Balto hold out for narrow win Éire Óg fightback falls short

BALTINGLASS 0-08 ÉIRE ÓG 0-07

BOTH sets of players in this SFL Division 1 clash may have been packing sunscreen in their gearbags on Friday night, but Mother Nature can be a cruel mistress and, instead, rain jackets and umbrellas were the order of the day.

The inclement weather conditions had a significant impact on the game, placing an increased importance on the tactics employed by either side.

Both Baltinglass and Éire Óg opted to line out in a defensive shape with multiple sweepers. This, combined with the severe rain and wind, resulted in a low-scoring game with little or no space for the few forwards employed by both sides to work in.

Much of the opening exchanges took place between the two 45s, with any foray into the oppositions final third quickly being snuffed out by the multitude of defenders dropping back.

Baltinglass had a strong wind behind them in the first half, allowing them to break out of defence at a greater pace than their opposition. A prime example of this came from the opening score of the game.

Éire Óg worked the ball well up to the Baltinglass 45 but came up against a wall of opposing defenders.

With space at a premium, the ball was eventually worked to Darren Hayden who beat his man before seeing his shot stall in the wind and drop short into goalkeeper Mark Jackson’s arms. Baltinglass broke quickly and the ball beat the retreating Éire Óg defenders to find Sean O’Brien on the right hand side of the field. O’Brien cut in and split the posts with his left to open the scoring.

Within a matter of minutes, the Baltinglass lead had doubled as Henry Synnott scored carbon copy of O’Brien’s opener.

Éire Óg started out with two big men, Billy Cuddihy and Andrew Walsh, in the full-forward line but the wind made it difficult for their team-mates to find them inside.

One such ball in was easily cut out by Billy Cullen and the Baltinglass centre-back charged out of defence before playing a diagonal ball to Adam McHugh on the right wing.

McHugh beat his man before cutting inside another and sent the ball over the bar under heavy pressure from a third defender.

McHugh impressed throughout the first half, with his stellar work rate off the ball slowing multiple Éire Óg attacks down.

Two 45s from Mark Jackson pushed the home side further ahead. Jackson saw a third 45 rebound off the post but the ball found its way to Henry Synnott who drilled over the bar to give his team a six-point lead and that was how the half would finish with the home side pulling off the remarkable feat of holding their opposition scoreless in a full half of football, albeit with a strong wind at their backs.

Éire Óg came out of the blocks in the second half brimming with intent. First Darren Hayden and then James Cranley reduced the deficit before Mark Jackson further proved his worth to his side with a long-range free against the wind to stretch the Baltinglass lead.

Two frees from Darren Hayden sandwiched the introduction of dual star Stephen Kelly and at this point Éire Óg had real momentum behind them. That momentum was very nearly converted into a goal when a high ball in for Billy Cuddihy broke favourably for David Keane.

On the day of the FA Cup final, Keane went for a Sanchez-esque half-volley but saw his effort blocked by a defender.

Once again Mark Jackson was a thorn in Éire Óg’s side when he added another dead ball effort. The game looked to be gone with Éire Óg four points down but a free from Darren Hayden and two well taken points from James Cranley left the game on a knife edge heading into injury time.

Éire Óg had the opportunity to level the scores but first Craig Smullen and then David Keane shot when perhaps another pass was the right option to give Baltinglass a hard-earned two points.

Scorers – Baltinglass: Mark Jackson 0-04, Adam McHugh 0-01, Henry Synnott 0-02, Sean O’Brien 0-01.

Éire Óg Greystones: Darren Hayden 0-04, James Cranley 0-03,

Baltinglass: Mark Jackson; Aaron Barrett, John Murray, Alan Nolan; Patrick Burke, Billy Cullen, Tom Burke; Kevin Murphy, Conor Keogh; Stephen Heaslip, Christopher Heaslip, Adam McHugh; Henry Synnott, Sean O’Brien, Michael English. Subs: Michael Dowling, Cian Lee, Brian Lord, Peter Dowling, Lee Furlong.

Éire Óg: Lorcan Traynor; Liam Maguire, Dominic O’Brien, Matt Maguire; David Keane, Craig Smullen, James Woods; Anto Byrne, Pearse Kelly; Peter Keane, Darren Hayden, James Cranley; Leon Brown, Billy Cuddihy, Andrew Walsh. Subs: Stephen Kelly.