Lough Rovers are the inaugural O’Connor Butchers and Foodhall Ballinlough Cup champions

Lough Rovers 0-14 

Rathpeacon 1-2

Lough Rovers claimed the inaugural O’Connor Butchers and Foodhall Ballinlough Cup, as they defeated Rathpeacon in a one-sided encounter at Ballinlough. 

This also makes up for the disappointment of Lough Rovers’ recent defeat by White’s Cross in the AOS Seandún Junior C Football decider.

Scoring opportunities were at a premium for both sides in a surprisingly low-scoring opening half. 

Both sides resorted to defensive tactics and wayward shooting was also proving to be costly. 

In the second half, Lough Rovers outscored Rathpeacon by 0-12 to 0-2.

Rathpeacon had Lough Rovers pinned back from the start, but they had three shots off target. Lough Rovers also failed to convert a free inside the Rathpeacon 65-metre line.

The deadlock was broken in the tenth minute as Jonathan English converted a 65 for Lough Rovers. 

Jordan O’Sullivan tagged on a point from play to increase Lough Rovers’ lead, midway through the opening half.

Rathpeacon remained on the back foot, but their defence held firm as Richie O’Riordan prevented Lough Rovers from creating goal-scoring opportunities.

Rathpeacon had to wait until shortly before the interval for their first score. 

Kevin Furey was credited with the game’s only goal, after a mêlée in the Lough Rovers goalmouth, following a free. 

This gave Rathpeacon an interval lead of 1-0 to 0-2.

Pat Daly tagged on a point from play for Rathpeacon to give his side a two-point advantage within seconds of the restart, but English equalised as he slotted over two unanswered points from play.

English and Aaron McCarthy tagged on a point each for Lough Rovers and Jordan O’Sullivan slotted over their first free in the 42nd minute.

Lough Rovers added five unanswered points from play entering the final quarter.

Paul O’Neill converted a 65 for Rathpeacon, six minutes from time, but Lough Rovers added two further points. 

Ruairí Shine slotted over one from play and this was followed by a free by English, with three minutes remaining.

Scorers for Lough Rovers: J English 0-7(0-1 65, 0-1f); J O’Sullivan 0-3 (0-1f), R Shine 0-2; A McCarthy, C Allen 0-1 each.

Rathpeacon: K Furey 1-0; P O’Neill 0-1 (56); P Daly 0-1.

Lough Rovers: C Murphy; A Raymond, H Fielding, D Ward; N O’Sullivan, D O’Callaghan, J O’Sullivan; R Shine, R Goldsmith; C Allen, J English, D Arundel; S Long, I Raymond, C Brackett.

Subs: A McCarthy for Brackett (19), A O’Keeffe for Arundel, A Buckley for Goldsmith (49), G O’Donovan for Allen (24).

Rathpeacon: C Cahill; E Hawe, R O’Riordan, C Fitzpatrick; E McSweeney, B Ahern, P O’Neill; S Dalton, D O’Neill; S O’Rourke, P Dlay, J Wiseman; P O’Connell, F Twomey, K Furey.

Subs: E Leahy for Twomey (h/t), C Clifford for D O’Neill (temp, 34-37), for O’Connell (49), B Harrington for Hawe (54).

Referee: Cathán Treacy (Nemo Rangers).