Conroy and Hope goals ensure easy Bunbrosna victory

Bunbrosna 2-15, Ballycomoyle 1-7

Bunbrosna had 11 points to spare over Ballycomoyle in the Junior 1 football championship at a breezy Rochfortbridge GAA venue on Saturday.

Having led by just a point at the interval, 1-6 to 1-5, Dermot Brady’s charges took complete control in the second half with the elements in the favour and racked up a further 1-9 to record a resounding first round victory. An early second half goal from wing back Matthew Hope knocked the stuffing out of Ballycomoyle and they faded out of contention as Bunbrosna opened up a commanding lead (2-12 to 1-6) at the three quarter stage.

There will be tougher assignments ahead, but this is a positive start for Bunbrosna and they will look to build on a fine victory.

There was a strong breeze at play and Ballycomoyle had it at their backs in the first half, but Bunbrosna kept their goalie Gary Lynch quite busy before Kenneth Conroy found the net in the 19th minute to make it 1-5 to 0-2. Mark Donnelly and Barry O’Mara combined to create the chance and in truth O'Mara should have found the net earlier.

Remarkably, Ballycomoyle produced an immediate reply when Dan Higgins scored a wonderful goal, and Noel Breslin’s free had them level, 1-5apiece. However, their challenge faded in the second half.

Matthew Hope scored a Bunbrosna goal after two minutes and they built on it – Ronan Scally, substitute Peter Tormey (two) and O’Mara (free) adding minors.

Breslin’s free was Ballycomoyle’s only reply and they were struggling to impose their style. Four unanswered scores followed, one of which was a two-pointer (free) from O’Mara, and 10 points separated the sides with as many minutes remaining.

Tormey added his third on 57 minutes and despite Tjaye Higgins’ reply, O’Mara had the final say with a converted free.

A winning start was the objective and that will please Bunbrosna, while Ballycomoyle must regroup and recover from an obvious setback.

Scorers – Bunbrosna: B O’Mara 0-7 (1 2pt free; 3f), K Conroy 1-1, R Scally and P Tormey 0-3 each, M Hope 1-0, S McGovern 0-1.

Ballycomoyle: N Breslin 0-4 (1 2pt free; 2f), D Higgins 1-0, R Reynolds, C English, TJ Higgins 0-1 each.

Bunbrosna: Gavin Lyons; Conor Newman, David Newman, Ronan Scally; Matthew Hope, John Kiernan, Shane McGovern; Enda Newman, Gordon

Medforth; Luke Kiernan, Brian Maguire, Noel Yourell; Kenneth Conroy, Barry O’Mara, Mark Donnelly. Subs: Peter Tormey for L Kiernan (40), Andrew Whitney for Maguire (45), Eoin McGowan for Conroy (52), Padraig Walsh for Yourell (53), Jonathan Nolan for E Newman (57).

Ballycomoyle: Gary Lynch; Taurin McLaverty, James McHugh, Adrian Leahy; Caolan McLaverty, Ciaran Fagan, Dan Higgins; Ignas Ramonas, Ciaran English; Daniel Buckley, Tjaye Higgins, Ronan Reynolds; Evan Farrelly, Billy Ryan, Noel Breslin. Subs: Jamie Ward for Buckley (inj., 25), Lee Cribbon for C McLaverty and Kevin English for Ward (45), Conor Lennon for Leahy (54).

Ref: Ken Gunning (St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge).