Beaufort scale new heights to O’Malley’s delight

BEAUFORT’S brilliance shone at Croke Park as they routed Sligo’s Easkey to stroll to the All-Ireland Club JFC title.

It all came good on the big occasion for Beaufort manager, Eanna O’Malley, who watched his side click into perfect harmony as they delivered a sumptuous performance.

“It all came together really, really well. You say about All-Ireland finals that five fellas might play well, five fellas average, five fellas mightn’t be great, but everyone played well for us,” he said.

“We were maybe a little bit under par and missing fellas in the last two games, but we had everyone back today and we made a pledge amongst ourselves that we’d leave it all on the field, no regrets, and play with no fear.

“It’s fantastic to play beautiful football like that.”

Ronan Ferris gave the Munster champions the perfect start with an early goal, and when Ciaran Kennedy added a second, they were well on their way.

Man-of-the-match Liam Carey’s stoppage time goal sent Beaufort in with an unassailable 3-8 to 0-1 interval lead, and the second half was a mere formality.

Carey finished with 1-5, all from play and as the tempo dropped late on, Easkey’s Joe McHugh, Kevin Duffy and Jack Scott picked off consolation scores but it was brilliant Beaufort’s day.

SCORERS – Beaufort: L Carey 1-5, R Ferris, C Kennedy 1-1 each, F Hallissey 0-5 (4f), D Healy 0-3, P Doona, N Breen 0-1 each. Easkey: E Mullen, K Duffy, J McHugh (f), J Scott, J Conway 0-1 each.

BEAUFORT – M Moriarty; MJ O’Connor, G Hartnett, S Kelliher; J O’Sullivan, M Breen, J Kissane; N Breen, R Murphy; P Doona, L Carey, F Hallissey; D Healy, C Kennedy, R Ferris. Subs: C O’Connor for Kissane (17), D Coffey for Healy (40), J O’Reilly for O’Sullivan (40), P O’Sullivan for N Breen (47), N O’Connor for Ferris (49), I McGillycuddy for M Breen (51).

EASKEY – S Kilgannon; I Barrett, N McGuire, J Feeney; E Moylan, R McHugh, J Lindsay; E Mullen, M Gordon; D Sloyan, J McHugh , E Healy; A Kilcullen, R McKenna, K Duffy. Subs: B Feeney for Lindsay (33), B McGrath for Kilcullen (36), J Scott for Moylan (45), J Conway for McKenna (47), H Gilroy for Sloyan (49), J Dunphy for Healy (55).

REF – S Laverty (Antrim).