Understrength Ballycommon suffer disappointing defeat

ROCHE EMMETS (LOUTH) 1-19

BALLYCOMMON 0-4

AN understrength Ballycommon team suffered a disappointing defeat to Louth champions Roche Emmets in the opening round of the Leinster Club intermediate football championship in Darver on Saturday last.

Coming just six days after their hard fought replay victory in the Offaly Senior B final, this was a bridge too far for Ballycommon, who just never got going in this game at any stage.

It was the second part of a double header at the Louth Centre of Excellence and after Daingean's brave effort in the opening game, this one provided little satisfaction for fans of the Offaly clubs as the home side powered their way to a comfortable victory.

Ballycommon had come through two tough games against Clonbullogue to clinch the Offaly title and it was always going to be a tough task to lift themselves again, particularly away from home. But their task wasn't helped by the absence of four of their county final winning side from the start. Ryan Kenny did make an appearance as a sub during the game but Karl Dunne, Conor Dunne and Barry Bracken all missed out and that was a huge chunk to take out of the team.

It must be said that even with a full strength team, Ballycommon would have had a difficult task as Roche Emmets gave a powerful display and would have been tough to counteract. They took control of the game from the early stages and never relinquished their grasp, picking off some great scores as they put Ballycommon to the sword.

Roche Emmets hit the ground running and they had seven points on the board early in the second quarter before Ballycommon got off the mark with their lone score of the first half and by the interval the gap between the teams was 10 points with Roche Emmets 0-11 to 0-1 ahead.

Ballycommon would have looked to have made a good start to the second half to try and get themselves back into the game but it didn't happen and instead it was the Louth side who stretched their advantage and Ballycommon never really looked like making an indent into their lead.

As mentioned Roche Emmets started well and three points from Shane Byrne plus others from Daniel O'Connell, Barry O'Hare, D.D. Reilly and Liam Dawe put them into that 0-7 to 0-0 lead early in the second quarter. Ballycommon finally opened their account when Gareth Mann pointed from a mark after 18 minutes but any hopes that it might lead to a revival for the Offaly men was quikly snuffed out as Roche Emmets had the better of the remainder of the half and Mark Byrne added two points with Barry O'Hare and Shane Byrne again on the mark to give the Louth side a 0-11 to 0-1 half time lead.

Ballycommon would have hoped for a good start to the second half but it didn't come and Barry O'Hare added two more points with Liam Dawe also on the mark to push them 13 points clear. Ian Scally added a second for Ballycommon after Ryan Kenny's effort came off the post but Liam Dawe and Barry O'Hare responded for Roche Emmets.

Stephen Conneely found the range for Ballycommon and Shane Byrne and Adrian Mann swopped points but that was the last score for Ballycommon as Roche Emmets embellished their performance late on. Liam Dawe kicked another point before Barry O'Hare scored the game's only goal and Daire Reilly kicked one final point to leave them with an 18 point winning margin. Roche Emmets will now meet the Dublin representatives in the next round.

The Scorers

Roche Emmets: Barry O’Hare (1-5, 0-1 free), Shane Byrne (0-5), Liam Dawe (0-4), Mark Byrne (0-2), DD Reilly, Daire Reilly, Daniel O’Connell (0-1 each).

Ballycommon: Gareth Mann (mark), Stephen Conneely, Ian Scally, Adrian Mann (0-1 each).

The Teams

ROCHE EMMETS: Jamie O’Hare; Adam McKay, David Quigley, Aidan Grant; James McDonnell, Peter Lynch, Gerry Browne; Glen Stewart (Capt.), Daniel O’Connell; Sean Dawe, Liam Dawe, Mark Byrne; DD Reilly, Shane Byrne, Barry O’Hare. Subs: Dermot Carthy (for Adam McKay, half time), Martin Carroll (for Glen Stewart, 39 mins), Paul Carroll (for Daniel O’Connell, 39 mins), Harry O’Connell (for Gerry Browne, 43 mins), Daire Reilly (for Sean Dawe, 48 mins).

BALLYCOMMON: Paul Scally; Aidan Bracken (Capt.), Matthew Dempsey, Chulainn Boland; Donal Scally, David Dempsey, Michael Conneely; Brian Todd, Dylan Martin; T.J. Bermingham, Jack Kenny, Stephen Conneely; Ian Scally, Gareth Mann, Christopher Kenny. Subs: Ryan Kenny (for Christopher Kenny, 28 mins), Aaron Scally (for T.J. Bermingham, 39 mins), Adrian Mann (for Dylan Martin, 39 mins), Killian Owens (for Donal Scally, 46 mins), Patrick Bermingham (for Ian Scally, 52 mins).

REFEREE: Shay Farrelly (Dublin).