BACK WITH A BANG!

stood up when needed and John Murray has cemented his reputation of a no nonsense defender.

Youth was a big talking point for both sides in the lead up to the game. The Burkes delivered on the big day, Pat and Tom were excellent and Billy Cullen was prominent all day at centre-half back.

Kevin Murphy was a huge figure for Baltinglass in this game and together with Jason Kennedy they won the midfield battle with a bit to spare with Kennedy, in my mind, pushing Joey Kelly very hard for the Man of the Match award.

Ian Sheerin did what he always does, work. He worked himself to the bone. He is a very underrated footballer but if you look closely he is often the difference between Baltinglass gaining possession from dirty ball and not. The half-forward was huge in this game.

Henry Sinnott was his darting self and never stopped and John McGrath’s broad smile after the final whistle suggests that he knows only too well that he delivered the goods for his team.

Joey Kelly was vital to the Baltinglass cause and was justifiably the man of the match. Sean O’Brien proved that he is an attacker of merit in his own right and his embrace with father Kevin at the end was a beautiful moment.

Daniel Kelly will thrill crowds in Aughrim for many more years to come hopefully.

Paul Garrigan introduced four substitutes in the game. Chris Heaslip came in and made a nuisance of himself. Brian Nolan