Sink saints
them, while Baltinglass also played with a couple of sweepers in that first half when facing the wind.
Ian Sheerin and especially Kevin Murphy stayed in front of their full back line, running side to side ready to intercept any ball going in or not giving St. Boden’s the option of kicking it in at all. Without an outlet to get the ball forward St. Boden’s were under fierce pressure at midfield.
Playing with the wind in the second half Baltinglass dispensed with their sweepers and kept the scoreboard ticking over. Ian Sheerin and John McGrath added another point each for Baltinglass before Liam Magee converted a free. Stephen Byrne scored his side’s final point of the game nine minutes into the second half just after Adam McHugh had joined the scoring spree from wing back.
Baltinglass scored 2-5 in the final 20 minutes shared between Daniel Kelly, Ian Sheerin, Henry Synnott and John Paul Kelly. It’s hard to know how much Baltinglass will have learned from this match, but twelve wides is a cause of concern.
They march into the second round and will hope for a kind draw. BALTINGLASS SCORERS: Henry Synnott (2-4); Daniel Kelly (2-2); Ian Sheerin (0-3); John McGrath (0-2 frees), John Paul Kelly (0-2 each); Stephen Quinn, Adam McHugh (0-1 each). ST. BODEN’S SCORERS: Niall Toolis (1-1); Liam Magee (0-2, 1 free); Denis Carrigan, Stephen Byrne (0-1 each). BALTINGLASS: Mark Jackson; John Murray, Mark Staines, Declan Jones; Adam McHugh, Billy Cullen, Brian Nolan; John McGrath, Jason Kennedy; Ian Sheerin, Henry Synnott, Kevin Murphy; John Paul Kelly, Daniel Kelly, Stephen Quinn. Subs: William Hanlon for Mark Jackson (HT); Niall Kirwan for Brian Nolan (37 mins); Tom Burke for Ian Sheerin, David Gethings for Billy Cullen (50 mins); Ian Sheerin for Mark Staines (60 mins). ST. BODEN’S: Paul Miley; Marcus De Cogan, Mick Byrne, Tom Walsh; Martin O’Donoghue, Jamie Miley, Hugh Walsh; Denis Carrigan, Stephen Cahill; Liam Magee, Stephen Byrne, Jack Slattery; Brian Miley, Niall Toolis, Declan Cahill. Subs: Finn Craul for Mick Byrne (7 mins, inj.); Paul Phibbs for Niall Toolis (35 mins); Sean Murphy for Hugh Walsh (46 mins); James Fitzpatrick for Stephen Byrne (50 mins); David Balfe for Declan Cahill, Tim Broe for Liam Magee (both 54 mins). REFEREE: John O’Brien.