McDaniel masterclass powers Ballinagore into last four of Westmeath's Clarke’s Bar Junior 1 Football Championship

Ballinagore stormed into the semi-finals of the Clarke’s Bar Junior 1 Football Championship with a ruthless display against Athlone, running out emphatic 25-point winners in Rochfortbridge on Saturday evening.

At the heart of it all was centre forward Tommy McDaniel, who lit up proceedings with a haul of 1-6 from play. Ten different Ballinagore players got on the scoresheet, showing the huge depth of their attacking threat, but McDaniel’s pace, sharp movement and finishing stood apart in a one-sided contest.

Ballinagore looked to be laying down a marker in this championship, attacking the game with gusto from the get-go and leading by 13 points at half-time, before keeping the foot down in the second half to cruise to victory against an Athlone side that never seemed to get going.

Ballinagore took advantage of good weather conditions from the start, with Robbie Keegan and David Keegan scoring a point apiece from play in the opening five minutes. A fine effort followed from full forward Brandon Carey from just outside the arc.

Two points from play for McDaniel were next, the first an effort on goal that went over the bar after the keeper got a hand to it, and the second a fisted effort to put his team six points ahead with ten minutes played.

Continuing to press Athlone, Carey passed the ball to David Keegan who finished coolly between the legs of the keeper who came out to put him under pressure and close down space.

Athlone got off the mark at 15 minutes played, a brilliantly taken score down the right wing from Ryan Gaffey, but it did little to inspire his side. Ballinagore responded with a point from play from Paddy Ennis, and a fine strike from midfielder Peter Reynolds.

Scoring freely, McDaniel added two more points each side of a dead-ball score from Gaffey for Athlone. His second began with a 20-yard run before skipping around two defenders and tapping over

from close range.

Paddy Ennis benefited from some great delivery into the corner to score two points from play back-to-back. McDaniel added his fifth at 30 minutes, sending his man the wrong direction with a dummy before slotting over.

Athlone managed to get one back before the end of the half when Richie Greene squeezed in a free from a very difficult angle before the teams made their way to the dugout – Ballinagore leading by 10 points.

Ballinagore returned to the pitch at full intensity, Brandon Carey kicking over within the first minute.

Fergal Murray scored Athlone’s fifth of the match in quick reply, but Cody Finnane found the net up the other end moments later for his side’s second goal of the game following a good ball in by Luke Seery, extending the lead to 16 points.

Wing back Cathal Kelly joined the scorers with a neat point; Finnane sent another ball straight down over the black spot and Carey added his third, all in quick succession.

But they weren’t finished there. Getting in on the action in the second half, McDaniel buried the ball into the net to raise the third green flag of the match at 45 minutes played, and he followed it up with a point from play after Ballinagore won the Athlone kickout.

Darragh Seery kicked a fine score to twist the knife further at 50 minutes played.

Finnane, who had an excellent second-half performance, converted a wonderful curling effort with five minutes left on the clock. Not long on the pitch, substitute Bryan Pidgeon joined the scorers with a point from play.

Josh Beaumont took a well-earned point at 55 minutes, sending two defenders the wrong way on a run down the centre of the pitch before kicking over from close range. It ended a 25-minute scoring drought for Athlone – with Ballinagore registering 13 scores in that period.

Paddy Ennis landed the final point of the game to finish things at 3-24 for Ballinagore to 0-6 for Athlone.

It was clear from the get-go that Ballinagore wanted to lay down a marker in the championship by inflicting heavy damage on Athlone. They have huge threat up front and a great spread of scorers, with 10 players raising flags, and have now won their last six games on the trot with a semi-final next to be played.

Athlone meanwhile never got going, and despite some moments of individual brilliance, they were never able to match the energy of a revved-up Ballinagore side.

Athlone: Rytis Liaukevicius, Shane Galvin, Conor Murray, Piaras Rohan, Niall Doolan, Niall McKenna, Cathal Hardiman, Paul Bannon, Colin O’Leary, Enda Daly, Luke O’Connell, Fergal Murray, Ryan Gaffey, Johnny Martin, Richie Greene. Subs: Darren Magee, Josh Beaumont.

Scorers: Ryan Gaffey 0-3 (0-1f), Richie Greene 0-1, Fergal Murray 0-1, Josh Beaumont 0-1.

Ballinagore: Cathal Daly, Luke Seery, Enda Claffey, Conan Feery, Cathal Kelly, Peter Deegan, Robbie Keegan, Darragh Seery, Peter Reynolds, Eoin Robinson, Tommy McDaniel, David Keegan, Cody Finnane, Brandon Carey, Paddy Ennis.

Subs: Jack Gannon, Philip Reynolds, Bryan Pidgeon, Colin Coleman, Donal Barrett.

Scorers: Tommy McDaniel 1-6, Brandon Carey 0-4, Paddy Ennis 0-4, David Keegan 1-2, Cody Finnane 1-2, Darragh Seery 0-2, Robbie Keegan 0-1, Peter Reynolds 0-1, Cathal Kelly 0-1, Bryan Pidgeon 0-1.