Moores get the better of The Larks in blustery conditions

Kevin Murnaghan clears his lines for Moorefield against Ballyteague

placeholder image — Kevin Murnaghan clears his lines for Moorefield against Ballyteague

SFC Group D

Moorefield 0-12

Ballyteague 0-7

Moorefield got their expected win over Ballyteague at an extremely blusterly Manguard Park on Sunday afternoon. It was a game The Moores dominated for long periods but through a combination of some poor finishing and the extremely harsh conditions, along with The Larks missing the injured Jimmy Hyland, the Newbridge side are guaranteed to advance to the knock-out stages whether that be in the quarter-final of the pre-quarter, depends on the final game in the group between them and Johnstownbridge.

The opening half, with Moorefield playing with an ever-increasisng wind behind them into the town goal, was a real slow burner and while Adam Tyrrell opened with a point on two minutes we had to wait all of 11 minutes before point no. 2 arrived, Aaron Masterson converting a 45.

Ciaran Kelly added the third of the game mid-way through as Moorefield totally dominated the game all over the pitch, Ballyteague were happy to get as many behind the ball and as they possibly could and keep the scoring rate down.

Evan O'Brien made it 0-4 to 0-0 as we reached the 25 minute.

Then a minute later The Larks got their first, and only score of the half, when Brian McGrath converted a free after it had been brought forward by referee Eoghan Murphy.

Moorefield upped their game from here to the break with Ciaran Kelly adding his second; Ian Meehan making it a five point game before Adam Tyrrell got his second of the half.

Aaron Masterson added his third of the game before Tyrrell proved that his previous point, off his right, was no fluke when finding the range again with the same leg, as we finally heard the half-time whistle, The Moores leading 0-9 to 0-1.

With the wind getting strong and stronger it was The Larks who opened the second half with three points from substitute Cian Loughlin and two from the boot of Btriana McGrath to make it 0-10 to 0-4, Evan O'Brien getting his second point of the game on 38 minutes.

And it was that man O'Brien who got his third and his side's eleventh of the game that brought the score to 0-11 to 0-4.

Three points on the trot from Fionn Murphy, a punched effort, Glenn Thorpe, a fine break-away point and then one from substitute Stephen Connelly that made it 0-11 to 0-7.

In time added on Aaron Masterson converted a free, the final score of the game as The Moores chalked up their second win on the trot on a final score line of Moorefield 0-12 Ballyteague 0-7.

Scorers: Moorefield, Aaron Masterson 0-4 (45, free), Evan O'Brien 0-3, AdamTyrrell 0-2, Ciaran Kelly 0-2, Ian Meehan 0-1.

Ballyteague, Brian McGrath 0-3 (3 frees), Fionn Murphy 0-1, Stephen Connolly 0-1, Glenn Thorpe 0-1, Cian Loughlin 0-1.

MOOREFIELD: Tom Kinsella; Ryan Houlihan, Mark Dempsey, Liam Callaghan; Liam Healy, Kevin Murnaghan, Padraig Cribbin; James Murray, Ryan Murray; Aaron Masterson, Ciaran Kelly, Ian Meehan; Evan O'Brien, Jason Philips, Adam Tyrrell. Subs: Tom Harrington for Liam Healy (21 minutes); Luke Sweeney for Ryan Moore (42 minutes); Mark Murray for Jason Philips (45 minutes); Harry O'Connor for Ciaran Kelly (46 minutes); Danny Hanniffy for Padraig Cribbin (60 minutes).

BALLYTEAGUE: Derrick Mooney; Ryan Webb, David Randles, Luke Jacob; Gary Nugent, Seamus Hanafin, Glenn Thorpe; Gerry Melia, Conor Mullaney; Conor Hanley, Stephen Ennis, Paudi; Murphy; Cathal Hanafin, Brian McGrath, Fionn Murphy. Subs: Cian Loughlin for Gary Nugent (half-time); Paraic Hanley for Paudi Murphy (47 minutes); Stephen Connnolly for Luke Jacob (53 minutes).

REFEREE: Owen Murphy.