Kelly’s Castledaly side power clear to claim decisive victory

Castledaly 0-13, Ballymore 1-5

John Dingle

Ten unanswered points in the second half saw Castledaly overcome a half-time deficit to comfortably beat Ballymore in Páirc Chiaráin, Athlone last Sunday afternoon.

The only goal of the game had helped Ballymore to a four-point lead at the break. The advantage was further stretched with the opening point after the break, but it proved to be Ballymore’s only score of the second half.

Paul Kelly’s men then took control and, after levelling matters with 24 minutes gone in the half, powered ahead to win by five points at the finish.

Castledaly were under a little pressure having lost their opening game but had a positive start when Adam Turley popped over a close in free after two minutes. However, they then went over 20 minutes without scoring again, allowing Ballymore to build up a lead. Brian Finerty opened Ballymore’s account with a (fourth minute) and further points from Sam Maxwell and Finerty again had them ahead by two points.

The next action of note could have led to a goal for Ballymore, with Castledaly goalkeeper Jordan Nugent doing well to push away a shot from Owen McCabe (22 minutes).

Ballymore did not have long to wait though to raise the green flag as McCabe soon set up Ivan Smyth who fired a low shot past the keeper’s right side.

Castledaly were rattled but two points in as many minutes steadied matters a little. Daniel Heavin popped over a free from the right with Lorcan Dolan pointing from play. It left a goal between the teams as the interval approached but Ballymore went in at half-time with a four-point advantage after claiming the last score of the half. Luke Power was successful with a free from the right to leave it 1-4 to 0-3 in Ballymore’s favour at half-time.

Ballymore were hoping to continue in a similar vein when play resumed and record a second victory in the championship. The second half though was best forgotten from their perspective as Castledaly completely dominated from the early stages.

Ballymore did increase their lead when Maxwell was successful with a free from the right after six minutes but it proved to be their only score of the half. Eoin Ryan receiving a black card did not help their cause but the collapse thereafter was alarming.

Castledaly took time to get going and still trailed as the game headed into the last quarter. Frees from Lorcan Dolan and goalkeeper Nugent left a goal between the teams and a long range effort from Alan Stone reduced the lead to two points midway through the half.

Ballymore were struggling and Castledaly were on level terms after Lorcan Dolan sent over two more frees. Castledaly went in front for the first time since early in the opening half when MJ Kelly fired over a point after 25 minutes. A further Kelly point increased the lead and a point from Liam Fitzpatrick left a goal between the teams as the game headed into stoppage time.

Ballymore could only look on as their lead had been eroded and they offered very little resistance as their challenge faded. This in spite of nearly ten additional minutes being added on. A point from Alan Stone in the first additional minute left four between the teams and a further score late on would complete the comeback and seal victory for Castledaly.

A series of stoppages saw the second half stretch to almost 40 minutes but there was no late drama in this period. Castledaly were not about to surrender their lead and a point from substitute Paul Costello put the seal on the success. It leaves four teams on two points with Tubberclair the only team to win both their games.

SCORERS - Castledaly: L Dolan 0-4 (3 frees); MJ Kelly and A Stone 0-2 each; D Heavin (f), A Turley (f), J Nugent (f), L Fitzpatrick and P Costello 0-1 each. Ballymore: I Smyth 1-0; B Finerty 0-2; S Maxwell 0-2 (1f); L Power 0-1 (f).

Castledaly: Jordan Nugent, Shane Fitzpatrick, Liam Fitzpatrick, David Dolan, Adam Turley, Shane Dolan, John Warburton, Alan Stone, Fergal Hynes, Michael Lynch, Daniel Heavin, Justin Coughlan, Lorcan Dolan, Cathal Dolan, MJ Kelly. Subs: Aaron Nugent for C Dolan (half-time); Daragh Kelly for S Dolan (38 mins); David Stone for Coughlan (53); Paul Costello for Hynes (60).

Ballymore: Conor McNeill, Daniel Ennis, Sean Keena, Jack Kearney, Brian McCabe, John Gilligan, Eoin Ryan, Ben Maxwell, Ivan Smyth, Luke Power, Sam Maxwell, Derek Molloy, Brian Finerty, David Jelistratovs, Owen McCabe. Subs: Stephen Rooney for Power (39 mins); Seamus Keena for Jelistratovs (43); Andy Slevin for Rooney (58).

Referee: Niall Ward (Garrycastle).