Wicklow JAFC Shillelagh vs Baltinglass

Shillelagh 0-8

Baltinglass 1-7

Eoin Horkan

Pearse Park 

Baltinglass came out on top of a very tight tense affair played in Arklow last Friday evening.

The game started off very tight and niggly with Baltinglass hitting the first score of the game with a free from their talismanic full forward Puadie Swinbourne. This was the first score of the game coming from the Carrickmacross man.. Sjillelagh hit a reply almost immediately after from wing back who slotted over a free from the 21-yard line. The game was end to end for the next couple of plays before Baltinglass corner forward Brian Lord cut in through the opposition defense before slotting over a fine score.Sheilagh made a positional switch putting dangerous wing forward Brendan Behan into a two man full forward line along side Mark Collins. This move worked a treat with Collins latching onto a ball which he fired towards the goal but unfortunately for Collins Shillelagh Keeper Laurie Cullen pulled off a great save to put the ball over the bar. Whelan slotted over another free before that man Behan got onto a ball and fired it between the post. Swinbourne hit another trademark free in reply before Lord weaved his way through Shillelagh defensive system before firing over another score.  With the game in the balance heading into the half time break, Shillelagh edged their noses in front through center forward Gary Murphy hitting a fine long range score., Leaving Shillelagh 0-5-0-4 at half time.

Whatever was said to Baltinglass at the half time it certainly worked, because shortly after the throw in they hit the most important score of the game which was a goal coming from that man Swinbourne who was at the end of a fine flowing move before calmly slotting the ball into the back of the net.  Behan fire over a 45 in response before the game became very ill tempered this resulted in both teams getting a player sent off. Shillelagh corner forward David Cullen getting a straight red for striking out on an opposition defender this resulted in a tussle which resulted in Baltingalss full back Tommy Cullen also getting a straight red for his misdemeanor. Swinbourne hitting over two more points one from play before he slotted over another free. Both teams started to empty their benches in the final part of the game. Shillelagh sub-Stephen Byrne making an immediate impact with getting a point with almost his first touch. Shillelagh went looking for a goal but try as they might they couldn't find a breakthrough. The closest they got was a consolation score from Gary Murphy. Baltinglass sub-John Gillespie hit the final point of the game giving Baltinglass the win.

Scorers Baltinglass  Puadie Swinbourne (1-4 ) Brian Lord (0-2) John Gillespie (0-1)

Shillelagh D Whelan (0-2)  Mark Collins (0-1)  Brendan Behan (0-2) Gary Murphy (0-2)  Stephen Byrne (0-1)

Shillelagh   Laurie Cullen, Daniel Behan, Sean Carroll, Enda Foley; Keith Collins, Darragh Foley, David Whelan; Patrick Hennessy, Ray Murphy;

 Robbie Elliot, Gary Murphy, Brendan Behan; Mark Collins, Noel Murphy, David Cullen 

 Subs used Stephen Byrne for Robbie Elliot (46 min) Jim O Brien for Keith Collins (52 min) 

Baltinglass Patsy Keogh; David Jethings, James Keane Sean Parke; Micheal Dowling Tommy Cullen Paddy Kirwan; Lee Furlong, Mark Ashton; Stephen Quinn, James Quinn, Robin Farrell; Jack Timmons Paudie Swinbourne, Brian Lord 

Subs used   Niall Kirwan  for Enday Foley (22 min ) John Gillespie  for Mark Ashton (54 min)