Baltinglass dominate midfield to beat Magpies
the next four kick outs. Synnott, Kelly and Kevin Murphy scored the points while McGrath’s goal bound shot was saved for a 45 that Mark Jackson kicked wide.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Synnott’s game is his ability to weave into space. When Darragh Callan scored Newtown’s second point, Jackson’s kick out landed in McGrath’s hands. He passed the ball to Murphy to run into acres of space and picked the perfect time to find Synnott for another goal.
Moments later wing back Patrick Burke got possession on his own 45 and ran around Ross Davis like he wasn’t there. Again the field opened up for him without a Newtown defender coming to him or a midfielder tracking back to challenge. Eventually 30 metres from goal a defender came towards him but Synnott had peeled away to tap the ball over the bar.
Once again Baltinglass won the subsequent kick out and McGrath converted a free won by Synnott. This was the last score of the half in the 21st minute as both teams got sloppy in their shooting. Newtown withdrew Oisin Greenan as a sweeper but strangely didn’t use him for kick outs, instead they continued to kick the ball long for Baltinglass to win.
The second half went much the same way as the first half with both teams knowing the game was over. Dean Odlum did have a chance to get a goal but he dragged his penalty wide. In the final ten minutes Newtown kicked five points to give the scoreboard a better look by the final whistle.
Baltinglass march on and will hope for a tougher challenge to really see how good they are.
Scorers – Baltinglass: Henry Synnott 2-7; Joey Kelly (2f) 0-5; Daniel Kelly 1-2; John McGrath (2f), Kevin Murphy 0-2 each.
Newtown: Ross Davis (2f) 0-3; Dean Odlum (1f), Darragh Callan 0-2 each; Robert Greenan 0-1.
Baltinglass: Mark Jackson; John Murray, Mark Staines, Declan Jones; Patrick Burke, Billy Cullen, Brian Nolan; Kevin Murphy, Jason Kennedy; Ian Sheerin, Henry Synnott, John McGrath; Daniel Kelly, Sean O’Brien, Joey Kelly. Subs: Tom Burke for Brian Nolan (HT, inj,); David Gethings for John Murray, Tommy Murphy for Declan Jones (both 40 mins); Niall Kirwan for Kevin Murphy (44 mins, inj.); Stephen Quinn for Mark Staines (47 mins); William Hanlon for Mark Jackson (51 mins).
Newtown: Kenneth Turner; Glen Carthy, Shane Mooney, Robert Greenan; Darren Walsh, Neil Martin, Stephen Davis; Mark Fitzsimons, Paul O’Riordan; Darragh Callan, Dean Odlum, Ross Davis; Declan Doyle, Ciarán McGuirl, Oisin Greenan. Subs: Keith Dalton for Declan Doyle (37 mins); John Halpin for Ciaran McGuirl, Dessie Waters for Oisin Greenan (both 39 mins); Stephen Kelly for Darren Walsh (47 mins); Oisin Greenan for Robert Greenan (57 mins); Ciaran McGuirl for John Halpin (58 mins, inj.).
Referee: Declan Peppard