Ballintubber’s goal rush crushes Claremorris

Goal rush crushes Claremorris


SFC section 1
Ballintubber 4-11
Claremorris 0-4

Trevor Watson
Clogher

THREE goals in three first half minutes all but ended this championship tie as a stunned Claremorris were shell-shocked and a confident home side drove on with relentless pressure and determination.
The hat-trick of green flags saw James Horan’s troops edge 11 points clear as early as the 19th minute and, with the visitors struggling to manufacture any decent scoring chances, the writing was already on the wall.
Ballintubber had heroes all over the field on the day. Declan Larkin was at his terrorising best at wing-back and John Feeney was an authoritative presence at six. Both midfielders featured on the scoresheet and worked tirelessly throughout. Gary Dillon was a constant thorn for Claremorris and Padraic and Cillian O’Connor always looked dangerous in the two-man inside forward line.
But, once again, Alan Dillon was the jewel in the Clogher crown. Admittedly not at his brilliant best in the first half but he shone ever so brightly in the second.
Brian Fahy and Brian Gallagher tried hardest for Claremorris.
The home side shot two points clear in the first seven minutes as Larkin and Alan Dillon both scored confidently. That lead should have been extended but Cillian O’Connor and Dillon were both off target from placed balls.
Claremorris weathered the early ‘Tubber storm and, following a very patient build-up Liam Feeley (who started the game in place of the absent Ger Brady) fired over a wonderful score from distance on nine minutes.
Claremorris were off target with a kickable free minutes later before Jason Gibbons got the home side back on track with a sweetly-struck effort from 35 metres.
That signalled the start of Ballintubber’s purple patch. With sixteen minutes gone, John Feeney set up an attack. The ball went wide to Cathal Hallinan on the left wing, and the full-back spotted that Feeney had continued his run.
Hallinan picked him out brilliantly on the edge of the square and the centre-back turned, didn’t panic, and slid the ball coolly past Alvin McCallig. It was a finish worthy of any full-forward from the experienced defender. 
A minute later Cillian O’Connor picked out his brother Padraic with another sublime ball and the full-forward made no mistake, blasting home from close range.
The third goal came less than a minute later. Gibbons found Alan Dillon with a quick free from midfield. Dillon fed Larkin who, in turn, offloaded to the imcoming Gary Loftus who took his goal superbly along the ground giving McCallig no chance yet again.
Claremorris’ only reply to this onslaught was a point from a placed ball from their goalkeeper from 45 metres. But Padraic O’Connor finished the half’s scoring with a point from play for the home side.
The visitors won the second half throw-in and from there earned a free which Alan Healy converted from the ground. Yet again Ballintubber kicked on.
Two points from Alan Dillon (one from a free and a wonderful score from distance by Danny Geraghty saw the lead extended to 11 points once again. Shane Meehan added another free for Claremorris on 52 minutes but the remainder of the game belonged to Alan Dillon.
First he shot the best point of the game with his right boot, a wonderful individual score. Then he added an audacious point with his left. Damien Coleman chipped over another before Dillon, from a Jason Gibbons centre, rounded his man and almost removed the net from the rigging with a powerful finish to the top corner.
It was fitting that the county star had the final say, an easy free in front of the posts to round off his personal tally of 1-6 for the day.
Keep an eye on this Ballintubber team. They have power, pace, scoring ability and heart. They may not be done with Championship 2010 just yet.

Ballintubber
N Gibbons; G Loftus (1-0), C Hallinan, P Earley; D Larkin, J Feeney (1-0), R O’Connor; D Geraghty (0-1), J Gibbons (0-1); G Dillon, A Dillon (1-6,2fs), D Coleman (0-1); M. Nestor, P. O’Connor (1-1), C. O’Connor (0-1).
Subs used: J Duffy for P O’Connor; A Plunkett for Nestor; K McGuinness for C O’Connor.

Claremorris
A McCallig (0-1, 1f); B Fahy, P Navin, J. Griffith; S Walsh, J Boyle, A Feeley; B Gallagher, D Egan; L Feeley (0-1), S Prendergast, D Griffith; T Griffin, C Griffith, A Healy (0-1,1f).
Subs used: P Ring for Navin; S Meehan (0-1, 1f) for Prendergast; D Feeley for Griffin; D Commins for Healy.

Referee: V Neary (Bonniconlon)