Two off as Gaels rout Ballinagh

THERE was no room for sentiment as current senior champions Cavan Gaels gave notice of their intention of holding on to their title following a comprehensive 3-24 to 1-12 victory over Ballinagh at Our Lady of Lourdes Park, Mullahoran on Saturday evening last. Cavan Gaels went in to the game as strong favourites and right from the throw-in when left-corner forward Martin Dunne got the opening score, a point after 23 seconds, there was little doubt about the outcome. The only sour note emanating from the game came after only five minutes when Ballinagh's full-forward Anthony Gaynor and Gaels full-back Darren Rabbitt became involved in an off-the-ball altercation. Both were handed straight red cards from referee Raymond Tynan as a result of the incident. Ramor clubman Tynan went on to issue five yellow cards following the two red cards in the first-half. This proved to be an isolated nasty incident with the remainder of the game providing little entertainment as Cavan Gaels tightened their grip. In fact, the signs were ominous for Ballinagh when Cavan Gaels led by 1-2 to 0-0 after 12 minutes, the goal coming from Nicholas Walsh in the 12 minute. Sean Johnston was the other Gaels scorer from a free in the ninth minute. It took Ballinagh 13 minutes to get their opening score from a Niall McDermott free but Martin Dunne, who had a fine game scoring a total of 1-7, responded at the other end immediately. Niall McDermott from a free reduced the defecit to four points by the 17th minute but Cavan Gaels countered this score with two of their own from centre half-back Eamonn Reilly and midfielder Sean Reilly for a 1-5 to 0-2 lead after 20 minutes. As Cavan Gaels briefly eased their efforts, Ballinagh came back with two points in two minutes from Enda Brady and a fine effort from Alan Durkin. At this stage, Colin Gumley, who had been originally listed to start at right-corner forward for Ballinagh, but was replaced by Paul Galligan, made his appearance in the 23rd minute following an injury to former county player Galligan. In the closing stages of the first-half, Cavan Gaels looked to tighten their grip and added points from Daniel Graham and Sean Reilly for a six point lead. Kevin Smith and Martin Dunne exchanged points and Cathal Collins sent over another to increase Cavan Gaels' lead to seven points with only 30 seconds of the half remaining. Ballinagh ended the first-half with two Niall McDermott points, one from a free, but Cavan Gaels looked an impregnable force as they enjoyed a half-time lead of five points, 1-9 to 0-7. A five point defecit might not have seemed all that insurmountable but Cavan Gaels were playing well within themselves and one felt they could go up a gear whenever it was warranted. In fact, the tie was over as a real contest in the opening four minutes of the second-half by which stage Cavan Gaels had increased their advantage to nine points thanks to further scores from Sean Reilly, Martin Dunne, Anthony Forde and Paul O'Donnell. The only question to be answered at this stage was the ultimate margin of Cavan Gaels' victory. David Finnegan responded with a point for Ballinagh but it was goals they needed by this stage. With 15 minutes left, the score line read 1-19 to 0-9, and it got even worse for Ballinagh one minute later when Martin Dunne found the net. Ballinagh, somewhat belatedly, had the ball in the net in the 51st minute when Niall McDermott took advantage of a quick free but there was still a vast chasm between the teams as a score line of 2-20 to 1-10 will testify with over ten minutes of play remaining. There was an inevitability about the outcome and as the pressure from Cavan Gaels was increased the Ballinagh defence, not unexpectedly, creaked under the pressure and conceded a third goal one minute from the end of normal time when full-forward Nicholas Walsh scored his second goal. Cavan Gaels, who have still to meet Crosserlough in the group stages, are already through to the quarter-finals, while Ballinagh face local rivals Mullahoran in a make-or-break tie for a place in the last eight. Cavan Gaels Eoghan Elliott; Karl Crotty, Darren Rabbitt, John Gurhy; Gavin Duffy (0-1), Eamonn Reilly (0-2), Anthony Foirde (0-4); Sean Reilly (0-3), Cathal Collins (0-1); Dominic Reilly, Paul O'Donnell (0-1), Daniel Graham (0-1); Sean Johnston (0-3, one free), Nicholas Walsh (2-1), Martin Dunne (1-7). Ballinagh Daragh McCarthy; Killian McBride, Patrick Carroll, Enda Brady (0-1); Enda Gavin (0-1), Niall O'Reilly, Thomas Moore; Alan Durkin (0-1), Pauric O'Reilly; Paul Galligan, David Finnegan (0-1), Paul Urbanski; Kevin Smith (0-2), Anthony Gaynor, Niall McDermott (1-4). Subs: Colin Gumley (0-2) for Paul Galligan, Declan Beard for Daragh McCarthy, Adrian Maguire for Thomas Moore. Referee: Raymond Tynan, Ramor Utd.