Na Gaeil 2-09 Ballydonoghue 0-11

Na Gaeil entertained Ballydonoghue in Round 3 of the County League in Killeen on Saturday evening, in what were ideal conditions for football.  Ballydonoghue played with the aid of the breeze in the first half.  Na Gaeil’s Stefan Okunbor won the throw in and scored the first point after a great run forward.  Darragh Sheehan followed up with two pointed frees for Ballydonoghue.  In the sixth minute, Na Gaeil’s Dan O’Connor ran on to a good pass and drove the ball to the roof of the net for a great goal.  Darragh Carmody scored the next three points, two from frees and one from play to put Na Gaeil five in front after 15 minutes. However, Ballydonoghue finished the half strongly and scored the next three points without reply to be two behind going in at the break.  Half  time score: Na Gaeil 1-04 Ballydonoghue 0-05.

Ballydonoghue started the second half brightly and scored two quick points through substitute Jack Foley and a Darragh Sheehy free to level matters.  However, Na Gaeil’s response was instant.  A Darragh Carmody free found second half substitute, Jamie Lowham, at the edge of the square.  Jamie fielded brilliantly, turned his marker and hit a bullet to the net.  Na Gaeil pushed on from here.  Darragh Carmody put over two frees and wing back Eoin Walsh scored from play, to put them six ahead entering the final quarter. The game was then held up for ten minutes, when Ballydonoghue’s Conor Kennelly suffered a serious knee injury.  When the game resumed, Ballydonoghue got the next two scores, a great point from Jack Foley and a pointed free from Darragh Sheehy.  Ballydonoghue attacked again and could have goaled, but for a point blank save from Na Gaeil’s goalkeeper Timmy Culloty on 23 minutes.  Jim Cremin scored another good point for Ballydonoghue to leave a goal between the sides.  Darragh Carmody had another pointed free for Na Gaeil, followed by another point from Ballydonoghue’s Jim Cremin. The evergreen Paul Daly of Na Gaeil finished off the scoring with the last point of the half.   Final score: Na Gaeil 2-09; Ballydonoghue 0-11.

Best for Na Gaeil were goalkeeper Timmy Culloty, Kieran Donovan, Dave Culloty, Dan O’Connor and Seamie O’Neill. Best for Ballydonoghue were Stephen Lonergan, Thomas Kennelly, Michael Foley, Jim Cremin and Jack Foley. We wish Ballydonoghue’s  Conor Kennelly a speedy recovery and we hope his injury is not too serious.

Na Gaeil: Timmy Culloty, Dylan Brazil, Kieran Dineen, Eoin Doody, Kieran Donovan, David Culloty, Eoin Walsh, Dan O’Connor(1-0), Stefan Okunbor(0-01), Jack Carmody,  Ian McCarthy, Seamie O’Neill, Darragh Carmody(0-07), Mike Griffin, Diarmaid Herlihy. Subs: Eoin O’Neill for Stefan Okunbor(inj); Jamie Lowham for Jack Carmody; Cian Quirke for Eoin Doody; Colm Lyons for Eoin Walsh; Dylan Seymour for Ian McCarthy; Paul Daly(0-01) for Colm Lyons(inj).

Ballydonoghue: Darragh O’Shea, Stephen Lonergan, Colin O’Mahony, Billy Foley, Kieran O’Connell, Thomas Kennelly, Jack Gogarty, John Mahony, Mícheál Foley, Jim Cremin(0-04), Darragh Sheehy(0-05), Eamon Walsh, Danny Power, Stephen Foley, Diarmuid Behan. Subs: Martin Mahony for John Mahony;  Conor Kennelly for Billy Foley; Jack Foley(0-2) and Brian Mason