Solid win for Blessington

Both sides missing players

BLESSINGTON collected the brace of Arklow Bay Hotel Division 1 League points on offer in this top of the table clash with reigning county champions Baltinglass in ideal conditions on Friday evening last.

Both sides were short a number of regulars, however it seemed Paul Garrigan was keeping his cards very close to his chest with the upcoming SFC in mind. The home side, buoyed on by a good home support, seemed the more hungrier throughout the hour and warranted their win after a good solid team display.

Full-forward Brian Carroll set the Blues on their way with a point in the opening minute after a fine pass in from Gavin Murray. Conor Keogh won the resultant kick-out and picked out Lee Furlong with an inch perfect pass and Furlong chipped over to level proceedings a minute later for a lively start to the game.

Gavin Murray was fouled going through and Anthony McLoughlin pointed the free. Patrick O’Connor drew a wonderful save from goalie Mark Jackson which went out for a 45. Blessington took a quick 45 and found Mikey O’Connor who landed a smashing point with his left boot.

David Boothman won possession at midfield and soloed through the Baltinglass defence and yet again the Blues could not get past Mark Jackson who saved again, however Mikey O Connor was first in to fist the loose ball over the bar as the home side rose up a gear.

Conor Keogh broke the Blues dominance at midfield with a couple of fine marks,however his forwards could not build on this, yielding two bad wides.

Henry Synnot pointed a free for the Slaneysiders before Mark Jackson hit a pair of wides from long range frees to close out the first quarter with the home side leading 0-04 to 0-02.

Stephen Bohan was breaking down and clearing a lot of Baltinglass play as Blessington upped the tempo.

Anthony McLoughlin landed a long range point before Mikey O’Connor pointed a great pass from David Boothman.

Blessington won another free in front of the posts, however the ball was thrown up after some dissent by Mikey. Chris Heaslip landed a humdinger of a point after a great pass from Mikey English to stem the Blues dominance.

The home side hit a trio of bad rushed wides with some poor shot selection when they had teammates in a better position. Kevin Hanlon hit a monster of a point as the Blues found momentum again. Up the other end Stephen Kitt brought off a point blank save from a Chris Heaslip effort.

Moments later Heaslip pointed a free after Henry Sinnot was fouled. The visitors were dealt a blow when Chris Heaslip had to go off injured. Jordan Nolan added a point in the 30th minute before Anthony McLoughlin burst through and finally found the back of the Baltinglass net.

Michael English pointed for Baltinglass as the half-time whistle sounded with the scoreboard reading 1-08 to 0-05 in favour of Barry O Donovan’s men. Blessington got a dream start to the second period when Gavin Murray sent a long ball into Anthony McLoughlin who took seven steps and blasted home to the roof of the net for the Blues’ second green flag of the evening.

Baltinglass replied with a point from the boot of Henry Synnott. Full-back Tom Murphy intercepted a pass from the Blessington forward line and cleared upfield where big Mikey English split the posts for a mighty point.

Baltinglass suffered another blow when Pat Burke also went off injured to join Chris Heaslip in the ever increasing injury department. Mark Jackson pointed another brace of long range frees as the visitors found a bit of form.

However, it was short lived as Blessington tagged on two points in quick succession from Conor Devlin and Mikey O’Connor to close out the third quarter with the scoreboard reading 2-11 to 0-09.

Mikey O’Connor added another point in the 46th minute and, amazingly, this was to be the last score of the match as it finished out like a game of backs versus forwards as Baltinglass packed their defence and Blessington decided to keep possession of the ball. Both sides got a few shots off but nothing on target before the final whistle sounded.

Scorers - Blessington: Anthony McLoughlin 2-02 (1f), Micheal O’Connor 0-05, Brian Carroll 0-01, Kevin Hanlon 0-01, Jordan Nolan 0-01, Patrick O’Connor 0-01, Conor Devlin 0-01.

Baltinglass: Henry Synnott 0-02 (1f), Mark Jackson 0-02 (2fs), Michael English 0-02, Chris Heaslip 0-02 (1f), Lee Furlong 0-01.

Blessington: Stephen Kitt; Barry Murphy, Jack Gilligan, Barry Finnan; Stephen Bohan, Kevin Hanlon, Dara Ryan; David Boothman, Gavin Murray; Anthony McLoughlin, Patrick O’Connor, Adam Boland; Jordan Nolan, Brian Carroll, Mikey O’Connor. Subs: Conor Devlin, Declan Fennessy, Johnny Kearns.

Baltinglass: Mark Jackson; Aaron Barrett, Thomas Murphy, Alan Nolan; Cian Lee, John Murray, Michael Dowling; Conor Keogh, Patrick Burke; Stephen Heaslip, Christopher Heaslip, Peter Dowling; Lee Furlong, Michael English, Henry Synnott. Subs: Brian Nolan, Declan Jones, Stephen Quinn, Pat Kirwan.

Referee: Gareth Whelan (Kiltegan)