Impressive Ferbane show intent with easy win over Ballycommon

A FIRST round win signifies very little but there was still something very impressive about the way Ferbane played in an easier than anticipated win over Ballycommon in a very one sided Senior Football Championship opener at Ferbane on Friday evening.

Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship Group 1 Round 1

Ferbane 2-19

Ballycommon 1-8

They controlled every facet of the game, leading by 0-10 to 0-3 at half time, and the final scoreline was a fair reflection of the way this went.

Ballycommon will be disappointed at the way they played and they were not at the races but they came up against a serious title contender in no mood for making any mistake.

A 1-9 haul from Cian Johnson, 1-6 from play, was a standout feature for Ferbane but the ground work was laid elsewhere. Ferbane's concentration levels, their execution of the basics, their work rate, turnovers, defensive competence and movement commanded complete respect and while much stiffer tests lie ahead, they look to be in decent health.

With Leon Fox having transferred to Louth and Joe Maher and Ronan McGuire not playing senior football this year, Ferbane were clearly keen to lay down a marker and they did this in a very professional display.

It took Ferbane a little while to get going in the first half but the manner in which they controlled proceedings, dictated the flow of play was very impressive and they were worth every one of their seven point half time lead, 0-10 to 0-3.

A Paul Scally '45' and Ryan Kenny free had Ballycommon 0-2 to 0-1 up after 12 minutes but they struggled woefully from here to the interval.

They just couldn't get their hands on the ball as Ferbane's defence over turned a lot of ball and by the time Stephen Conneely got Ballycommon's third and only first half point from play in the 20^th minute, Ferbane had 0-5 on the board.

Two from the very lively Cian Johnson and three from Daragh Flynn, both with one from play, saw Ferbane double their score in the closing eight minutes of the half and you just couldn't envisage a way back for Ballycommon at the break.

Ferbane were ruthless in the third quarter and never gave Ballycommon a sniff of a comeback. Three quick fire points broke Ballycommon's resolve as Ferbane went ten points clear and they continued to go for the jugular.

Ryan Kenny arrowed over a good Ballycommon point in the 37^th minute but Ferbane replied with 1-2 without reply, Cian Johnson punching home the goal in the 44^th minute after David Nally and Daragh Flynn combined in the build up.

That was that as Ferbane eased off a bit late on, running in subs. One of them, Conor Grennan got their second goal in the 59^th minute while Sean Conway got in for an injury time consolation one for the losers.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

David Nally (Ferbane): Ferbane will be delighted with the contribution of Cian Johnson and he was an obvious candidate for Ferbane. He was very sharp and his hunger levels were particularly noticeable – it was arguably the best he has played since emerging as such a prodigious talent some years ago, though you would wonder why Ballycommon didn't detail one of their county defenders, David Dempsey or Aidan Bracken to mark him the whole way through, instead pulling Stephen Conneely back on him in the second half. Ballycommon handed a novice senior footballer, Zach Wright the unenviable task of shadowing Ferbane dynamo Cathal Flynn and he was very honest and focused on this, though Flynn did produce moments of pure brilliance.

Ferbane were so on top elsewhere that it was a day for forwards and they had contenders all over the field. David Nally put in a terrific hour's work on their half forward line, turning over ball, carrying it forward, breaking the line and distributing very well. His focus and ability to do the right thing was inspirational and he is my choice as he was involved in so much.

They will be very happy at the way a young player Eoghan Grennan performed at midfield, doing a lot of effective work in an almost understated way – Eoghan and his first cousin, Conor Grennan, who came on as a sub, should be big additions to Ferbane this year.

Their defence was excellent with Patrick Taaffe, Mark Wren and Conor Dunican really impressing and no one putting a foot wrong – Dunican's display is worth a special mention as he was particularly influential early on when Ballycommon were competitive and he was a man of the match contender.

THE SCORERS

Ferbane: Cian Johnson 1-9 (3f), Daragh Flynn 0-5 (4f), Ronan Flynn 1-0, Adam Egan, Cathal Flynn, Jack Clancy, Stephen Wren and Conor Grennan 0-1 each.

Ballycommon: Sean Conway 1-0, Jack Kenny (1 x 2p) and Ryan Kenny (1f) 0-2 each, Paul Scally ('45'), Brian Todd, Stephen Conneely and Christopher Kenny 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

FERBANE: Adam Nugent; Patrick Taaffe, Ciaran Cahill, Conor Dunican; David Nally, Mark Wren, Kevin Nugent; Kyle Higgins, Eoghan Grennan; Adam Egan, Cathal Flynn, Brian Carroll; Cian Johnson, Jack Clancy, Daragh Flynn. Subs – Stephen Wren for Nugent (33m), Conor Grennan for Carroll (46m), James Nally for Higgins (52m), Ronan Flynn for Clancy (56m).

BALLYCOMMON: Paul Scally; David Dempsey, Matthew Dempsey, Aidan Bracken; Brian Todd, Karl Dunne, Michael Conneely; Paul Conway, Tom Mealiffe; Sean Conway, Zach Wright, Stephen Conneely; Ryan Kenny, Jack Kenny, Christopher Kenny. Subs – Chulaiun Boland for Dunne (39m), Conor Dunne for Ryan Kenny (47m).

Referee – Chris Dwyer, Clara.

REFEREE WATCH

Chris Dywer had a good game, getting most things right.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

From the moment they settled after around 10 minutes, Ferbane's victory was not in doubt and there was no game defining moment as such. They were in a different league than their opponents but the lovely point Cathal Flynn kicked at the start of the second half showed that they would not be letting up.

VENUE WATCH

Ferbane had their grounds looking very well and managed the fixture professionally.

WHAT'S NEXT

Ferbane travel to Rhode in round 2 while Ballycommon have a bye until round 3 when they meet Rhode in Daingean.

STATISTICS

Wides: Ferbane – 7 (3 in first half); Ballycommon - 5 (2in first half).

Yellow cards: 0

Black cards: 0

Red cards: 0