Flannery fires Bray to victory

Home defeat for Baltinglass

BRAY EMMETS BALTINGLASS 3-06 0-10

BRAY took the spoils in this Phillip Doyle Junior ‘B’ football championship clash when they made the long journey into the west on Friday evening last.

Bray, with a good blend of youth and experience, landed the big scores at crucial times during the game to come out on top after a tough competitive battle with very slippery underfoot conditions.

Paddy Walsh had the opening score in the fourth minute with a pointed free for the home side. Conor Flannery levelled matters with a pointed free a minute later. Peter Quinlan gave Bray the lead with a sweet right footed point. Paddy Walsh levelled matters with another pointed free. Steven Carton was landing his massive kickouts down on his half-forward line with ease for the east coast side.

Baltinglass applied early pressure, but great tackling by the Bray backs cleared their lines. Paddy Walsh was very lively throughout the opening period but was taking a lot of big hits from the Bray defence.

Walsh added on another free to put the west men in front to close out a tight first quarter.

Colin Flannery pointed as Bray grew more into the game. Baltinglass center-half back Fabian Dunne spilled a slippy ball, however, Balto were let off as Peter Quinlan dragged his goal effort wide.

Noah Cummins pumped in a high ball to the danger zone where Peter Quinlan won possession and pulled the trigger, however, Padraig Humphrey’s got down saved the shot but Jamie Queeney was in like a light to boot the rebound into the net with 23 minutes played.

Wesley Balfe made a powerful dash through the Bray defence and was fouled. Paddy Walsh pointed the free to leave the minimum in it. The home side hit two bad wides. Aaron Walsh fed Colin Flannery a peach of a ball and Flannery laid off to Quinlan who rocked the Baltinglass net as the half-time whistle sounded with the score reading 0-05 to 2-03 in favour of Bray.

The home side put in a great shift for the restart with Paddy Walsh tagging on another pointed free after a late tackle on Padraig McGrath.

Oisin O hAnnaidh picked up a yellow card for his troubles after being harshly pulled back for overcarrying. John Donegan pointed a monster off a free to leave it a two point game within three minutes of the restart.

Colin Flannery was causing havoc in the forward line, setting up great chance’s, however his allies were not getting the finished product.

Fabian Dunne was growing into the game as the battle intensified. In the 40th minute,Bray were dealt a huge double blow, Con Greene went on a red, and moments later Ross McAnaspie received a black card.

Bray’s headcount in the dugout was very low going into the game. Baltinglass landed a brace of wide’s and dropped a couple of shot’s short into the keeper’s hand and how Bray punished them moments later.

Noah Cummins won possession and fed Queeney who flicked onto Flannery who shook the net for Bray’s third major of the game to close out a controversial third quarter. Baltinglass introduced Martin Donegan and Nathan Geraghty as they battled back, but could not capitalize and turn all their possession into score’s as we went into the crucial stage of game.

Colin Flannery added two more great points for Bray to lead 3-05 to 0-07 with 53 minutes gone. Kevin Prendergast should have goaled for the west side, but dragged his effort wide.

James McTiernan landed a great point for Baltinglass and Prendergast hit Balto’s eight point shortly after.

Oisin O hAnnaidh already on a yellow, seemed lucky to survive further sanction, after what seemed a late tackle on a Baltinglass forward going through. Paddy Walsh pointed the free before, man of the match, Colin Flannery pointed to close out the game in the 62nd minute.

Scorers – Baltinglass: Paddy Walsh 0-7 (6f), Kevin Prendergast 0-01, John Donegan 0-01, Jamie McTierain 0-01.

Bray Emmets: Conor Flannery 1-05 (1f), Jamie Queeney 1-00, Simon Reynolds 1-00, Peter Quinlan 0-01.

Padraig Humphreys; Luke Kane, John Hennessy, David Parke; Sean Barrett, Fabian Dunne, Paddy Kirwan; Jamie McTiernan, Wesley Balfe; John Donegan, William Kavanagh, Paddy Walsh; Derek Nolan, Kevin Prendergast, Padraig McGrath. Subs: Eamon Horan (31min), Martin Donegan (48min), Nathan Geraghty (49min), James Humphrey’s (53min).

Stephen Carton; Ross McAnaspie, Finn Greene, Cian Lafferty; David Sullivan, Oisin O hAnniadh, Liam Morgan; Aaron Walsh, Noah Cummins; David Haughton, Simon Reynolds, Con Greene; Jamie Queeney, Peter Quinlan, Conor Flannery. Subs: Mark Mulvanney (41st min), Brian O Keefe (54th min).

Damien Byrne (Kiltegan)