Coverage of all the SFC games over the weekend
Bray miss chance for draw
THIS Senior football championship game, played in Aughrim on Saturday evening last, got under way at a fairly leisurely pace for the first 10 minutes as both Blessington and Bray Emmets took a while to settle.
Brian Carroll got Blessington off the mark with a point from play after nine minutes. Curtis Geraghty added another two minutes later. This was to be the last contribution to the score board from a Blessington forward in the first half.
A fisted effort from Marc Lennon raised Bray Emmets first white flag after 12 minutes and Paul Cunningham levelled matters a minute later.
Niall McGraynor put Bray ahead after 19 minutes with his first score of the day but two minutes later corner-back Barry Murphy came forward and levelled the score again.
Barry and centre-back Kevin Hanlon were constantly pushing up into attack at this stage. Murphy was destined to make a vital contribution later on. Blessington almost goaled immediately following the Murphy score when Curtis Geraghty found himself in a one on one situation with Bray goalkeeper Paul O’Keeffe.
However, the big Bray man was more than up to the task and the danger was averted. Paul Cunningham converted a free just on the call of half time to leave Bray Emmets ahead by one point. At no stage during the first half did this game raise itself to the tempo that might be expected of a senior championship game.
The second period began and continued in much the same vein. Curtis Geraghty levelled after five minutes but Aaron Murphy put Bray ahead again a minute later. Patrick O’Connor once more restored parity for Blessington.
Niall McGraynor put Bray back ahead but then a surge from Blessington brought points from substitute Conor Ryan, Patrick O’Connor again and a pointed free from Anthony McLoughlin to put the Western men two ahead. This was short lived as Marc Lennon reduced the leeway to one after nineteen minutes. The next ten minutes were scoreless, during which period Mick O’Hagan was examining his diary for a possible replay date.
Then up popped Barry Murphy again to do as he did in the first half to put Blessington two points clear. As the game entered added time Niall McGraynor restored hope for Bray by bringing the gap back to one.
At this stage they went in search of an equaliser and probably should have got it. In a last attack a simple fist over opportunity presented itself but an attempt for what would have been a winning goal was blocked out for a 45. Aaron Murphy’s effort was to the right and the chance was gone.
Blessington survived and Mick O’Hagan closed the diary again.
Scorers - Blessington: Barry Murphy 0-2, Patrick O’Connor 0-2, Curtis Geraghty 0-2, Anthony McLoughlin 0-1 (f), Conor Ryan 0-1, Brian Carroll 0-1.
Bray Emmets: Niall McGraynor 0-3 (1f), Marc Lennon 0-2, Paul Cunningham 0-2, Aaron Murphy 0-1.
Blessington: Stephan Kitt; Barry Murphy, Michael McLoughlin, Jack Gilligan; Barry Finan, Kevin Hanlon, Stephan Bohan; Anthony McLoughlin, Eoin Keogh; Kevin John Rodgers, Brian Carroll, Patrick O’Connor; Curtis Geraghty, Michael Nugent, Mikey O’Connor; Subs: Caolin McGorman for Jack Gilligan, Conor Ryan for Michael Nugent, Gavin Murray for Curtis Geraghty, Conor Kelly for Kevin John Rodgers.
Bray Emmets: Paul O’Keeffe; Cathal O Dulachain, Conor Power, Daire Lohan; Niall Gaffney, Ben McCormack, Des Kelly; Rory Breslin, Aaron Murphy; Niall McGraynor, John Henderson, Eoin McCormack; Marc Lennon, Mikey Browne, Paul Cunningham. Subs: Ronan Cunningham for Eoin McCormack, Cathal McGee for Paul Cunningham, Gavin Dowling for Mikey Browne.
Referee: John Keenan (Aughrim).