Maynooth have too much for Ballyteague but suffer Flynn injury scare

Maynooth 1-13

Ballyteague 1-6

Playing in the senior championship for the first time Ballyteague were no matach for Maynooth in the Preliminary Round clash at Clane on Satureday.

For the Crom Abú, obviously, everyone is wishing Neil Flynn a speedy recovery from the injury he incurred early in the first half which necessitated him being taken away by ambulance following what appeared to be a neck injury.

Playing with the aid of a stiff breeze, Maynooth were off the mark with a point from Eoin Donnellan inside the first minute of the game. Ballyteague’s first attack saw Cathal Hanafin’s shot saved by Mark Donnellan before Neil Flynn extended Maynooth’s lead to two points with a free after 6 minutes.

Unfortunately, that injury to Neil Flhynn caused a temporary halt to proceedings, but also lead to the introduction of Sean Hever for Maynooth who had an immediate impact scoring a free and then a point from play.

Ballyteague finally got on the score board with a free from Brian McGrath, who followed up with another 3 minutes later.

As the half drew to a close Maynooth carved out a goal opportunity with Eoin Donnellan’s shot drawing an excellent save from Derrick Mooney. At half time Maynooth lead by 0-4 points to 0-2.

In the second half, Maynooth continued to exert pressure on Ballyteague and got the first four scores of the half. Ballyteague’s opening point of the second half came courtesy of Jimmy Hyland, who was on hand minutes later with a free after a foul on Fionn Murphy.

Maynooth kept the scor eboard ticking over with points from Sean Hever. On 48 minutes Ballyteague were granted a lifeline when Seamus Hanafin struck the back of the net from a difficult angle to reduce the deficit to three points with 12 minutes left on the clock.

Sean Hever responded with a free for Maynooth before Jimmy Hyland got on the score board again. For Ballyteague, that was to be their last score of the game as they struggled to break down the Maynooth defence during the last ten minutes.

Sean Creevy pointed on 52 minutes extending the gap to four. As the clock wound down, Sean Hever made sure that the result was beyond doubt when he hit the back of the net for Maynooth. Final score: Maynooth 1-13, Ballyteague 1-6.

BALLYTEAGUE: Derrick Mooney; Conor Mullaney, David Randles, Donal Dempsey; Gary Nugent, Paraic Hanley, Glen Thorpe; Gerry Melia, Cathal Hanafin; Conor Hanley, Seamus Hanafin 1-0, Jimmy Hyland 0-4 (1 free); Tommy Callan, Brian McGrath 0-2 (2 frees), Fionn Murphy. Subs: Ryan Webb for Gary Nugent (46 mins), Barry Dempsey for Conor Hanley (48 mins), Luke Jacob for Tommy Callan (56 mins).

MAYNOOTH: Mark Donnellan; Sean Higgins, Conor Lynch, Darren Maguire; Callum McCabe 0-1, Fionn Ó Giollán, Sean Mahon; Dean McAvinue, Paul Maguire; Ciaran Flanagan, Cathal McCabe, Eoin Donnellan 0-2 (1free); Chris Canning, John McAndrew, Neil Flynn 0-1 (free). Subs: Sean Hever 1-7 (frees) for Neil Flynn (9 mins), Ciaran Hayes for Paul Maguire (half time), Sean Creevy (0-1) for Kevin Donovan (0-1), Daniel O’Meara for Sean Mahon (56 mins).

REFEREE: Henry Barrett.