CG Killarney come good against Ballyheigue to record first win
AFTER draws in their opening two games CG Killarney collected maximum points at Mounthwk Park on Sunday with a very impressive win over Ballyheigue Athletic.
While the final scoreline may be a bit flattering for the winners they were the better team on the day and took their chances superbly when they got them and manager Darragh O’Regan will be very happy that his side is unbeaten in their opening three games.
The game was even enough in the first half but a scintillating second half performance by CG including a brilliant hat trick from their ace striker John Foley gave them a comfortable win at the end.
Ballyheigue had a couple of early chances but Danny Casey was denied by a good save by CG keeper Dave Keirns while Adrian Flahive shot wide when he should have hit the target.
CG Killarney went ahead in the eighth minute with a brilliantly executed goal. Gary Cassidy delivered a great through ball to John Foley who sized up his options and tucked away his shot from close in to the bottom corner of the net.
Exchanges were relatively even for a period after this and Ballyheigue equalised in the 31st minute. A free kick out near the sideline was delivered into the goalmouth by Danny Casey and Jason Casey ghosted in unnoticed and his effort came off the ground and hit the roof of the net.
CG Killarney were forced to make a substitution in the 38th minute with Aidan Galvin replacing the injured David McSweeney.
CG got a crucial goal just before half time after some great build up play. Joe Donovan won a ball he seemed to have had no chance of getting and he crossed into the middle where sub Aidan Galvin played in John Foley and he applied a clinical finish.
Ballyheigue began to dominate play in the early part of the second half but they were getting no leeway from a rock solid CG defence.
Then in a four-minute spell CG killed off the game with two great goals. The first came in the 75th minute when Mike Murphy delivered an exquisite through ball to John Foley who got in behind the Ballyheigue defence and while he still had a lot to do he teased the advancing keeper and tucked his shot away in great style.
He completed his hat trick four minutes later when he was played in by sub James McCarrick and after turning a defender he found the net from 10 yards.
It was a very good all round performance by CG and if they can keep this kind of form up they could be contenders in the title race before the season is over. The team play with great spirit and passion and have a great work ethic.
For Ballyheigue it was a bad day at the office but there is a long season ahead and they won’t be far away from the honours at the end of the season. BALLYHEIGUE ATHLETIC: Noel Carroll, Darren Burns (Paul Galloway, 60 mins), Philip Martin, Kieran O’Connor, Pa McElligott, Diarmuid Walsh, Kevin Walsh (Paudie Carroll, 63 mins), Adrian Flahive, Jason Casey, Frankie Flaherty (Mark Dineen, 69 mins), Danny Casey.
CG KILLARNEY: Dave Keirns, Mike Murphy, Mike Beckett, David McSweeney (Aidan Galvin, 38 mins), Frank Cronin, Ger Foley, Gary Cassidy (Gordan Buckley, 63 mins), Sam Treharne (James McCarrick, 64 mins), Tadhg Fleming, Ger Foley, Joe Donovan (Darragh O’Regan, 86 mins), John Foley.
REFEREE: Tom O’Sullivan