Champs off the mark
Gusserane have five points to spare
GUSSERANE BANNOW-B’MITTY 3-13 2-11 REIGNING SENIOR football champions Gusserane got their league campaign off to a winning start with an impressive five-point victory over Bannow-Ballymitty in this All-County League Division 1B game in Gusserane on Saturday.
Despite the early-season nature of the game, both sides still managed to serve up some entertaining, attacking football, with some excellent scores witnessed as a result.
In the end the superior experience of the Senior titleholders saw them edge through, although Bannow-Ballymitty can feel well satisfied with their display over the 60 minutes.
Bannow-Ballymitty when wind assisted started impressively with the three opening points through Darragh Murphy along with two fine Niall Harney efforts from play.
Gusserane had to wait until the 17th minute to open their account through a Páraic Conway point, but with Harney continuing to impress, adding two further points, his side led by 0-5 to 0-2 after 23 minutes.
Gusserane’s response was positive, with a Seán Ryan point followed by a well-taken Mark Rossiter goal which left them leading by 1-3 to 0-5 at the interval.
The local supporters saw their side step up a gear on the resumption as they opened the second-half with two quickfire Cillian Kehoe points, but their opponents responded with a Mark Wallace point.
After 39 minutes a good run and shot from Seán Ryan brought an excellent save out of ‘keeper Philip Murphy, but Donal Kiely was on hand to stab the loose ball to the net gand give his side a 2-5 to 0-6 lead.
Gusserane then went on to enjoy a period of dominance, by the end of which they had extended into a 2-10 to 0-10 lead with eleven minutes remaining.
And while Bannow-Ballymitty never subsequently looked like inflicting a defeat on the titleholders, they still kept battling despite the concession of a third goal to Seán Ryan, who tucked the ball home after ’keeper Murphy had excellently saved a Ken Cahill penalty.
This left them leading by 3-11 to 0-10 after 53 minutes.
An excellent Conor Neville goal with six minutes remaining put life back into Bannow-Ballymitty, with substitute Adam Cullen adding a further goal one minute later, along with a Niall Harney pointed free which left just three points (3-11 to 2-11) separating the sides.
However, Gusserane finished the game with scores from a Mark Rossiter free and Ken Cahill to take the two points.
Gusserane: Micheál Ryan; Seán Kinsella, Mark O’Neill, Jack O’Connor; Donal Kiely (1-0), Graeme Cullen, Paul Wall; John Roche (0-1), Ken Cahill (0-2); Jack Burford (0-2 frees), Mark Rossiter (1-3, 0-2 frees), Páraic Conway (0-1); Seán Ryan (1-2), Cillian Kehoe (0-2), Robert Corcoran. Subs. - Jamie Cooney for Corcoran, inj., Mar- tin Rossiter for Kiely, Chris Cullen for Kinsella, Robert Browne for Burford, Tom Foran for Cooney.
Bannow-Ballymitty: Philip Murphy; John Mernagh, Conor Furlong, Clem Rossiter; Conor Neville (1-0), Arthur Sweetman (0-1), Nicholas Doyle; Mark Wallace (0-1), Micheál Murphy; Niall Harney (0-7, 4 frees), Pat Fitzharris (0-1), Darragh Murphy (0-1); David White, John O’Leary, James Crosbie. Subs. - Aaron Butler for Crosbie, Richie Walsh for White, Adam Cullen (1-0) for O’Leary.
Referee: Anthony Tobin (Geraldine O’Hanrahans).