Jackson's finishing helps Ballinagore establish control
St Patrick's NS 6-4 St Joseph's NS 2-4
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Milltownpass NS, runners-up in the Div 6 football final.Image 2 of 5
Ballinagore NS, winners of the Div 6 boys’ football title. Pics: J McCauley.Image 3 of 5
St Patrick’s NS Ballinagore captain Aaron Kenny raises the cup following their victory in the Div 6 football final.Image 4 of 5
Aaron Kenny, Ballinagore, gets away from Liam Fox, Milltownpass. JOHN_MC_CAULEYImage 5 of 5
Simon Healy, Milltownpass, gets away from Oisín Clarke, Ballinagore. JOHN_MC_CAULEYFour first half goals from the adroit Dáire Jackson helped St Patrick's NS Ballinagore to a decisive victory over St Joseph's NS Milltownpass in the boys football Division 6 final at TEG Cusack Park on Tuesday.
The weather dried up before the start and it was the Milltownpass side who took the early lead with two quick goals from Daniel and Simon Healy. However, Dáire Jackson soon made his mark with a side-footed finish and that was his forte. After seven minutes, he booted home his second goal to level the match. Ballinagore took the lead for the first time in the tenth minute when Jackson pointed, before Aaron Kenny and Jackson set up Matthew Maloney for a goal.
Milltownpass replied with a Simon Healy minor, but Jackson got his third goal of the half in the 17th minute, putting his side six points clear. Kenny slotted over under pressure and Jackson then set off of a fine run before finishing nearly to the net for the fourth time. Tyler Maguire's late free reduced the deficit to nine points at the break, 5-2 to 2-2 - Ballinagore in command.
Two minutes into the second half Jackson's shot clipped the upright and went over; he later struck the crossbar with a powerful shot and Kenny was denied by the post. However, Kenny shot a sublime point with the outside of the right boot to make it 5-4 to 2-2. Liam Fox and Tyler Maguire pulled back two points from frees as St Joseph's rallied, but Kenny wrapped up victory with his side's sixth goal four minutes from the end. Derek Butler, Chairman of Cumann na mBunscol, presented the cup to Aaron Kenny after the final whistle as Ballinagore celebrated a memorable success.
Scorers - St Patrick's NS: D Jackson 4-2, A Kenny 1-2 (0-1f), M Maloney 1-0. St Joseph's: S Healy 1-1, D Healy 1-0, T Maguire 0-2 (2f), L Fox 0-1 (f).
St Patrick's NS: Matthew Miller, AJ Maloney, Oisín Clarke, Thomas Reynolds, Matthew Maloney, Aaron Kenny, Sophia Callaghan, Dáire Jackson, Muireann Robinson, Daniel Gordon Walker, Seán O'Brien, Lauren Ennis, Lauren Gannon Geoghegan, Ciarán Ward, Beau Sweeney Wallace, Kathryn Maxwell.
St Joseph's NS: Kai Lawlor, Fionn Coyne, Tyler Maguire, Katie-Lei Kelly, Liam Fox, Daniel Healy, Simon Healy, Molly Bracken, Caleb Daly, Charlie Ready, Julieanna Carey, Vanessa Wright, Eireann Corrigan, Erin Finnamore, Calum Rowley, Adam Svienty, Ella Farrell, Eva Smullen, Jamie Duke.
Referee: Michael McAdden (St Loman's Mullingar).