with a pointed free and a further point from play in the 37th minute.

A seasonal debut for Ronan McGuinness brought a large roar of approval from the Ballinlough Faithful and the little live wire got stuck in immediately getting on plenty of ball and generally just making a nuisance of himself!

A Duleek-Bellewstown point in the 42nd minute leveled the sides again, but Peader Byrne stepped up and converted an excellent two-point free in the 46th minute to extend Ballinlough’s lead to two points.

The visitors pointed again in the 48th minute and could have had another score on the board only for super defending from Eoghan McCabe to nip in and come away with the ball.

Duleek-Bellewstown were creating chances though and did fire over another two points from play by the 52nd minute to leave them leading by one, but points from Shane Lynch and Jamie Casserly have Ballinlough their lead back in the 54th minute.

The sides were level once again when Duleek-Bellewstown pointed but Ballinlough once again went back in front in the 56th minute, Ciaran Ryan’s goal effort well stopped by the Duleek-Bellewstown keeper, but the ball did manage to go over the bar.

A Duleek Bellewstown free in the 58th minute left the scoreline level, and this game had a draw written all over it before Ballinlough self-imploded in injury time to gift the win to the visitors, when two quick 20m frees (one for a breach of the 3v3, and one for what I can only assume was dissent) were awarded and converted by the 62nd minute.

So, despite a valiant effort when Referee Adrian Corcoran blew the full-time whistle, Ballinlough were to be on the losing end on a scoreline of 3-09 to Duleek-Bellewstowns 0-20.

Ballinlough Team: S. McDermott, D. Rogers, C. Lynch, E. McCabe, N. McDonnell, J. Lynch, F. Gibney, P. Byrne(0-02(one 2ptF)), D. Galligan, J. Casserly(1-03), S. Lynch(1-02), J. Smith, T. McCullen, J. Farrelly(1-01), R. Smith

Subs: C. Ryan(0-01) for J. Smith 20’, J. Connell for D. Rogers 34’, R. McGuinness for R. Smith 39’

Referee: Adrian Corcoran

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