Dunlavin coast to victory in relaxed encounter

DUNLAVIN BALLINACOR 4-23 2-14

WITH both these teams already eliminated from the business end of the Intermediate championship, this game was played in the relaxed manner of a practice game.

The teams scored a total of six goals and 37 points. Referee Darragh Byrne was hard pressed to keep with the score keeping. Dunlavin had first use of a stiffish breeze in Pearse’s Park, Arklow on Sunday last and hit the ground running straight from the throw in.

They had 1-3 on the board before Ballinacor got their first score from Ger Byrne after six minutes. James Walsh had a goal effort saved by goalie Ciaran O’Neill but knocked the rebound over the bar.

The Dunlavin forwards were threatening to over run the Ballinacor defence with Eoin Murtagh, James Walsh and the full-forward line of Cian O’Sullivan, Shane O’Rourke and Shane Carthy in flying form.

Gradually Ballinacor came more into the game and points from Conor Parsons (2), John Devitt, Paddy Byrne and Ger Byrne plus a goal from Substitute Kevin Byrne had the Glenmalure men on a score of 1-6 by 20 minutes.

By now Dunlavin were on 2-10, the goal coming from Shane O’Rourke.

Play was evenly balanced for the last ten minutes of the half leaving the half time score at 2-12 to 1-9 in favour of Dunlavin.

Dunlavin had added 1-2 early in the second period before Kevin Byrne netted the second Ballinacor goal in the sixth minute.

Shane Carthy had scored the Dunlavin goal and went on to score their fourth goal after ten minutes.

Allowing for the relaxed manner in which the game was played, there was some fine score taking from Shane Carthy, Shane O’Rourke, James Walsh, Eoin Murtagh an Cian O’Sullivan on the Dunlavin side while Ger Byrne, Paddy Byrne and Conor Parsons had some fine scores for Ballinacor. The game ran out to its inevitable conclusion and Dunlavin won on a score line of 4-23 to 2-14.

Scorers - Dunlavin: Shane Carthy 2-6, James Walsh 0-8 Cian O’Sullivan 1-3,, Shane O’Rourke, 1-2, Eoin Murtagh 0-3, Garry Allen 0-1.

Ballinacor: Kevin Byrne 2-0, Conor Parsons 0-5, Ger Byrne 0-4, Paddy Byrne 0-3, John Devitt 0-1, James Byrne 0-1.

Tom McGurk; Alan O’Sullivan, Sean Phelan, Harry Coleburn; Mark Reid, Daniel Dawson, Padraig Carmody; Garry Allen, Paul Murtagh; James Walsh, Eoin Murtagh, Mark O’Sullivan; Cian O’Sullivan, Shane O’Rourke, Shane Carthy. Subs: Barry Miley, Daryl Huntley, Cian O’Sullivan, Tim Metcalf, Thomas Davis, Thomas Whelan.

Ciaran O’Neill; Denis Heffernan, Chris Kennedy, JP. Byrne; John Devitt, James Byrne, Stephan Dowling; Paddy Byrne, Danny Dowling; Peter Kennedy, Conor Parsons, Jamie Nolan; Calum Rowden, Ger Byrne, Danny Carter. Subs: Tyrone Byrne, Regan Greene, Kevin Byrne

Darragh Byrne (Bally- manus)