Paudie proves

BALTINGLASS ST PATRICK’S 0-15 1-05

BALTINGLASS advanced into the knockout stages of the Junior A championship with a comfortable victory over St Patrick’s in Arklow last Saturday evening. An exhibition of score taking by lethal corner-forward Paudi Swinbourne was the difference between these two teams.

A first half low on quality but high on intensity saw Baltinglass grind down their opponents as they eked out an advantage. In the second minute Jack Timmons got the ball rolling with a beautifully clipped score off his right peg. Soon after, energetic wing back John Whelan got on the end of a beautiful pass by the influential Lee Furlong to dissect the uprights.

Furlong was again the provider on 10 minutes as his sublime offload fed Timmons who supplied the finish. Timmons, who was man of the match in their previous game against Éire Óg was well marshalled by the Pat’s defence after his bright opening.

Scores became hard to come by thereafter and Pat’s in particular were guilty of squandering numerous chances with wayward shooting or criminally dropping balls short into keeper Patsy Keogh.

Baltinglass’s Swinbourne got his first of the day after Furlong was again the linkman. The next attack saw wing forward Robin Farrell get their fifth point after good build up play by Timmons and Jimmy Quinn had created the opening.

It took 23 minutes for Pat’s to trouble the scoreboard. Eventually Johnny Carton clipped a free, a minute later he doubled his tally to narrow the gap to three points. Baltinglass finished the half stronger with Swinbourne and Furlong pointing to keep the west men in control.

A feature of the first half was Baltinglass’s work rate and willingness to fight for every ball high up the field. Their pressing game making it hard for the Wicklow town men to build anything from the back.

On the resumption, Swinbourne skipped past his marker to stretch the lead to six.

Pat’s then created a great goal chance. Carton their most creative player won dirty ball 20 yards from goal he slipped a pass onto James Kavanagh whose goal bound piledriver was bravely blocked away by David Gethings who flung himself at the ball.

Baltinglass kept building their lead as Furlong pointed another. On 35 minutes Pat’s finally scored from play as Carton dinked a delightful point after cutting in from the left wing. However, they could not get momentum going as from the kick-out towering Baltinglass midfielder Niall Kirwan collected