Anto on fire as Blessington claim big win

Two defeats for Baltinglass

BLESSINGTON BALTINGLASS 4-12 1-13

BLESSINGTON picked up their first two points of this year’s league campaign with an eight-point win over Baltinglass at Blessington on Saturday afternoon.

Both sides had lost their opening games and were keen to get points on the board.

The conditions were ideal and Baltinglass started much the better, leading 1–2 to 0–0 after 10 minutes, with John McGrath in fine form with the opening scores.

Blessington were back on terms after 20 minutes thanks principally to goals from Gavin Murray and Anthony McLoughlin, who lined out at full-forward.

The game was again level after 25 minutes (2-3 to 1-6) with points exchanged by Anthony McLoughlin and John McGrath.

The game flowed from end to end and although Baltinglass picked up two points from Dan Kelly and one from Cian Lee before half-time, Anto McLoughlin, having a fine game at full-forward, scored another goal and a point to send Blessington in leading at half-time by 3-4 to 1-9.

Baltinglass, while competitive in the second half, failed to match the scoring ability of Blessington and a third goal by Anto McLoughlin 11 minutes into the second half extended Blessington’s lead to six points.

Adam McHugh continued to tap over the points for Baltinglass, however, Blessington with further points from Kevin Hanlon (two), Michael McLoughlin (two), Paul McLoughlin and Michael O’Connor (one each), kept Blessington well ahead and they went on to win 4-12 to 1-13.

Baltinglass were the more hit by county team commitments and were short county goalkeeper Mark Jackson, Kevin Murphy and Pat Burke, while Blessington lined out without David Boothman in a game which was played in a sporting manner throughout.

However, there was one unsavoury moment in the last 10 minutes when a Baltinglass playerk felled young Blessington substitute Jack Cotter off the ball, causing Cotter an eye injury that could have been much more serious.

The health and safety of our game in the county has improved considerably over recent years and one would hope that unprovoked incidents such as this are a thing of the past.

Blessington next Sunday travel to Kiltegan, while Baltinglass head to St Pat’s when they should be stronger with their full complement of county players back for the game.

Stephen Kitt; Barry Murphy, Caolan Mac Gorman, Jack Gilligan; Stephen Bohan, Kevin Hanlon (0-2), KJ Rodgers; Gavin Murray (1-0), Paul Mc Loughlin (0-1); Martin Shannon, Michael Nugent, Michael Mc Loughlin (0-2); Curtis Geraghty (0-3), Anto McLoughlin (3-3), Michael O Connor (0-1). Subs: Peter Manning, Wayne Callaghan, Patrick O’Connor, Jack Cotter

Willie Rogers; Aaron Barrett, Ian Sheerin, Dara Doyle; Cian Lee (0-3), Jason Kennedy, Tom Burke; Peadar Burke, Conor Keogh; Chris Heaslip, Dan Kelly (0-2), Brian Lord (0-1); Lee Furlong, John McGrath (14), Adam McHugh (0-3). Subs: David Gettings, Billy Cullen, Stephen Heaslip, Brian Lord, Tadhg O’Toole.

Kieron Kenny (Tinahely)