Smith stars as Ballinagh defeat Cootehill

ACFL

Ballinagh 2-17

Cootehill Celtic 1-14

Kevin Smith was the stand-out player at Ballinagh on Saturday evening last as Cootehill Celtic were put to the sword in an entertaining ACFL Division 1 clash.

Smith was his side’s general-in-chief over the hour in what was a fine team performance by the hosts, especially in a seven minute spell after the interval when they hit Cootehill for 1-4 without reply.

The hosts were the more consistent side and played a lot of good football in the first half, at the end of which they had built up a more than useful 1-8 to 0-6 lead.

To their credit, Cootehill were up for the fight and they had a very good spell immediately after the start of the second half when they scored 1-1 without reply to really get them back in the match.

However the eventual winners never really looked like letting things slip and Ronan O’Reilly’s 43rd minute goal – after good work by Thomas Smith – gave Ballinagh a 2-12 to 1-7 lead and Cootehill were unable to close the gap from there to the finish.

In perfect playing conditions, the quick tempo and tit for tat nature of the play early on set the tone for the contest.

Ballinagh started off in brilliant fashion when Kevin Smith goaled after just 28 seconds following some good interplay by Thomas Smith and Shane Finnegan.  Just five minutes into the game, Ballinagh ‘keeper Eoghan McGrath was forced to make a very good save to deny John McCutcheon a goal.

Two minutes later, Cootehill ‘keeper Ryan Carroll made a fine save to prevent Niall McDermott from goaling after he was put through by Thomas Smith.

Ballinagh led by 1-3 to 0-2 when they got a major let-off in the 12th minute when Stevie O’Connor saw his shot rebound off the crossbar.

The hosts dominated the next ten minutes and points from Thomas Moore and Kevin Smith and another one from Thomas Smith left Cootehill trailing by 0-3 to 1-6.

The Hoops rallied somewhat in the run up to the interval with Shane Sexton and Sean O’Connor on the mark as Ballinagh’s lead was cut to five points, 1-8 to 0-6, at the interval.

Ballinagh’s spurt following Cootehill’s quick fire second half goal was illuminated by a vital Thomas Smith goal in the 43rd minute after he followed up a Ronan O’Reilly shot that was initially saved.

Smith’s major put his side 2-12 to 1-7 in front and although Cootehill dug in and actually out-scored their hosts in the final 15 minutes, it wasn’t enough to thwart Ballinagh’s ambition of grabbing both points on offer.

Ballinagh: Eoghan McGrath; Niall Robinson, Evan Finnegan, Barry Connolly (0-1); Aaron Reilly, Niall O’Reilly, Paddy O’Brien; Padraic O’Reilly, Thomas Moore (0-2), Shane Finnegan (0-1), Damien Reilly (0-1); Thomas Smith (1-2), Niall McDermott (0-3,2f), Kevin Smith (1-6, 2f).

Subs; Oisín Finnegan; Ronan O’Reilly; Ronan Connolly; Tristan Graham (0-1).

Cootehill Celtic: Ryan Carroll; Kelan Smyth, Alan Curran, Calum O’Reilly; Dean Connolly (0-1), Cillian McGahan (0-6, 3f), Cian Farrelly; Diarmaid Carney (0-1), John McCutcheon (0-1); Cian Smith, Shane Sexton (0-3, 1f), Stephen O’Connor; Sean O’Connor (0-2), Jamie Smith (1-0), Mark Mullen.

Subs; Cian Maguire; Ryan O’Reilly; Mark Farrell.