Baltinglass survive a stern test from gallant Coolkenno

COOLKENNO BALTINGLASS 2-03 1-09

COOLKENNO and Baltinglass clashed in the second Senior football championship quarter-final in Aughrim last Saturday in a game that was intriguing but by no means a classic.

The differences between the two teams were noticeable in the warm-up.

Coolkenno, a small panel with a tight-knit group, working with intensity in tight in a corner of the field while Baltinglass appeared far more laid back, spread out over the full half of the field, with their drill sergeant orchestrating their every move from the centre with his trusty whistle like a conductor at the opera. Initially, it seemed as though this was an ill-advised way to prepare for a championship battle.

Before the substitutes for both teams had even found their seats in their respective dugouts Coolkenno had put the ball in the back of the net.

Don Jackman won the throw-up, finding his compatriot Robert Keogh who picked out Eamonn Rossiter. The Coolkenno full-forward found himself in space with a clear route to goal and drove forward before rifling a shot home to the top corner of the net in clinical fashion.

A dream start for the underdogs.

Baltinglass did not let the heads drop. County man John McGrath was working hard for his team and after picking up a break on his own 45 he proceeded to carry the ball all the way to the Coolkenno 21 before playing a hand pass in to Sean O’Brien.

Baltinglass had a stroke of luck here as O’Brien mishandled the ball, diverting it into the path of corner forward Joey Kelly who saw his first effort saved before finding the net at the second time of asking. Baltinglass could have added a second goal shortly after, with a high ball in from out the field almost catching John Corcoran in the Coolkenno goal off guard.

Both sides were employing sweepers and, after the initial excitement, this began to be reflected in the flow of the game.

Baltinglass began assert their dominance out the field but struggled to make the most of their chances, with Joey Kelly and Jason Kennedy points coming in the midst of a spate of wides under severe pressure from the Coolkenno defence.

Eamonn Rossiter was his usual energetic self, and his tireless defensive work created Coolkenno’s first point of the game.

Nailing a Baltinglass ball-carrier with a shoulder, Rossiter forced the turnover before being fouled in front of goal to leave himself with the simple task of stroking home the dead-ball from 21 yards.

John McGrath added the final point of the half after a well-worked line ball. Baltinglass started the second half as they finished the first, with McGrath drawing in three defenders before slipping the ball to Daniel Kelly who took advantage of a rare yard of space by stroking the ball over with his left foot.

Coolkenno were not as clinical as they have been in previous rounds, and this was costing them dearly. On more than one occasion a Coolkenno chance went abegging only for Baltinglass to tear up the field and add salt to the wounds by nicking a score of their own. John McGrath was becoming more and more influential, picking up countless breaks and dictating the pace of the game.

Coolkenno pushed the Jackman brothers, a real Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble pairing, into the full-forward line.

Coolkenno rained high balls in on the duo time and again, and although they competed well in the air, a combination of a lack of support runners and the superb Billy Cullen meant this approach lacked in end product. Despite their commanding lead going into the final ten, Baltinglass had a nervy finish.

First, Patrick Burke saw red after a black card followed up his earlier yellow card before a hopeful high ball in from Conor Walker into the square beat the crowd of players assembled below and dropped into the net after a touch from Don Jackman.

This gave Coolkenno a glimmer of hope but Baltinglass responded immediately through a Christopher Heaslip point, a score which really put the result beyond doubt. A disappointing end to a good year for Coolkenno but their exploits will put them in a good position for next year, with two particularly inspired Coolkenno fans in the stands vowing to join the cause for the battles to come next year!

Baltinglass progress to the semi-final stage, where they will come up against a battle-hardened Bray Emmets in what is sure to be a competitive affair.

Coolkenno: John Corcoran; Shane Walker, Cathal Rossiter, Willie Doyle; James Gregan, Robert Keogh, David Cole; Paddy Dalton, Jim Cushe; Ben Jackman, Don Jackman (1-02), Brian Rossiter; Conor Walker, Eamonn Rossiter (1-01), Steve Cushe. Subs: Eoghan Dolan, Colin Murphy.

Baltinglass: Mark Jackson; Thomas Murphy, Mark Staines, John Murray (0-01); Patrick Burke, Billy Cullen, Tom Burke; Kevin Murphy, Jason Kennedy (0-01); Ian Sheerin (0-01), Henry Synott, John McGrath (0-01); Daniel Kelly (0-01), Sean O’Brien (0-02), Joey Kelly (1-01). Subs: Christopher Heaslip (0-01), Declan Jones.

Referee: John Keenan