Kavanagh leads from the front

Aughrim survive Balto revival

AUGHRIM survived a late surge by a determined Baltinglass side to claim the points in an entertaining Division 2 clash last Saturday evening.

Leading 0-08 to 0-04 at the break the Aughrim men had a number of things to thank for that score line. One was the fact that they were playing with the feisty wind, two was that they were enjoying home advantage and three, that Derek Kavanagh was playing a stormer at full forward despite being marked by the capable John Murray.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable game of football despite the conditions. Aughrim were intent on getting the ball into their full forward line as quickly as possible and that paid dividends somewhat while Baltinglass were carrying the ball into the teeth of the wind and although that took some time for them to master, they eventually managed it.

The home side were five points to the good before Baltinglass fired over their opener through William Kavanagh after good movement up the field.

Aughrim's five came from Derek Kavanagh through three frees and two points from energetic half-back Conor Lambert.

Kavanagh added Baltinglass' second point after 20 minutes after excellent movement of the ball through the field before Lee Furlong pointed their third as they began to get a foothold in the game despite the elements.

But Derek Kavanagh was showing superbly at the opposite end and he was proving to be a real target man and he was proving to be extremely accurate from the placed balls. He added another on 24 minutes and another a few moments later.

Swinburne retorted for Baltinglass just before Aughrim lost full-back Liam Keenan through injury. Willie Kavanagh came on in his place with corner-forward Billy Byrne retreating back down the field to full-back as the half-time whistle sounded.

It was expected that Baltinglass would begin to dominate after the restrart and to really push on following Keenan's departure but Aughrim struck first, another Kavanagh beauty as the home side took to carrying the ball at pace.

Kavanagh made it 0-10 to 0-04 soon after and a mighty shot from Stephen Mann was tapped over the bar by Baltiinglass keeper William Hanlon.

And then Baltinglass stepped up a gear. With the wind at their backs they began to dominate the midfield.

Between the 12th and the 20th minute of the second half they reduced the deficit from seven points to a single point as they swarmed all over Aughrim and defended superbly.

Aughrim needed something, anything, and they got some respite through a Derek Kavanagh free after 23 minutes but you still expected Baltinglass to push on from here and take two away points.

But it wasn't to be. Aughrim defended manfully with Oisin Doyle superb at times and Syl Doyle and Billy Byrne offering little change to the Baltinglass attackers.

Scorers - Aughrim: Derek Kavanagh 0-08 (6f); Patrick Kavanagh 0-02; Conor Lambert 0-01; Stephen Mann 0-01.

Baltinglass: Paudie Swinburne 0-04 (2f); Fabian Dunne 003; Lee Furlong 0-01; William Kavanagh 0-01; Tommy Cullen 0-01.

Aughrim: Larry O'Brien; Syl Doyle, Liam Keenan, Oisin Doyle; Jason Doyle, Stephen Mann, Conor Lambert; Paddy Phelan, Andy Holt; Patrick Kavanagh, Mick Brennan, Conor Phelan; Billy Byrne, Derek Kavanagh, Dean Newsome. Subs: Peter Quigley for Brennan; Willie Kavanagh for Keenan; Paul Lacey for Quigley.

Baltinglass: William Hanlon; Brian Nolan, John Murray, Niall Kirwan; Eoin Sweeney, Sean O’Brien; Tommy Cullen; Mark Shaughnessy, Conor Keogh; Lee Furlong, William Kavanagh, Fabian Dunne; Stephen Heaslip, Shane Wall, Paudie Swinburne. Subs: John Kelly for Heaslip; John Gillespie for Dunne; Padraig McGrath for Kelly.