Junior A Football Championship 2021 Group Two Round Two

Ballyvaughan-Fanore 6:15 Doonbeg 0:09 @ Ennsitymon GAA Grounds

Refereee :- Pat Keane (Lissycasey)

Ballyvaughan-Fanore are the first team through to the junior a football championship quarter final for 2021 after a very impressive all-around team performance against a below par Doonbeg second team which was played in good autumn sunshine at Ennistymon GAA grounds on Friday August 27th at 18:45.

As stated previously this was a very impressive all-around team performance, especially when two of our key players were absent due to injury, Kieran Casey and James Hynes.

The scores came thick and fast in the opening fifteen minutes, Cormac Brennan opening the scoring with a point from play, Doonbeg had a run-on goal shortly afterwards and earned a free which was converted but from here on in the game was dominated by a much hungrier and up for the battle to top group two as a win was vital for Ballyvaughan-Fanore.

Jonah Culligan had a wide before he kicked his first from play, then Cormac Brennan strolled through the heart of the Doonbeg to stroke his second score of the day straight between the posts, Jonah Culligan hit the net and this was followed soon after by a high ball delivered to the edge of the square which could have gone anywhere but the alert Donnacdh Mahon punched the ball over as it dropped. On the whistle for the water break Ballyvaughan-Fanore had conjured up a commanding lead of 1:04 to a single score of one point for Doonbeg.

The quarter of an hour up to half time was almost error free from a Ballyvaughan-Fanore perspective but Doonbeg will rue all the kickouts that were misplaced and which scores were converted and unlucky Ballyvaughan-Fanore were not to have a bigger score by half time. Phelim Kyne was the first to capitalise on a bad kick out to score a brilliant point from play, Doonbeg did place two attacks on the Ballyvaughan-Fanore goal which yielded a point from play and a free. On the run in to half time Jonah Culligan scored a 20m free, John Martyn could not believe his luck when the ball dropped short from a stray kick out only for to be kicked wide of the target. Lorcan Mahon pointed followed by a score from Adam Walsh also from play. Cormac Brennan hit the net and Phelim Kyne kicked wide to leave the half time score in Ballyvaughan-Fanore's favour of 2:08 to 0:03 points.

The third quarter was the best scoring one for both teams, Doonbeg rallied and played good football and got the first two scores, one from a free and the other from play, the game was truly over as a contest when Jonah Culligan and Lorcan Mahon found the net. Lorcan Mahon had his second point from play followed by an excellent taken point by John Martyn, Ballyvaughan-Fanore had two more wides here either side of those scores. Doonbeg hit the target with a point from play to bring their total for the day so far to 0:06, only for to be dealt another killer blow when Adam Walsh found the net to have the score board operator which was busy all through more work to do. A brace of points for Doonbeg came shortly after one from a free and the other from play. Jonah Culligan score Ballyvaughan-Fanore's 11th point from a free to leave the score at 5:11 to 0:08 when the Lissycasey referee Pat Keane blew the whistle for the second water break.

Championship debutant Ian Woods was now introduced as a sub for James Howard, Captain Cian Walsh entered the scoring chart with a point from play followed by his brother Adam again from play. Jonah Culligan scored his third goal of the night followed shortly after by a point from a free, John Martyn finished off the Ballyvaughan-Fanore scoring with a point from play before that Doonbeg had scored also from play to bring their final tally to nine, Doonbeg also kicked four wides in this final quarter, two from play and two from free's.

James Howard came back on as a sub deep in to injury time to replace the injured Captain Cian Walsh just as the final whistle sounded.

Ballyvaughan-Fanore journey towards another county final is one step closer; a tough game will be played yet to determine who tops group two, Clondegad v Ballyvaughan-Fanore will be played in two weeks' time. Doonbeg meanwhile will battle it out for places three and four unless Meelick can cause a surprise and beat Clondegad in their round two game it looks like Clondegad and Ballyvaughan-Fanore will progress .

Damien McNamara Joseph Flanagan Mark Walsh Neil Walsh Adam Walsh (1:02) Philip Queally Scion Flanagan James Howard Cormac Brennan (1:02) Phelim Kyne (0:01) Jonah Culligan (3:04)(3f) Cian Walsh (0:01) Lorcan Mahon (1:02) John Martyn (0:02) Donnchadh Mahon (0:01)

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