Junior A Championship R1

 

Junior A Championship 

Ashford 0-9

Baltinglass GAA 1-5

Eoin Horkan 

Laragh 

A last-minute free kick from Brian Coen was the difference between these two sides midday Sunday.

After a nervy opening couple of plays it was Ashford who opened the scoring through corner forward Keevan Doyle before Brian Coen doubled the lead with a free minutes later. As the rain came down heavily in Laragh it was difficult for either side to score from play. The west Wicklow side reduced the lead with a dead ball off the boot of Jack Hanlon. As the half went on Ashford gained complete control as Coen was causing danger every time, he got the ball splitting the posts from play before adding a second free to his tally. On the cusp of halftime, the tie was leveled when Peader Burke burst through to find the back of the net.

The north Wicklow side created a goal chance early in the second half, but Michael Trainor's effort flew wide of the post. It was that man Coen who gave his side the lead again with a fine effort from play. Within minutes Baltinglass hit a purple patch firing over three unanswered scores with two coming from the boot of substitute Jamie Furlong along with a Niall O’ Connor effort. These scores were canceled out in the final quarter by the evergreen Coen who put his side in the lead again raising the white flag on three occasions. It looked like the tie would finish level when Furlong added his third off the bench. With the final play of the game Ashofrd were awarded a free which Coen slotted over to ensure victory.

Ashford: Wayne O’Gorman; Conor Daly, Craig Lawlor, Joey Driver; Rian Dwyer, Michael Dickenson, Billy Clarkson; Rob Clarkson, Danny Kavanagh; Ross Quinn, Brendan Manning, Michael Trainor; Keevan Doyle (0-1), Brian Coen (0-8 4fs), Cormac Doyle.

Subs Used: Brian Egan for Ross Quinn Cal Connolly for Michael Trainor (43), Gavin Weir for Brendan Manning (49), Dean Mooney for Billy Clarkson (55), Fionn Doyle for Rian Dwyer (60)

Baltinglass; William Rogers; John Murray, Conor O’ Neill, Hugh O’ Toole; David Gethings, Tommy Cullen, Mick Dowling; Peter Osbourne, Niall O’ Connor (0-1); Peader Burke (1-0), Adam Keogh, Jason Kenny; Sean O’ Brien, Jack Hanlon (0-1), Tony Kealy.

Subs Used: Jamie Furlong (0-3 2fs) for Jason Kenny, Lee Furlong for Adam Keogh (39), William Brien for Niall O’ Connor (56).

Referee Eddie Leonard