Banville hits a hat-trick
HORESWOOD SENTENCED Bannow-Ballymitty to an uninspiring relegation play-off as they retained their one hundred per cent record in Group A of the Amber Springs/ Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship in the rain in Gusserane on Friday.
Eric Banville stole the show for the table-toppers, as his tally of 3-1 alone would have been enough to sink their struggling District rivals.
They began the game on top and raced into an early four-point lead (1-2 to 0-1).
Seán Nolan and Banville pointed before the latter reacted to Colin Nolan’s rebounded shot and placed the ball into the bottom of the net.
Unexpectedly, the favourites failed to score for the remainder of the half and Bannow-Ballymitty managed to level the tie by the half-way mark.
Niall Harney followed up his early score with two more points, and singles from both Conor Furlong and Joe Sinnott ensured the half-time stalemate.
But Bannow-Ballymitty would only score once in the entire second-half, through Harney, as Horeswood completely dominated until the final whistle.
David Larkin’s ball into the back line caused problems immediately after the re-start, and Banville was able to gain possession before slotting past goalkeeper Jack Farragher to quickly extend the lead back to three (2-2 to 0-5).
They kicked on with a flurry of three points before their third goal in the 40th minute.
Jamie Myler, Darren Shannon and Johnny Keating were all on target prior to Banville completing his hat-trick when he collected Nolan’s quick free before expertly turning his man and slotting into the bottom right corner.
It had only taken ten second-half minutes for Horeswood to put Bannow-Ballymitty’s challenge to bed and they took their foot off the pedal for the final 20.
Shannon, Gavin Murphy and a Nolan brace rapped up a twelvepoint victory for Horeswood and ensured that their unbeaten record continues into the knockout stages.
Horeswood: Conor Swaine; Eddie Shiely, David Larkin, Kevin Parker; Gavin Murphy (0-1), Colin Nolan, Eamonn O’Sullivan; Mick O’Hanlon, Barry Hearn; Johnny Keating (0-1), Jamie Myler (0-1 ‘45), Darren Shannon (0-2); Eoin Murphy, Eric Banville (3-1), Seán Nolan (0-3, 1 free). Subs. - Seán Stafford for Nolan (37), Darren O’Reilly for Murphy (43), John Bradley for Shannon (47), Dylan Whitty for Myler (54), Brendan Howlin for Nolan (56).
Bannow-Ballymitty: Jack Farragher; Mark Colfer, Niall Murphy, John Mernagh; Nicky Doyle, John Staples, David White; Arthur Sweetman, Conor Furlong (0-1); Pádraig McCormick, Conor Neville, Jon Reville; Niall Harney (0-4, 1 free, 1 ‘45), Gary Jordan, Joe Sinnott (0-1). Subs. - Gary Morton for Neville (24), Gareth McCurtin for Jordan (37), Mark Sinnott for Mernagh (40), Alan Barden for Staples (51), Jaydee Cahill for White (55).
Referee: Brendan Holohan (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown).