Forde leads the way
Midfielder inspires Ballinastragh win
BALLINASTRAGH GLS. 3-9 STARLIGHTS 0-12 SEAN FORDE imposed himself on this game with an inspired midfield display as Ballinastragh Gaels went on to a hugely-impressive sixpoint victory over Starlights in this Gorey Guardian Juvenile football Premier championship final at St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, on Wednesday.
The progress of the north county side was there for all to see as despite the heavy rain and underfoot conditions they turned in a blistering display of football.
Starlights had two excellent scoring forwards in Craig Foley and Lee Jordan who contributed 0-10 of their side’s tally between them.
While Forde was the dominant figure, Ballinastragh Gaels also had other outstanding individual contributions. Páraic Hughes was outstanding at centre-back, along with full-back Tadgh O’Neill, while in attack, Stephen Mordaunt, Conor Hughes and Caleb Murphy also made telling contributions.
Mordaunt in particular kicked some wonderful points from play, with his 0-6 in total demonstrating his accuracy from distance and close-in despite the conditions.
Within seconds of the start the north county side looked on the verge of goaling but Stephen Mordaunt delayed his shot which was eventually blocked away for a fruitless ’45.
Following this the Starlights took the initiative, kicking lead points through Craig Foley and Lee Jordan, before Stephen Mordaunt grabbed his side’s opening point from 40 metres.
Through the opening quarter the Starlights were producing most of the attacking football, but their inability to fashion a goal chance during this spell of dominance came back to haunt them.
With Seán Forde storming into the game at midfield, and kicking three long-range pointed frees in the process, Ballinastragh Gaels went in leading by 0-6 to 0-3 at the interval.
Starlights resumed in impressive fashion with points from Michael Delaney and Craig Foley to leave the minimum separating the sides after just 90 seconds, while three minutes later an excellent Lee Jordan point had the sides level (0-6 each).
After a Stephen Mordaunt point had regained his side’s lead, Forde and Mordaunt linked up to create an opening for Caleb Murphy to send a low ground shot to the net, giving them a 1-7 to 0-6 advantage after 39 minutes.
Starlights still showed real quality, responding with fine points from Jordan with two from play and Jack Mythen to once again leave the minimum separating the sides, while entering the closing twelve minutes a Jordan pointed ’45 had them back level (1-7 to 0-10).
After Mordaunt kicked over a neat point, Conor Hughes found the net with a blistering shot, having missed an open goal minutes earlier, leaving his side leading by 2-8 to 0-10 with six minutes remaining.
Starlights points from Craig Foley and Oran Carty left just two separating the sides (2-8 to 0-12), but then up popped player of the match Seán Forde to goal, having carried the ball from deep in midfield, to secure his side’s victory.
Ballinastragh Gaels: Garbhan Finn; Paddy D’Arcy, Tadgh O’Neill, Shane Gibson; Ben O’Connor, Páraic Hughes, Jason Bolger; Seán Forde (1-3, 0-3 frees), Billy Kavanagh; Conor Kinsella, Stephen Mordaunt (0-6), Caleb Murphy (1-0); Ben Morris, Conor Hughes (1-0), Seán Geoghegan. Subs. - Robert Murphy for Geoghegan, Mikey Higgins for Kinsella, also Ryan Gibney, Joe Curtis, Cillian Byrne, Michael Furlong.
Starlights: Anto Larkin; Joe Collins, Nathan O’Connor, Aaron Brown; Evan Murphy, Seán Breen, Dominke Morycki; Michael Delaney (0-1), Jack Mythen (0-1), Craig Foley (0-4); Darragh Breen, Bradley Fortune, Lee Jordan (0-6, 1 ’45). Subs. - Craig Turner for Murphy, Michael McGrath for Brown, Cian Hanley for O’Connor (black card), also Conor Byrne, Callum Kinsella, Jack Kirwan, Adam Sheridan, Craig Peare, Edward Murphy, Gavin Redmond, Gavin Murphy, Pat Dwyer, Ben Kidd.
Referee: Kevin Carty (Sarsfields).