March 3rd 2019 – Kelly Cup Round 3
Ballintubber 3-14 Castlebar 1-9
Our seniors claimed their first win of the 2019 season today as we dealt a heavy defeat to a severely under-strength Castlebar Mitchels side. While it was nowhere near the gladiatorial two-game saga we witnessed between these sides back in October, this was nonetheless an entertaining and open affair for most of the afternoon. Despite a sub-par second half display, an emphatic first-half scoring blitz meant that this was a done deal at half-time. If nothing else it was a timely reminder of what we are capable of when we click as Kevin Johnson’s men played some lovely attacking football at times.
Mitchels had initially led briefly at the start when points from Conor Melvin and Eamon Tierney cancelled out Jason Gibbons’ fisted point. Three unanswered points the followed from Keelan McDonnell, Gibbons and Stephen O’Malley before a Michael Plunkett free found Brian Walsh to drill home our first goal. From then on, we were well in front. Four points followed from Noel Geraghty, Stephen O’Malley and Stephen Finnerty before Padraig O’Connor set up Michael Plunkett for the Mayo panellist to fire a low shot into the net.
Mitchel’s weren’t for rolling over though, as they pointed three scores of their own before Conor Melvin beat Brendan Walsh to land the visitors’ only goal. We stretched our lead yet again as Stephen O’Malley and Jason Gibbons landed points as the Red and White began to really put the foot down. When Michael Plunkett raised a second green flag with a low shot after an assist from Brian Walsh, the contest was effectively finished Jason Gibbons pointed his fourth score in what was a very impressive half-hour from the man from Annies, leaving the score at a staggering 3-11 to 1-6 at the break.
With management making four changes at half-time, the second half proved to be a much less exciting affair, with Mithels only landing two points while we failed to score from play. Tubber’s young guns showed well during this time, with Darragh McGovern, Gavin Roache, Matthew Fox, Jack Walsh and goalkeeper Niall Staunton all getting game time. Three pointed frees from Noel Geraghty, Stephen O’Malley and Padraig O’Connor were all we chalked up in the last half-hour with the elder O’Connor coming close adding a fourth goal for us at one point.
Ballintubber team that lined out: (1)Brendan Walsh (2)Gary Loftus (3)Joe Geraghty (4)Finian Bourke (5)Seanie Larkin (6)Hugh Geraghty (7)Jarlath Staunton (8)Brian Walsh (1-0) (9)Jason Gibbons (0-4) (10)Noel Geraghty (0-3, 2f) (11)Michael Plunkett (2-0) (12)Keelan McDonnell (0-1) (13)Stephen Finnerty (0-1) (14)Padraig O’Connor (0-1, 1f) (15)Stephen O’Malley (0-4, 2f)
Substitutions used: Gavin Roache for Jarlath Staunton, Matthew Fox for Stephen Finnerty, Darragh McGovern for Michael Plunkett, David McHale for Jason Gibbons, Kevin Shannon
for Gary Loftus, Jack Walsh for Finian Bourke, Oran Scully for Hugh Geraghty, Niall Staunto