Balto looking good
Jason Kenny leads from the front as Pat’s dismantled
BALTINGLASS ST PATRICK’S 5-13 2-05
BALTINGLASS produced a very competent performance under lights in Roundwood in the under-15 football championship last Friday evening when they dismantled a game St Patrick’s side to leave absolutely no doubt as to their title credentials.
The young footballers from the west won’t be allowed to get too carried away with this fine victory. They faced a St Pat’s team that wasn’t found wanting for effort or courage but who came up short in the size and application departments.
The 3-08 to 2-02 half-time score line was helped into reality by a weakness at the back for the Wicklow town team.
St Patrick’s lacked a strong kick out and although their short tactic worked on occasion, too often the ball was robbed or sent directly to Baltinglass men and they harvested quite a large percentage of their half-time tally from this source.
Pat’s started very brightly. A cheeky monkey of a back heel to the Baltinglass net from Aaron Byrne got them off to a dream start after 90 seconds.
But Baltinglass looked strong all over the field.
Figures like Darren Walsh, Arun Daly Danne, Jordan Etukudoh, Jack Hanlon, KB Matomni, Tom Keogh, and Jason Kenny are all big, strong footballers and it is very likely that they will dominate this age level.
It took them four minutes to open their account, that a point from corner-forward Niall O’Connor who was playing at centre-half forward with Tom Keogh in the corner.
But there was a vulnerability to the St Pat’s defence and it was midfielder Jack Hanlon who was the first to profit when he stormed into the St Pat’s heartland and lashed home to the bottom corner of Padraig Cahill’s net to give the west men the lead.
St Pat’s pegged them back through Frank Reynolds with 11 minutes gone and after another 11 minutes they led by 3-04 to 1-01 with goals from the very impressive Jason Kenny and Tom Keogh and points from the aforementioned Keogh (two) and Jack Hanlon.
Pat’s gathered their thoughts under the heavy pressure of the Baltinglass assault and they got a goal back from centre-half forward Dylan Kavanagh after 26 minutes. But Baltinglass were always able to score from play or win a free without too much effort and they took the break at 3-08 to 2-02.
The Wicklow town men needed a wonderful start but they fired wide with their opening effort and shortly afterwards Jason Kenny planted the ball neatly in the bottom corner for their fourth goal.
Three points from Tom Keogh with a Jason Kenny effort in between made the St Pat’s task impossible and when KB Matomni fired home low and hard past Padraig Cahill it was curtains.
This was a serious performance from Baltinglass.
Their’s is a team littered with quality footballers who will feature at Senor level for their club and possible county if the hard work continues.
St Pat’s had plenty of very good players as well.
Josh Watson battled hard with Jason Kenny all night, Mark Evans looks a tidy corner-back while Jack Fox showed plenty of capability throughout.
Scorers – Jack Hanlon 1-04 (2f), Tom Keogh 1-04 (2f), Jason Kenny 2-02, KB Matomni 1-00, Niall O’Connor 0-02, Evan Frahill 0-01.
St Patrick’s: Jack Fox 0-04 (1f), Aaron Byrne 1-00, Dylan Kavanagh 1-00, Frank Reynolds 0-01.
Robert O’Brien; Neil Murphy, Darren Walsh, Jack Kirwan; Stephen Connolly, Arun Daly Danne, Jordan Etukudoh; Jack Hanlon, KB Matomni; Evan Frahill, Tom Keogh, Hugh O’Toole; Conor Quinn, Jason Kenny, Niall O’Connor. Subs: Hugh Leigh for J Etukudoh (45min), William Brien for H O’Toole (49min), Kealan Hunter for C Quinn (55min), Gary Kelly for N O’Connor (55min), Shane Whelan for J Kenny (58min), Conor Flood for N Murphy (58min).
Padraig Cahill; Mark Evans, Josh Watson, Cian Kelly; Cathal Ó Briain, Niall Delahunt, Frank Reynolds; Jack Fox, Callum Kelly; Matthew Ryan, Dylan Kavanagh, Fionn Luddy; Mark O’Brien, Jack Meaney, Aaron Byrne. Subs: Ryan Kavanagh for A Byrne (41min), Finn Egan Carron for C Ó Briain (46min), Ryan Kavanagh for F Reynolds (46min), Liam Connolly for F Luddy (53min), Mark O’Brien for M Ryan (60min, inj).
Liam Keenan jnr (Augh- rim)