Magnificent Marie
Kealy on the rampage as Baltinglass secure final berth
BALTINGLASS BLESSINGTON 8-15 3-06
A stunning first half tally of 3-07 from Marie Kealy paved the way for a comprehensive victory for Baltinglass in their Minor B football championship semi-final on Friday night last.
The full-forward just could not be contained by the Blessington rearguard and she ran amok in the opening 30 minutes with plenty of help from Ella Parke and Katie Edwards who also found the net in that devastating opening half under lights in Baltinglass.
This lethal attacking threat was boosted by a resolute Baltinglass defence and a strong midfield showing from Beibhinn Wilkins and Mia Kavanagh who supplied plenty of ball into the capable forwards.
Having succumbed to a 4-05 to 0-01 deficit in the opening quarter of an hour, Blessington did try to rearrange their line up by making several switches, one of them being Abaigh Craul moving up to the attack and the impressive Sophie Cronin heading back to defend at the other end.
It was 5-08 to 0-01 after 21 minutes when Blessington got their opening goal and that from the aforementioned Abaigh Craul who fired home from close range to lift the Baltinglass siege.
At half-time, Baltinglass had an unassailable 7-11 to 1-01 lead with Marie Kealy putting on a superb show thanks to the Blessington defence barely getting in a tackle on the talented full-forward.
Baltinglass’s dominance continued apace in the early stages of the second half with five points boosting the lead to 7-15 to 1-02 and the home team had taken off Kealy at the break.
Blessington never stopped working in this game and Baltinglass made a host of changes but still ran out utterly convincing winners on a score of 8-15 to 3-06 and they will face the winners of An Tochar and Éire Óg Greystones from the second semi-final played last night (Tuesday) in Roundwood.
Baltinglass: Rachel Kenny; Amber Doyle, Orla Hanlon, Molly Kennedy; Shefall Daly Danne, Mary Kate Burke, Emily Hannafin; Beibhinn Wilkins, Mia Kavanagh; Ella Parke, Chloe O’Neill, Katie Edwards; Louise McGeer, Marie Kealy, Nicole Sinnott. Subs: Niamh O’Brien, Leah Sheridan, Katie Murtagh, Kate Browne.
Blessinton: Ellen Murray; Clodagh Hynes, Mollaidh Behan, Abaigh Craul; Meabh Murphy, Ellie McKeever, Leah Quigley; Moya Richardson, Emma Moody; Aoife Richardson, Nicole Walsh, Rebecca Doran; Sophie Cronin, Meaghann Carlyon, Rebecca McNally.
Referee: Damien Byrne (Kiltegan)