Blackhall Gaels take first round points at Skryne

Blackhall Gaels 1-9 Simonstown Gaels 1-8
SFC
At: Skryne
Date: 10th Apr 2003

Blackhall Gaels made a good start to their Senior Football Championship campaign by defeating Simonstown Gaels by a single point in a close contest at Skryne on Thursday evening. Cian McGrath opened the score with a point from play for Simonstown after two minutes followed by a Robert Cox minor in the 4th minute before Tadhg Brosnan sent his side three points clear at the end of the first quarter with points from frees (2) and a point from play. Evan Kelly then put a halt to Blackhall progress with an early second quarter point and took full advantage of an opening in the Blackhall defense with a cracker of a goal in the 19th minute. Points for Blackhall from Tadhg Brosnan and Denis Beirne cancelled out by Hank Traynor and John Lunney left the half time score reading 1-4 to 0-6 in Simonstown's favour in a half when the sides were level on three occasions. The Navan side went two points clear in the 38th minute before Tadhg Brosnsan pounced on the rebound from an Anthony Moyles shot to find the Simonstown net and sent Blackhall into a one point lead. Ned Kearney who replaced the injured Evan Kelly brought the sides level for the fourth time in the 41st minute followed by a brace of Blackhall points from Robert Cox and Denis Beirne. Kearney narrowed the gap to the minimum with his second point of the half after fifty minutes but an Owen Creevey point at the end of normal time placed that extra piece of daylight between the sides. The last score of the match, a point from play for Simonstown, came late in injury time before Cormac Reilly blew for full time with the final score Blackhall Gaels 1-9, Simonstown Gaels 1-8. For an opening round that could not be described as a classic it was nevertheless close and entertaining with Blackhall defenders Dermot O'Brien and George Beirne, in particular, standing out. Anthony Moyles had a powerful outing at midfield. Forwards Denis Beirne and Robert Cox contributed well as did Tadhg Brosnan who returned a score of 1-4. Simonstown defenders Seamus Kenny and Alan Meade played well in the centre half back line as did Hank Traynor at centrefield. Evan Kelly scoring 1-1 in the first half impressed along with second half substitute Ned Kearney.

Team: J. O'Brien, D. O'Brien, P. Nestor, B. Moyles, G. Beirne, N. Nestor, S. Nally, A. Moyles, M. Ferris, D. Beirne (0-2), M. Crampton, B. McKeown, R. Cox (0-2), T. Brosnan (1-4), O. Creevey (0-1). Subs: N. O'Hora for B. McKeown. Referee: C. Reilly (St. Mary's).

Pat Callanan