Granard beat Ballymore to consolidate top spot in the Division 2 league

All County Football League Division 2 - Round 5

Deniese O'Flaherty

Reporter:

Deniese O'Flaherty

Email:

newsroom@longfordleader.ie

all county football league division 2

Darren Gallagher on the ball for Granard with Ballymore opponent Mark Keogh in pursuit. Action from the Division 2 football league game at the Ballybrien grounds. Photo: Syl Healy

The inspirational Darren Gallagher was in impressive form as St Mary’s Granard made it five wins from five fixtures in Division 2 with an emphatic victory over their near neighbours Ballymore at the Ballybrien grounds on Saturday evening.

St Mary’s Granard . . . 1-14      Ballymore . . . 0-7

Granard were relegated from Division 1 last season but under the guidance of Ryan Casey and Ger Carberry the north Longford side have been impressive at the top of Division 2 in their quest to capture the Michael Moran Cup in the build up to the county senior championship in the summer.  

Ballymore, who trailed by 0-7 to 0-4 at the break, ended the game with 14 players after Bernard McElvaney was sent off for a second yellow card in the 54th minute. Granard went 13 points ahead after that but Ballymore ended the game with  three pointed frees.

ST MARY’S GRANARD: Dessie Kiernan; Eoin Higgins, Brian Sheridan, Edward Smyth; Keith Kelly, Dylan Corcoran, Mark O’Neill; Darren Gallagher (1-7, three frees, goal from penalty), Thomas Gallagher (0-1); Paul Smyth (0-2), Mark Tully, Eoin Sheridan; Jordan Martin (0-4), Conor Mallon, Ben Martin.

Subs:- Jordan Shiels for B Martin (42 mins); David Callaghan for C Mallon (44 mins); Mark Connell for E Sheridan (53 mins); James Kiernan for P Smyth (53 mins); Fergus Kelly for T Gallagher (54 mins); James Blake for D Gallagher (56 mins).

BALLYMORE:  Alan Kiernan; Philip Dawson, John Kavanagh, Peter Walker; Cian O’Hara, Donal McElvaney, Mark Keogh; Padraig Kavanagh (0-1), Bernard McElvaney; David Reilly, Liam Gorman, Ciaran Reilly (0-1, free); Glen Kelly (0-2, frees), Damien Monaghan (0-2, frees), Mattie Gorman (0-1).

Subs:- Andy Kelly for C Reilly (injured, 47 mins); Aaron Hourican for D Reilly (55 mins); Pete McNerney for M Keogh (59 mins).

Referee: Michael Farrell (Ballymahon).