Blessington beat Éire Óg

BLESSINGTON 2-12 ÉIRE ÓG 0-05

BLESSINGTON and Eire Og met in Blessington on Saturday evening in Division 1 of the league, a game to be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

Strange that this should be the case as all previous encounters between the two teams have demonstrated the best of sportsmanship.

The game was effectively over at half-time when Blessington lead 1-7 to 0-2 points, the goal coming just before half-time in a move involving Brian Carroll and Michael Nugent and Michael O’Connor.

Whatever hope Eire Og had, and Daniel Keane had given them some chance with a fine point one minute into the second half, ended six minutes into the second half when Eire Og’s Sean Lawless received a second yellow card.

This sending off incensed the Eire Og players and management and an Eire Og mentor was ordered out of the pitch. This proved to be the catalyst for several second half fracas one of which saw a player from each side receive red cards.

Blessington’s Eddie Boylan received his while sitting in the subs bench while Eire Og midfielder Billy Norman can have no complaints as his flurry of punches in front of the referee did justice to any boxer in the National Stadium.

Back to the game, one wonders what might have been had county players been involved, they were particularly missed by Eire Og.

But the game was effectively over at half time with the sending off of Sean Lawless six minutes into the second half which finished the game completely.

Eire Og scored three points from play over the hour, the Eire Og corner forward James Delahunt kicking two very good points of that three.

Blessington on the other hand kicked 2-10 from play and missed a penalty and Eire Og man of the match, goalkeeper Lorcan Traynor brought off three first half great saves from KJ Rogers, Curtis Geraghty and Patrick O’Connor.

After a second half that was so ill tempered the final whistle of referee Noel Kinsella was most welcome. Jack Gilligan, full-back for Blessington, was probably their man of the match and for an Eire Og team which finished with 13, centre back Daniel Keane gave a ten out of ten performance including a fine point just after the break.

Blessington: Stephen Kitt; Barry Murphy, Jack Gilligan, Stephen Bohan; Kevin Hanlon (0-1), Michael McLoughlin (0-1), Barry Finan; Daragh Ryan, KJ Rogers; Brian Carroll (0-1), Patrick O’Connor (1-4), Michael O’Connor (1-2); Curtis Geraghty, Michael Nugent, Eddie Boylan (0-3). Subs: Tony Kenny, Declan Fennessy, Adam Boland, David Blake.

Eire Og Greystones: Lorcan Traynor; Liam Maguire, Liam Brown, Conall Geaney; Sean Horan, Daniel Keane ( 0-1 ), Eoin McHugh; Billy Norman, Dominic O’Brien; Sean Lawless, Daniel Webb, Dan Quigley; James Delahunt (0-3), Willie O Hagen (0-1), James Smullen. Subs: Colin McDevitt, Tom O’Brien, Daniel Byrne Referee: Noel Kinsealla (Kilbride)