FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND-UP Réalt survive difficult test

GAA GOH manager dismissed

BALLYGARRETT’S FOOTBALLERS were given a thorough examination of their credentials before emerging with a four-point win over Geraldine O’Hanrahans in this Joyces Expert Intermediate ‘A’ championship Group A game in Bree.

The eventual winners were ahead by the barest of bare minimums with 53 minutes played of the hour before pulling away down the home stretch with Jack Hobbs’ second goal.

The 1-5 contribution from the hard-working corner-forward was just one of the talking points produced by a match which was competitive from start to finish in perfect, if chilly, conditions.

The cultured left boot of Shane Roche - better known for his inter-county goalkeeping prowess - was another notable feature of the fixture as he racked up all but 1-2 of the Gers’ tally.

And losing manager Eddie O’Connor added a touch of humour to proceedings, the bainisteóir having himself dismissed from the pitch for loudly challenging referee Mick Lanigan’s judgement - one Kilkenny v. Tipperary clash in which only Tipp. could be the winner.

O’Connor’s charges were slow off the blocks, failing to add to Robert Vallejo’s early point, which proved to be their only score of the opening 20 minutes.

While they struggled to find momentum, full-forward Patrick Naughter had the seasiders ticking over very nicely, with a goal from Harry Byrne knocked into the net after a free rebounded from the crossbar.

However, Réalt wides assisted the New Ross men’s damage limitation exercise, and a hat-trick of elegantly-struck Roche frees allowed them to turn around just 1-5 to 0-4 in arrears.

They promptly wiped out the deficit on the resumption after Barry Roche reached up to tip the ball delivered by Shane Roche into Shane Quinn’s net, but the revival was not extended.

Kevin Jordan’s hard running yielded a goal for Naughter to re-establish Ballygarrett dominance and, though a Shane Roche goal briefly threatened to upset the apple-cart, Hobbs’s response saw his side safely through to full points.

Réalt na Mara: Shane Quinn; Eddie Redmond, Aidan Murphy, Paddy Fleming; Darren Morris, Evan Dunbar, Eoin Corcoran; Tom Sinnott, Cathal Dunbar; Seán O’Brien, Kevin Jordan (0-1), Harry Byrne (1-0); James Fleming, Patrick Naughter (1-4, 0-1 free), Jack Hobbs (1-5, 0-1 free). Sub. - Oisín Dunbar for Naughter (60).

Geraldine O’Hanrahans: Jimmy Smith; Shane Murray, Conor Cleere, Barry Kelly; Enda Kelly, Dylan Egan, Eoin Kelly; Matt Crowdle, David Crowdle; Jack Foran, Shane Roche (1-7, 0-5 frees), Jamie Cullen; Kevin Grangel, Barry Roche (1-0), Robert Vallejo (0-2). Sub. - Michael Cleere for Egan (15).

Referee: Mick Lanigan (Shelmaliers).