Black and Ambers do just enough as Ballinagore falter in senior football debut

The Downs 1-12, Ballinagore 0-11

It must seem like a lifetime ago that the maroon and whites won the Intermediate Championship but they got a baptism of fire on Sunday last as in the early stages they were totally overwhelmed by a slicker Downs outfit.

To their credit Ballinagore hung on in there and gave their more experienced opponents a slight fright as they finished with a flourish. Indeed had they not wasted good free taking opportunities in the first half then this game could have gone either way but the wily heads of The Downs did just about enough to win this one and it would have been harsh on them if they did not claimed victory.

For long periods of this game they were completely dominant but they failed to shake off the Ballinagore boys and that will be a worry to Ray Smyth and his management team but this was an enjoyable game that had plenty of good football and great scores on the opening weekend of Championship 2008.

From the throw-in The Downs stated their intentions as they tore into the game at high speed and at times mesmerised their opponents but it still took five minutes for them to register a score when Tommy Cleary pointed a free. Ballinagore did not delay long in replying, when James Durkan equalised from a free. Cleary put The Downs ahead after another placed ball but David Deegan replied for Ballinagore when he hit a marvellous point from a very narrow angle. Luke Folan should have scored a goal moments later for The Downs but his final effort was just wide while at the other end Durkan missed a couple of very scoreable frees.

Tommy Cleary put The Downs back in front after Folan had been fouled and then Barry Conroy combined with Greg Crowley, Cleary and Sean O`Leary to work the ball from his own 14 yard line for a magnificent score. Missed chances from Durkan and Thomas McDaniel at the other end were costly as Conroy latched on to a long pass from Vincent Conneely to put The Downs further in front. Durkan missed another free at the opposite end and it looked as if the occasion was getting to Gerry Feery`s side.

Jack Hogan made a lung busting run for The Downs that ended with Cleary scoring a beauty and then The Downs really put daylight between the sides when Folan cut along the end line and fisted across the square where Shane Power palmed the ball to the net past a helpless Paddy Moloney.

Many another team would have thrown in the towel at this stage but Ballinagore were not going to just roll over tamely and after Durkan had missed another free he made amends and split the posts after a foul on Ennis and at the break it was The Downs 1-6 Ballinagore 0-3 and in honesty, if Ballinagore had taken their opportunities then it would have been so much closer.

Ballinagore started the better in the second half but could not convert their superiority on to the scoreboard but Michael Ennis did point from a short free by Eoin Miller. Tommy Cleary restored The Downs six points lead with possibly the best score of the game up to that point and Barry Conroy pushed them further in front from a free but Ballinagore were their own biggest enemies as they hit some awful wides from eminently scoreable positions. Sean Loughlin missed a good goal chance for The Downs when his shot went just the wrong side of the post and at the other end Ennis took over the free taking duties and pointed immediately. Barry Conroy should have really scored a goal shortly after but just at the crucial moment he lost control and fumbled but Folan gathered the rebound and slotted over a fine point to give his side a seven point cushion.

Ballinagore knew they needed to up their game and that they did and The Downs resorted to fouling and Michael Ennis converted two frees from their indiscretions and David Deegan could have narrowed that even further when he was in on goal but a resolute Downs defence repelled that and from the break away Cleary kicked a wonder score and seconds later Folan added another equally as good. With eight odd minutes left on the clock, the game looked comfortable for the Black and Ambers but Ballinagore were finishing the stronger and they took the game completely to a fading Downs challenge.

Ennis converted a free before Durkan hit two majestic scores, one involving Miller and Ennis and with four minutes remaining anything looked possible but Ballinagore wasted a couple of good chances while The Downs defence really fronted up as well and Folan got the insurance point when he ran the length of the field to convert. Ballinagore then made one last stand and David Deegan was very unlucky to see his goal bound shot blocked and after Michael Ennis had converted another free a scramble in the Black and Ambers goalmouth was just about rebuffed and the final whistle brought a slight relief to The Downs and a lesson in reality to Ballingore.

The victors were truly excellent at times and, certainly when they opened up, had Ballinagore chasing shadows. Some of their scores were excellent but they did foul a lot a and found it very hard to finish their opponents off and thy will be concerned that they wilted badly in the last 10 minutes or so.

Still in Folan they had the best player on the park and he was excellent when he was needed most while Cleary and Conroy too played well up front. John Smyth and Greg Crowley held their own at midfield while at the back, Conor Carley and particularly, Niall Nolan had fine games and they will be glad to have this potential banana skin out of the way and they will improve.

For Ballinagore it was a lesson in what it takes to survive at the top level and they will benefit greatly from this game. Ennis was superb and there were also fine contributions from Marty Linnane, Ciaran Carey, Miller and Gavin at midfield and McDaniel was a constant threat up front but they will need to start better and not have to play catch up all the time but the signs were good and their campaign will be interesting. The Downs will certainly be one of the favourites for this group and they will be happy to start on a winning note as they look to repeat their title winning ways of 2005 and they will certainly be a force to be reckoned with.

Scorers: The Downs - Tommy Cleary 0-6, 3 frees, Luke Folan 0-3, Barry Conroy 0-3, 1 free, Shane Power 1-0. Ballinagore - Michael Ennis 0-6, 5 frees, James Durkan 0-4, 2 frees, David Deegan 0-1.

The Downs: Brendan Cleary, Niall Nolan, Sean O`Leary, Stephen Cleary, Vincent Conneely, Jack Hogan, Conor Carley, John Smyth, Greg Crowley, Barry Conroy, Tommy Cleary, Noel Molloy, Keith Shanley, Luke Folan, Shane Power. Subs; Sean Loughlin for Shanley H/T, Mark Dalton for Stephen Cleary 42 mins, Paul Shanley for Tommy Cleary, Joe Corroon for Molloy 58 mins

Ballinagore: Paddy Moloney, Louis Ennis, Enda McCann, Pat Heduan, Ciaran Deegan, Martin Linnane, Ciaran Carey, Stewart Gavin, Eoin Miller, JJ Hegarty, James Durkan, Paul Robinson, Thomas McDaniel, Michael Ennis, David Deegan. Subs: Peter Heraty for Hegarty 41 mins, Ian Seery for Robinson 48 mins.

Referee Pat Greene, Tubberclair.