Senior Football League Division 2
Johnstownbridge 1-14
Ballymore 0-6
by Ronan Flanagan

Johnstownbridge maintaned their good start to the league with a convincing win over Ballymore. With the Punchestown festival soon to be taking place nearby the Bridge won at a canter leaving the home side very disapointed with their showing.
With no county men available Ballymore certainly missed the scoring threat of James Kavanagh, but the visitor’s interested spectators included Brian Flanagan and Keith Cribbin. Mark McCarville and William O’Donoghue got the scoring going with Johnstownbridge threating the ball like a hot potato.
When they did get going they hit five unanswered scores through Padraig Hurley, Eoin O’Donoghue, wing back Paul Mooney, Jason O’Keefe and Cathal McNally respectively. Tommy Archibald hit back with a sideline kick but this great score was cancelled out by Hurley before Cathl McNally got his second. Hurley and McNally finished the scoring in the half. Ballymore were only four adrift and Bridge ‘keeper David Maguire had made two good saves during that opening period.
Johnstownbridge still had most of the play with Barry McNally and Hurley operating well in the middle while Paul Mooney was sweeping up at the back and counter attacking with pace. Up front Jason O’Keefe gave his side the ideal start after the change of ends as he found the back of the net.
Gareth Clarke responded for Ballymore but a curler from O’Keefe caancelled this out and frees from Cathal McNally and Shane Flanagan put theaway side nine points up with the clock reading 45minutes. McNally and Archibald swapped points as the game really wound down and both sidelines brought in fresh legs.
Johnstownbride were still on top in the midfield and were playing deep ensuring that Ballymore would not get in for a goal. Meanwhile up the other end McNally, Flanagan and corner back James O’Connor all added more scores. O’Connor had wandered to follow his man out the field and his rare score proved to be Johnstownbride’s last of the day.
Tommy Archibald finished the scoring in a one-sided contest with another free. With little supply the former Kildare man could not cause too much damage. For the winners they can look forward to this week’s championship first round on good form.
JOHNSTOWNBRIDGE: David Maguire, James O’Connor 0-1, Michael Donnelly, Des Holton, Aenghus Gannon, Noel Cawley, Paul Mooney, Barry McNally, Padraig Hurley 0-2, Will Holton, Shane Flanagan 0-2 (1f), Ian Farrell, Eoin O’Donoghue 0-1f, Jason O’Keefe 1-2 (1f), Cathal McNally 0-5 (2f).
Subs: Diarmuid Holton for D Holton (48mins), Damien Murray for Hurley (48mins). BALLYMORE: Morris Murray, Colin Clarke, Jamie Bolfe, Stephen Fisher, Patrick Brown, William O’Donoghue, Keith Fennell, Tadgh Grace, Mark Hayden, Stephen Dwyer, Mark McCarville, Gareth Clarke, Paul Brown, Tommy Archibald 0-3 (1s/l, 2f), Thomas Roe. Subs: Gerry Fennell for Roe (40mins), Peter Lawlor for P Brown (50mins)