Jackson delighted to finally get a win over AGB

THERE was an extra sweetness to this under-20 ‘A’ championship final victory for Baltinglass captain Mark Jackson as he revealed that he had finally ended a long run of defeats to this AGB team over the years.

‘We knew coming into the game that AGB would be the toughest test we would have all year. All through underage, schools, they always had the upper hand on us, always. I don’t think I’ve ever bet that AGB team. So, coming into this game I knew it was going to be a dogfight. They have super players like Darragh Fitzgerald and Tom Maher, they’re a great team, so I’m delighted to have gotten over the line against them,’ he said.

The work Baltinglass got through in defending the AGB kick-outs was impressive. Jackson said they knew they had to stop AGB getting any momentum in this game given the threat their forwards possess.

‘As soon as we went into that game, we knew that the second that ball went over the bar or wide that we were going to press hands on and in fairness to all the forwards, from the full-forward line, everyone talking, everyone roaring, and it worked, the lads around midfield were clearing up. We knew that if they got any momentum at all, they’re dangerous inside with Cormac (O’Shea) and Cathal (Kelleher) but in fairness our lads did super on them,’ he added.

Mark Jackson paid tribute to John Keogh’s impact in the opening 10 minutes of the second half.

‘We knew at half-time when were up by a point that the next 10 minutes is going to be vital, that the next 10 minutes will define this game for us. Johnny is a super player, he can control a whole game on his own, we knew he can do that and that’s exactly what he did’.