Baltinglass prove too hot for Carnew
Slaneysiders made to work hard for win
CARNEW EMMETS BALTINGLASS 2-06 3-13
A FORMIDABLE looking Baltinglass side took to the field in Carnew last Saturday evening to take on the hosts in the SFL Division 1.
On what was an absolutely splendid evening for a football match it was last year's county championship finalists who raced out of the blocks into a 1-04 to 0-00 lead as they blitzed the Carnew men from the off.
Points from John McGrath from a free, Sean O'Brien, full forward Adam Fleming, the energetic Henry Sinnott, and a well taken goal from the hugely impressive Joey Kelly left this game looking like it was going to be a complete rout.
But nobody gets anything easy in Carnew and, despite a major focus being put on hurling this year, the home side started to play football and suddenly Baltinglass knew they were in a game.
A tremendous lofted score from centre half forward Seanie Kinsella got the Carnew men off the mark in the ninth minute.
The midfield duo of Thomas Kennedy and John Doyle started to gain a foothold against the impressive James Sheerin and Kevin Murphy and all over the field the home side started putting it up to the free-flowing Baltinglass men.
Full forward John Kavanagh pointed for Carnew after 12 minutes and this was answered by the powerful figure of Tommy Cullen from half back for Baltinglass. His probing runs up the wing caused Carnew no end of difficulty all evening.
Corner forward Padraig Doran grabbed Carnew's third point of the game after excellent play between Seanie Kinsella, Seamus Osbourne and Thomas Kennedy. Kinsella then found himself through on goal but his shot was saved by Baltinglass keeper William Hanlon but the rebound fell to Padraig Doran who found the net and suddenly we really had a g ame on our hands at 1-05 to 1-03 for Baltinglass.
A John Kavanagh free pulled it back to a one point game after 22 minutes as Baltinglass struggled to regain control. But a defensive error from Carnew as they moved the ball through the hands gave Adam Fleming the chance to fist over the bar.
And then just when they needed him the most up popped the phontom like figure of Joey Kelly who ghosted in behind the Carnew defence and after a pacy little run he fired a low rocket of a shot that got past Diarmuid Doran and rattled the Carnew net.
Inspired by Kelly's superb play, James Sheerin collect the kick out and he and his midfield partner Kevin Murphy rampaged through the middle with Murphy bombing over as the visitors completely regain control of the game at 2-07 to 1-04.
Further points by Kelly and Jason Kennedy pushed them into a 2-09 to 1-06 lead and that's the way it would stay at the break.
A Kelly free opened the second half play but Carnew half time substitute Garry Doran, deployed at full forward, got a flick to a low Seamus Osbourne free from about 40 yards and William Hanlon was picking the ball our of the back of his net. Unfortunately for Carnew, Doran would soon have to leave the field with a hamstring injury but there's no telling what damage he could have inflicted had he lasted the entire second half.
But credit to Baltinglass thy took that concession of a goal and reacted admirably with Sean O'Brien collecting the ball and firing across Doran in the Carnew goal and into the bottom corner for their third goal of the game.
Carnew's John Kavanagh bagged two frees during a relatively poor passage of play from both teams and then Baltinglass put on the afterburners and added three further points including a Jason Kennedy effort after 25 minutes of the second half and a superbly struck John McGrath 45 after 27 minutes.
It wasn't a wonderful game of football by any stretch of the imagination but when both teams cut loose they each looked impressive with Baltinglass looking scintillating for the opening eight minutes.
A big concern for the Slaneysiders will be their lack of consistency and their failure to dominate for longer periods. They will be happy with the form shown by Tommy Cullen, Kevin Murphy, Joey Kelly in patches, James Sheerin, and Mark Staines. Centre half back Ian Sheerin performed well in a controlling role for much of the game while John McGrath showed well for the duration of the game but failed to have the impact we might expect.
For Carnew they should be immensely happy with corner back Andrew Hughes who played really well, Nick Skelton was busy, as were Mark, Timmy and Willie Collins. Enda Donoghue at half forward was another player to catch the eye for the home side.