Champions Stradbally Parish Gaels prove far too strong for Ballylinan
Jake Darcy drives out of defence for Stradbally Parish Gaels in the win over Ballylinan in the U/20FC Photo: Paul Dargan
REIGNING champions Stradbally Parish Gaels made is two wins from two after overcoming Ballylinan comfortably in Ballylinan on Friday night.
Stradbally never got out of second gear and were always in control of the game. Ballylinan had no answers to the pace and power of the Gaels attack but did keep fighting right to the end.
Stradbally Parish Gaels came out of the blocks fast and within 15 minutes the game was over as a contest. They would hit six points in a row, and it could have been a lot more. Ronan Creery opened the scoring and was soon followed by Joe Larkin to double their lead.
Creery landed his second point of the game to go three up. Ballylinan did launch attacks, but Stradbally defence were up for the fight and kept turning over ball and setting up attacks. David Donohue, Creery and Fionn McEvoy all added points as Stradbally Parish Gaels were starting to move through the gears.
Ballylinan finally got on the score sheet through a Niall Hickey free while Cathal Casey added another to close the gap to four points.
The real turning point in the game happened in the 23rd minute as Bobby Walsh was given a black card for a cynical foul. In that time Stradbally Parish Gaels would hit 1-3 without reply. Donohue and McEvoy got the first two points for their side.
Then Jake Darcy ran at the Ballylinan defence, he found a gap and found the back of the net. Darcy then pointed to give Stradbally Parish Gaels a lead of 1-9 to 0-2 points at half time.
Ballylinan needed a minor miracle to get back into the game, but it didn’t come for them. Cormac Deegan hit a brilliant two pointer free to extend the lead.
Ronan Creery added another point as Stradbally were at their ease. Ballylinan did get the next two points through Niall Hickey and Tom Bride.
It was to get worse for the home side as Mickey Walsh was given his marching orders after a second yellow.
Donohue and Bride would trade scores just before Stradbally Parish Gaels struck 1-2 without reply with Fionn McEvoy getting another while Donohue added a point and a goal after a brilliant flick to the net.
There was a small flash point in the closing stages of the game with a small row which resulted in Cathal Casey being sent off which meant Ballylinan would end with 13 men.
Donohue scored the last two points of the game as Stradbally Parish Gaels ran out deserving winners.
David Donohue 1-5 (0-4fs), Ronan Creery 0-4 (0-2fs), Jake Darcy 1-1, Fionn McEvoy 0-3, Cormac Deegan 0-2 (two-pointer free), Kevin Fenelly, Joe Larkin 0-1 each.
Tom Bride 0-5 (2 two-pointer frees), Cathal Casey and Niall Hickey 0-1 each.
Anthony Skelly; Liam Woulfe, PJ Daly, Colm Dundon; Jake Darcy, Conor McDonald, James Devoy; Cormac Deegan, Enda Shortall; Pauric Ramsbottom, Joe Larkin, Ronan Creery; David Donohue, Fionn McEvoy, Cathal Buggie.
Sean Maher for Devoy (45m), Sean Tuohy for Ramsbottom (48m), Seamus Ramsbottom for Creery (48m), Eoghan Deegan for Deegan (57m).
Shane Baldwin; Eoin Dunne, Mickey Walsh, Conor Walsh; Tadhg McHugh, Darragh Loughman, Bobby Walsh; Cathal Casey, McKensie McIvor; Niall Hickey, Patrick Julian, Jack Julian; Max O’Connor, Tom Bride, Alex McDonagh.
Reuban Fitzgearld for McDonagh (35m), Eoin Hovenden for Walsh (57m), Dinh Kaye for Dunne (57m).
