Blessington are best
Two Geraghty goals help the Blues see off Baltinglass
BLESSINGTON BALTINGLASS 2-12 0-11
BLESSINGTON progressed to the final of the Dunne Cup after a good battle against Baltinglass on Saturday last in good conditions.
Blessington started each half the sharper and with this built up a nice cushion to keep the opposition at arm’s length.
Baltinglass were short a lot of their regular starting fifteen through injury.
Bryan Carroll opened the scoring in the first minute to get the home side off the mark with a sweet point. Mick McLoughlin doubled the lead in the next attack for the Blues. Peadar Burke pointed to get Baltinglass off the mark in the eight minute.
Kevin Murphy won the resultant kick-out and found Cian Lee with a sublime pass and Lee made a dashing run through the heart of the Blues defence and should have raised a green flag but just pulled his effort over the crossbar to level the game.
In the tenth minute, Martin Shannon broke through a couple of tackles and laid off to Curtis Geraghty whose shot somehow slipped by Mark Jackson into the net for a major score at this point.
Blessington started to dominate proceeding over the next period.
Patrick O’Connor and Bryan Carroll each pointed after great work by Mick McLoughlin to further increase the lead, to close out the first quarter.
Eoin Keogh landed over a long range point as Blessington were making better use of their possession.
It was all Blessington at this stage as they were the more hungrier, battling for every ball and flying into the tackles.
In the twentieth minute, Blessington were leading 1-06 to 0-02. Pat Burke sent in a high ball to the danger zone where the ball was spilled and a couple of players ended up on the ground over the ball.
“Penalty ref” was the roar from the Balto dug-out. A throw up on the 21-metre line was the outcome, from which Baltinglass won a free, but the free-taker was wide of the mark. Mick McLoughlin fielded possession and laid of to Curtis Geraghty who in turn put Pat O’Connor through for another point.
O’Connor landed Blessington’s final point of the half in the next attack. Peadar Burke won the ball from the kick-out and put Cian Lee on the attack.
Lee was fouled and up came goalie Mark Jackson to split the posts from 45 metres out as the whistle sounded with Blessington in a commanding lead 1-08 to 0-03.
Each side introduced a couple off fresh legs on the restart. Gavin Murray landed over a smashing point as the Blues began where they left off. Murray was dominating midfield in the next period winning mark after mark.
Baltinglass had moved Peadar Burke from midfield into the full forward position, which seemed to suit the home side more, as now they had a stronghold in the centrefield area.
Mick McLoughlin was linking up well with Murray and was setting up attack after attack as Blessington went for the jugular.
Curtis Geraghty goaled in the next attack before Mick McLoughlin pointed a free won by Eddie Boylan. Tom Burke laid off to Adam McHugh, who pointed for Baltinglass in the 39th minute.
Ian Sheeran broke down a Blessington attack and played a sublime pass into Peadar Burke who fed Adam McHugh who pointed.
Frees were hard won throughout the match. Jack Timmins pointed another as Baltinglass now increased the intensity.
Corner-back Barry Murphy hit over a point from an acute angle to slow down the Baltinglass fight back, on the 50 minute mark with the score now reading 2-11 to 0-06.
Peadar Burke landed a brace of points to reduce the deficit.
A Baltinglass goal chance went amiss, after brave goalkeeping by Stephen Kitt, who just got down to deny the in rushing McHugh, but was caught by a boot and a free out resulted.
Peadar Burke added another point as Baltinglass were putting in a late rally.
Moments later Kitt brought off a pointblank save from McHugh. Blessington won possession and a lovely ball was sent into Curtis Ger- aghty whose overhead backward flick took the paint off the outside of Jackson’s upright.
Adam McHugh and Jack Timmons landed a brace of points before Adam Boland closed out the scoring with a point in a good sporting match where no cards were needed.
Blessington now advance to the Dunne Cup final where they await the winner’s of Rathnew versus St Patrick’s of Wicklow Town, which could be a while away yet.
Scorers - Blessington: Curtis Geraghty 2-00, Pat O’Connor 0-03, Bryan Carroll 0-02, Mick Mcloughlin 0-02, Eoin Keogh 0-02, Gavin Murray 0-01, Barry Murphy 0-01, Adam Boland 0-01.
Baltinglass: Adam McHugh 0-04, Peadar Burke 0-04, Cian Lee 0-01, Alan Nolan 0-01, Jack Timmons 0-01