Ballinagh too strong for Lavey

Ballinagh 1-13 Lavey 0-10 BALLINAGH who had salvaged a late draw against Ramor Utd in their opening fixture in the senior championship had better fortune in their second game in the competition when they proved too strong for Lavey at Kingspan Breffni Park on Thursday night last. Lavey who had suffered a heavy defeat to Cavan Gaels in the opening round hoped to show vast improvement on that performance. However after a keen, competitive first-half, Ballinagh gradually took control in the second period and a goal from Colin Gumley in the 36th minute settled the tie. The early stages of the game were keenly fought and when Paraic Reilly converted a free after three minutes, Ballinagh could well have been further in front but for some careless shooting. Lavey drew level on ten minutes from a Darren Jordan free. Colin Gumley and Chris Conroy exchanged points and it was level 0-2 each until David Finnegan edged Ballinagh in front after twenty minutes. Key forward Kevin Smith was injured and Paul Galligan was introduced as a blood sub. Lavey kept in touch and a Darren Jordan free came to Chris Conroy who placed Finbar Jordan for a point to level the scores for the third time by the 23rd minute. Kevin Brady put Lavey ahead one minute later from a free but Ballinagh quickly responded and regained the initiative with two Colin Gumley frees. With half-time approaching and additional time being played both sides missed the target and Ballinagh held on to their one point lead, 0-5 to 0-4. Martin Cusack came into the Lavey attack at the start of the second-half but Ballinagh took a firm grip of the exchanges and scored 1-3 in a six minute spell, the goal coming from Colin Gumley. At this stage Lavey trailed by 1-8 to 0-4 and even at this early stage it seemed impossible to pull back a seven point defecit. Lavey showed plenty of spirit and commitment and over the next five minutes added four points through Darren Jordan, Kevin Brady (two) and Chris Conroy, Ballinagh's only reply coming from a Colin Gumley free. Entering the final quarter, Ballinagh's lead had been reduced to four points. That however was the end of Lavey's brief challenge as Ballinagh hit back with points from Colin Gumley (two) and Paraic Maguire. With ten minutes remaining, Ballinagh enjoyed a seven point lead and for Lavey it spelled certain defeat. They battled gamely as Darren Jordan and Colin Gumley swopped points and Chris Conroy with the final score managed to reduce the defecit to six points. However there was no denying the merit of Ballinagh's win. They now meet Cavan Gaels in the next round and Lavey face Ramor Utd. Ballinagh: Daragh McCarthy; Killian McBride, Enda Brady, Conor Smith; Niall O'Reilly, Damien McInerney, Anthony Gaynor; Michael Ward, Pauric O'Reilly (0-1); Kevin Smith, Ruairi Brennan, David Finnegan (0-1); Colin Gumley (1-8), Paraic Maguire (0-1), Thomas Moore Subs: Paul Galligan (0-2) for Kevin Smith (blood sub), Terry Smith for Enda Brady, Adrian Maguire for Thomas Moore. Lavey: Mark Donohoe; Fergal Smith, Darren Smith, Declan Conroy; Kevin Donohoe, Joey Jordan, Aaron Smith; Sean Maguire, Karl Duke; Kevin Brady (0-3), Finbar Jordan (0-1), Darren Jordan (0-3); Chris Conroy (0-3), Stephen Jordan, Ollie Smith. Subs: Martin Cusack for Ollie Smith, Ronan Smith for Kevin Brady, David Tierney for Kevin Donohoe, David Walsh for Karl Duke. Referee, Ollie Donohoe.