Ballinlough still searching for first win

CORN NA BOINNE

Despite a strong finish which saw Ronan McGuinness flash an equalising goal chance just wide in the dying moments Ballinlough lost out to visitors Meath Hill in the Corn na Boinne by 0-13 to 0-10.

With Tommy Rooney back in the side he was quickly on the board with an early point as Meath Hill started well with Mark Tully also on target in response to a Harry Ryan free as they opened up a 0-4 to 0-1 advantage.

Fergal Gibney was denied a goal by a fine save as Ballinlough continued to create chances, but Vinny Ryan's side failed to take them as Tully (two) and Ian Malone stretched the visitors lead.

Another Harry Ryan point stopped the rot momentarily, but it was Meath Hill who closed the first-half scoring to lead 0-8 to 0-2 at the break.

The introduction of McGuinness added extra impetus to the Ballinlough attack and he set up Mick Geraghty for the opening score of the half and when Harry Ryan converted another free the deficit was down to four points.

Malone and his colleagues settled and re-established their six-point cushion, but Harry Ryan kept Ballinlough ticking over and in the game with his free-taking.

With eight minutes remaining Ballinlough got motoring with Harry Ryan (two frees) and Tommy McCullen closing the gap to three points, but as time ran out so to did the hosts luck as McGuinness's late goal chance sailed just wide and it was Meath Hill who held on despite losing Rooney to a late black card.

Ballinlough - P Muldoon; C Fleming, R Farrell, C Rennicks; M Geraghty (0-1), M McCullen, D Galligan; H Ryan (0-7), L Maguire (0-1); F Gibney, D Caffrey, B Wiseman; C Mallen, B Smith, T McCullen (0-1). Subs - R McGuinness for Wiseman, H Briody for Farrell, L Finnegan for Fleming.