Ballyphehane get their Junior A Football Championship off to a winning start, beating Glanmire
Referee Brian Sweeney accompanied by captains John Kelleher (Glanmire) and Danny Moore (Ballyphehane) before their AOS Security Seandún Junior A Football Championship opener
Ballyphehane got their AOS Security Seandún Junior A Football Championship off to a winning start, as they saw off the challenge of Glanmire in their hard-fought opener at Ballinlough.
This result leaves Ballyphehane in second place behind Passage on scoring differences.
Ballyphehane made the better start but were held scoreless by Glanmire for most of the second quarter, as they trailed by three points at half-time. Ballyphehane tightened up in the second half as they restricted to Glanmire to three scores from placed-balls.
With wind advantage in the opening half, Ethan Varian gave Ballyphehane the lead with a two-pointer, within 20 seconds of the throw-in.
Aidan Roche replied with a point from play for Glanmire. This was followed by two points for Ballyphehane by Alex Cummins, while James Murphy and Eoghan Murphy each replied with points for Glanmire.
Robbie Wyse tagged on a point for Ballyphehane to leave his side leading by 0-5 to 0-3. Midway through the opening half, the tide turned in Glanmire’s favour.
Ballyphehane found themselves pinned back for most of the second quarter as persistent fouling was to be their undoing.
James Crowley slotted over two points for Glanmire, including a free, to put Glanmire in the driving seat for the first time in the contest. James Muprhy also got on the scoresheet, as he added two points from play.
Glanmire net-minder Gerry O’Callaghan also chipped in as he converted two frees, including one from outside the Ballyphehane 40-metre arc. This gave Glanmire a five-point advantage.
Ballyphehane responded with points from Carig Murphy and Troy O’Sullivan in stoppage time at the end of the first half. This left the half-time scoreline reading 0-10 to 0-7 in Glanmire’s favour.
Ballyphehane upped the ante after the interval and Craig Murphy reduced the deficit to two points within 20 seconds of the resumption.
Ballyphehane continued to have Glanmire pinned back, as wayward kick-outs were proving to be costly for Glanmire. Ballyphehane levelled matters at ten points apiece with two points from play in two minutes by Varian.
Glanmire regained the lead in the 36th minute, courtesy of a pointed free by James Murphy, but Ballyphehane tied the scores, five minutes later as Craig Murphy got his side’s only score from a free.
Ballyphehane regained the lead as Sean Fielding landed a point from play, midway through the second half.
Glanmire regained the lead as James Murphy and Crowley each added unanswered points from frees.
Glanmire were on the back foot for the remainder of the game as Cummins ensured victory for Ballyphehane with two late points, including one in stoppage time.
E Varian 0-4 (1 2pt); A Cummins 0-4; C Murphy 0-3 (0-1f); S Fielding, R Wyse, T O’Sullivan 0-1 each.
J Murphy 0-5 (0-2f); J Crowley 0-3 (0-2f); G O’Callaghan 0-3 (1 2pt f, 0-1f); E Murphy, A Roche 0-1 each.
B O’Leary; D Holland, D Moore, C Noonan; R Wyse, J Geasley, S Keating; C O’Brien, E Varian; J Thompson, T O’Sullivan, A O’Donoghue; C Murphy, A Cummins, S Fielding.
J O’Brien for Fielding, F Long for Noonan (both 55).
G O’Callaghan; C Ó Corcora, J Kelleher, F O’Donovan; O Kelleher, B Kelleher, A Roche; K Kenneally, A O’Donovan; D McCarthy, J Crowley, E Murphy; J Murphy, R McCarthy, N Marron.
R Boyle for Ó Corcora (44), C Quirke for Roche (47), S Crowe for O Kelleher (49).
Brian Sweeney (Erin’s Own).
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