SFC CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 2

BALLYMACNAB 2-18 GRANEMORE 1-06

Our Seniors have reached the Quarter Final stage of the Championship after a superior performance against neighbours Granemore at the Athletic Grounds. On the night our lads showed great hunger, fitness and accuracy in front of goals and were deserving of their win.

The ‘Nab were slow out of the blocks as it was Granemore who got off to the best start with three early points, in between a point from Ryan Kennedy after a surging run. The game was soon level with points from Captain Brian McCone and Rory Grugan. Granemore hit the front once more with a point before pointed frees from Rory Grugan and Brian McCone restored the lead. It was nearing the break that the ‘Nab began to ‘pull away’ on the scoreboard with 2 Finnén Maguire before a brilliant individual point from Rory Grugan, left the score 0-9 to 0-5 at the break.

Ballymacnab stepped up their performance in the second half. Early points from the Grugan brothers was followed up with a goal from Rory after some good work from Ryan Kennedy who won the break ball in the middle of the field. Ballymacnab were not beginning to get into rhythm and added points from Paul Kennedy, Rory and Jack Grugan. Ballymacnab stretched their lead to 15 points when Ryan Kennedy struck the ball to the back of Granemore’s net from the penalty spot after Gavin McParland was fouled in the ‘large square’. Damien McGeown, Pauric Gribben, Michael Beagan and Gavin McParland all got on the score sheet before the final whistle to record a famous win.

TEAM: Conor McGivern, Ciaran Connelly, Brendan Toner, Chris Loughran, Michael Beagan (0-1), Ryan Kennedy (1-1), Oisin McGivern, Pauric Gribben (0-1), Rory Grugan(1-5), Ruairí Gribben, Finnén Maguire (0-2), Paul Kennedy (0-1), Gavin McParland (0-1), Jack Grugan (0-3), Brian McCone (0-2) Subs: James Gray for R.Gribben, Ryan Watters for B.McCone, Damien McGeown (0-1) for J.Grugan, Sean Lynch for C.Loughran, Richard Gribben for F.Maguire, Niall McKee for C.Connolly