Kealy shines as Balto beat AGB at home

BALTINGLASS AGB 0-17 1-9

BALTINGLASS took the spoils when they defeated AGB in the ladies Senior football championship at home last Friday evening.

Lively Marie Kealy had the home side on the board with a point inside the opening minute after a great ball in from Sarah Jane Winder and then Magaret Nolan had a goal chance, but her effort cleared the crossbar in the next attack.

Arklow responded when Roisin O’Reilly pointed after a great break up the field in the fifth minute. AGB had plenty of possession but could not convert it onto the score board.

Ann Marie Keegan put Jessie McElehron clean through, but Jessie blazed wide. The home side broke up the field and Shefali Daly Danne put Anna McGrath through on goal, but Linda Dempsey brilliantly saved, and the ball went out for a 45, which Maire Kealy dispatched between the posts for one of the scores of the evening.

From the resulting kick-out, Sa- rah Jane Winder won possession and soloed through, splitting open the Arklow rearguard and laying off to McGrath who fed Kealy, who pointed after a great passage of play, as Baltinglass closed out the first quarter with the score reading 0-5 to 0-1 in their favour.

AGB settled slowly into the game and after a great move by Sarah Garnett, Ann Marie Keegan shook the Baltinglass net to get the Arklow ladies back in the hunt.

It was all Arklow at this stage, they were through on goal, but a harsh free out was awarded for steps, when another goal looked on for the N11 side.

Orla Byrne put Jessie McElehron clean through, but Geraldine Norton saved and cleared her lines; another chance gone.

A foul on Chloe Farrell was punished, with Maire Kealy tapping over the free. AGB were patient in their next attack, keeping possession, gaining ground. Grace Hurley put in Aine O’Reilly whose blistering shot was brilliantly tapped over the crossbar by Geraldine Norton as AGB cursed their luck again.

Both defences were busy in the closing stages of the opening half with some resolute defending.

Linda Dempsey drew another fine save from an Anna McGrath piledriver. Stephanie Martin hit the upright from a free for the Arklow side as another chance went abegging.

Roisin O’Reilly finally got AGB’s third point in the 30th minute after trojan work by Ann Marie Keegan. Jessie McEleheron pointed a free before Chloe Farrell soloed 50 meters up the field and pointed to leave it all square at the interval at 0-7 to 1-4.

Arklow hit the ground running, on the restart, sisters Aine and Roisin O’Reilly each added a brace of points to put Arklow four to the good as they lookked to drive it home.

Chloe Farrell drove forward and tapped over Baltinglass’ opening score of the second period in the 37th minute. Marie Kealy sweetly beat three defenders and shot on goal, again Linda Dempsey saved in the Arklow goal.

Niamh Byrne pointed as Baltinglass found some momentum. A further brace of points levelled the game with full-back Jackie Byrne raising a white flag.

Paula Faulkner put the home side in front to close out the third quarter. Marie Kealy doubled the lead, but AGB rallied yet again. Roisin O’Reilly burst through and was fouled but pointed, however the ref came back for the free.

Roisin took the free and pointed as we were back to a one-point game, but the clock was against the east coast side.

Chloe Farrell, Mag Nolan and Marie Kealy each pointed to close out the game for Baltinglass.

Scorers - Baltinglass: Marie Kealy 0-9 (4f), Chloe Farrell 0-3, Mag Nolan 0-2, Paula Faulkner 0-1, Jackie Byrne 0-1, Niamh Byrne 0-1,

AGB: Roisin O Reilly 1-05 (2f), Aine O Reilly 0-3, Jessie McEleheron 0-1

Geraldine Norton; Orla Hanlon, Jackie Byrne, Sarah Fennelly; Kane Kelly, Hannah Sheerin, Susan Dowling; Paula Faulker, Sarah Jane Winder; Margaret Nolan, Shefali Daly Danne, Chloe Farrell; Anna McGrath, Rachel O’Neill, Maire Kealy Sub: Niamh Byrne.

Linda Dempsey; Caoilfhionn Kavanagh, Rachael Byrne, Emer Kelly; Sue Tyrrell, Doireann Kavanagh, Emma Furlong; Orla Byrne, Sarah Garnett; Áine O’Reilly, Stephanie Martin, Ann Marie Keegan; Jessie McElehron, Grace Hurley, Roisin O’Reilly. Subs: Eve Rodgers.

Sarah McHugh