Strong second half sets Ballygiblin on way to victory

Ballygiblin 4-18 Charleville 0-16

A STRONG second half showing by Ballygiblin saw them eventually overcome a gallant Charleville side in the Hibernian Hotel JAHC at Doneraile on Sunday. Despite the sides being tied at 0-2 each after six minutes both teams enjoyed their moments during this half.

Ballygiblin gained supremacy for a while with Colin English making his presence felt in the full forward line. In the 10th minute they struck for the first of their four goals when Colin English intercepted a Charleville clearance and he cut through to score a great goal that made it 1-4 to 0-3.

Darragh Flynn and James O’Brien traded a point before three rapid points for the winners by Darragh Flynn (2) and Cathal O’Mahony moved them 1-8 to 0-4 in front by the 17th minute and they seemed in a very comfortable position.

The remainder of the half belonged to Charleville with Simon Gleeson, Darren Hedderman, James Kennedy, Sean Buckley, James O’Brien, Aaron O’Connor and Killian Cagney featuring strongly.

The Rathluirc side outscored their opponents by seven points to one from here to the interval their points by Killian Cagney (4) James

O’Brien (2) and Jamie C Coughlan as they managed to claw back a seven point deficit at one stage in this half to be in arrears at the break by 1-9 to 0-11.

On the changeover Charleville started in a very positive manner. They struck three wides in quick succession before Simon Gleeson with a long range point forced level in the 33rd minute.

However as the half went on Ballygiblin gradually weathered their opponents revival with Fionn Herlihy, Michael Lewis, Barry Coffey, Joseph O’Sullivan, Sean O’Sullivan, Darragh Flynn, Colin English, Dylan Reidy/Price and Cathal O’Mahony very much to the fore.

Barry Coffey edged the winners in front with a long range point before Cathal O’Mahony cut through the Charleville backline to score his sides second goal in the 37th minute 2-10 to 0-12. Ballygiblin were now doing very well as they moved 2-15 to 0-13 in front at the mid way stage.

The last quarter saw Charleville stay in touch when Killian Cagney pointed a free but there was to be no denying Ballygiblin victory. In the 52nd minute a great delivery by Barry Coffey set up Cathal O’Mahony for a cracking goal 3-15 to 0-14.

The closing stages saw Darragh Flynn (2), James O’Brien, Cathal O’Mahony and Aaron O’Connor trade points before Ballygiblin struck for their fourth goal courtesy of Cathal O’Mahony at the end of normal time as they ran out deserving winners by a 14-point margin.

BALLYGIBLIN: C Noonan, J O’Donoghue, F Herlihy, L Finn, M Lewis, J O’Sullivan, B Coffey 0-1, S Beston 0-1, S O’Sullivan, K Duggan, D Flynn 0-8, C O’Sullivan, D Reidy-Price, C English 1-3, C O’Mahony 3-5. Subs: B O’Gorman for L Finn (inj), D Mulqueen for S Beston, A Donegan for K Duggan, S Doyle for C O’Sullivan.

CHARLEVILLE: S Coughlan, C Sheehan, C Fitzgerald, B Forde, D O’Connell, S Gleeson 0-1, D Hedderman, J Kennedy, J Kilcommons, S Buckley, J O’Brien 0-4, S O’Sullivan, K Cagney 0-9 (8f), J C Coughlan 0-1, A O’Connor 0-1. Subs: E O’Connor for S O’Sullivan, D O’Flynn for D Hedderman, B O’Connell for C Sheehan, S O’Connell for J Kennedy, D McCarthy for B Forde,

Brendan O’Regan (Doneraile)