Ballylinan too strong as Walsh leads charge against Arles-Kilcruise

Ballylinan are into the Winners’ Section of Round 2 of the Laois Shopping Centre IFC after a Gary Walsh masterclass saw them overcome last year’s finalists Arles-Kilcruise in Crettyard on Monday evening.

This game was originally scheduled to take place the previous Thursday, but the sad passing of Patrick McEvoy, father of Ballylinan player Pauraic McEvoy, saw the fixture postponed until Monday, July 27. A minute’s silence was observed before the game in his memory.

Arles-Kilcruise hit the front from the throw-in as Aodhan Lowry kicked a two-pointer with the wind at his back after just 20 seconds. Ballylinan’s response was an impressive one as they scored 1-3 without reply to move five points clear after eight minutes. Tom Bride fisted the ball over for their opening score before Jesse McEvoy came up from half-back to make it 0-2 to 0-1.

Then came the game’s first goal as Gary Walsh finished to the back of the net. Bride’s second point of the game put Ballylinan in a strong position despite playing against the wind. Jesse McEvoy then made a superb block to deny Arles-Kilcruise’s Alan McLoughlin a goal. Advantage had been played for the McLoughlin effort and David Conway tapped over the resulting free for his first score of the game.

Ryan Brady kept Ballylinan in front before Arles-Kilcruise made full use of the wind to score five points in a row. A foul on Conway outside the arc saw Lowry step up and kick his second two-pointer of the evening. Ben Slattery raised a white flag before another orange flag was raised by Calum McElroy to put Arles-Kilcruise ahead by a point.

Just as they had done earlier in the half when they fell behind, Ballylinan responded with three scores without reply. Two of those were white flags from Walsh, while Brady was first to a breaking ball and blasted it to the Arles-Kilcruise net.

The half ended with another two-pointer for Arles-Kilcruise as Eolann Maguire landed their fourth of the opening period. Ballylinan still led 2-7 to 0-10 at the break after Walsh pointed from play just before half-time.

Arles-Kilcruise, now playing against the strong breeze, came out and scored the first four points of the second half as the lead changed hands once more, with McElroy and Conway contributing two points apiece. Ballylinan again responded to falling behind as Walsh converted a two-point free, Brady added a point and Walsh slotted another free after it was brought forward when Arles-Kilcruise failed to hand back the ball. That left Ballylinan leading 2-11 to 0-14 with 49 minutes on the clock. The exact same thing happened a few minutes later, with Conway tapping over the advanced free at the other end.

Ballylinan then took complete control, scoring five unanswered points. Substitute Cathal Casey, who had been introduced after Ryan Brady was forced off with an injury that required him to be helped from the field, Bride and a second two-pointer from Walsh stretched their lead to six. Brady, who finished with 1-2, will be a major concern for manager Eddie Kinsella ahead of their Round 2 clash with Mountmellick.

Lawlor then produced a fine save to deny Walsh a second goal before Walsh pointed the resulting 45 to finish with 1-9. Conway kicked a late free for Arles-Kilcruise, but there was no doubt that Ballylinan were deserved winners on the night.

Final Score

Ballylinan 2-16

Arles-Kilcruise 0-16

SCORERS- Ballylinan: Gary Walsh 1-9( one two-pointer, one two-point free, 0-1 45, 0-1 free), Ryan Brady 1-2, Tom Bride 0-3, Jesse McEvoy and Cathal Casey 0-1 each. Arles-Kilcruise: David Conway 0-5 (0-4 frees), Aodhan Lowry (one two-point free, one two-pointer) and Calum McElroy (one two-pointer) 0-4 each, Eolann Maguire 0-2 (two-pointer), Ben Slattery 0-1.

BALLYLINAN: Mikey Walsh; Micheal Downey, Seamus Lacey, Conor Walsh; Bobby Walsh, Alan Farrell, Jesse McEvoy; Jamie Farrell, Pauraic McEvoy; Ryan Brady, Ciaran Farrell, Jack Julian; Tom Bride, Cathal Fennessy, Gary Walsh. Subs: Diarmuid Downey for C Walsh (11 mins, inj), Niall Hickey for P McEvoy (40 mins), Andy McEvoy for Downey (41 mins), Cathal Casey for Brady (54 mins), Patrick Julian for Bride (62 mins)

ARLES-KILCRUISE: Ciaran Lawlor; Michael O’Shea, Conal Brennan, Adam George; Luke Donohue, Cialann Mulhall, Conor George; Eolann Maguire, Ethan Mackey; Calum McElroy, Alan McLoughlin, Liam Whelan; Ben Slattery, David Conway, Aodhan Lowry. Subs: Fran Egan for McLoughlin (40 mins), David Lawlor for O’Shea (42 mins), Darragh Kealy for Whelan (43 mins), Caomhan Brennan for Lowry (48 mins)

Referee: Jamie McDonald (Rosenallis)