Ballyhogue suffer big blow despite good start
GLYNN-BARNTOWN 1-12 BALLYHOGUE 1-2
Tuesday September 07 2010
THIS WAS an outcome that was never in doubt as Glynn-Barntown cruised to a comfortable tenpoint victory over a poor Ballyhogue outfit in this WFC Senior football championship relegation play-off at Wexford Park on Saturday last.
The once powers of Wexford football, Ballyhogue, now return to Intermediate ranks, while Glynn-Barntown will play-off with Sarsfields in an effort to avoid an immediate drop in status, having just been promoted to the premier grade last year.
Although Ballyhogue announced their arrival with a Jim Bob Levingstone goal inside 90 seconds of the start, it turned out to be their solitary score for some 37 minutes, as Glynn-Barntown assumed control, getting back level (0-3 to 1-0) by the 13th minute through points from Alan Cowman and Mark Fanning with two (one free).
Glynn-Barntown, despite being in total control with Michael Doyle and Willie Carley dominant in midfield, could still only manage a further three points from Fanning, Craig Doyle and Brendan Doyle to lead by 0-6 to 1-0 at the interval, after a dreadful opening 30 minutes of football.
Not surprisingly, the Glynn-Barntown dominance continued on the resumption. Within two minutes of the re-start, Fanning kicked a neat point, before setting up Craig Doyle for a goal one minute later, leaving his side comfortably ahead by 1-7 to 1-0.
As the game progressed the football deteriorated, with a David Farrell point extending his side's lead. Ballyhogue had to wait until the 38th minute for their second score, an Edward Galavan point, but it was never going to change the course of the game. The eventual winners went on to kick five points, assuring themselves of a place in the final relegation play-off, where they will need considerable improvement to preserve their status.
- BRENDAN FURLONG in Wexford Park
