Champions Ballygarvan stuttered to a four point first round victory over Carrigaline in the opening clash of the 2009 South East Junior A Football championship last night on a terrific surface in Shanbally.
Last years beaten county finalists came into the game on the back of a tremendous run of results, unbeaten in the league from three outings and facing Carrigaline’s second string, handicapped by the loss of a number of players who played intermediate the night before.
However, the game certainly didn’t pan out as many had expected and Ballygarvan, who were lucky to have Cork senior Ger Spillane in terrific form, were given a stern test of their credentials by a youthful and highly energetic Carrigaline outfit.
The underdogs were highly committed throughout and must be given enormous credit for the manner in which they managed to unsettle the favourites, something that very few teams have managed to do since Ballygarvan have become the team to beat in the division.
Despite bossing the first ten minutes, the favourites kicked four wides, a product of over-complicating things at times and failing to use the towering Joe Spillane at full forward to good effect. Although, a degree of credit is due to Shane Barry who marshalled Spillane very well.
Carrig’ hit the front with two points in a minute from their best player on the night Craig Neville. Neville was central to their cause all through and ended up with a fine tally of five points.
Ballygarvan responded well and with Steven White working tirelessly at midfield, had four points in a seven minute spell, two from the boot of Donal Sweeney, while the Spillane brothers Ger and Joe both had one each.
The latter was then moved out to centre forward where he enjoyed a bit more freedom and with his next touch he landed a beauty from 40 meters on 29 minutes. Ger made it double scores just on half time when he curled over a similarly smashing score.
The second half was more of the same with Carrigaline refusing to lie down, time and time again they bottled up red shirts and turned over ball. Neville made it a two point game again early on but the Spillane’s, particularly Ger, who thumped over a heroic point after gathering the kick out and galloping 60 meters, just managed to keep in front.
Donal Sweeney and Cormac Creed Nolan swapped frees before Ballygarvan reached into their deck and revealed the man of the match of last years divisional final. Gary White’s impact was swift and it was sweet, two successive monster kicks on 48 and 56 minutes respectively to settle the outcome. Neville got his final point with time running out to keep just a score in it but White had the final say with his third point in injury time.

Scorers for Ballygarvan: G White (0-2f), D Sweeney (0-3f), G Spillane, J Spillane (0-3) each.

Carrigaline: C Neville 0-5, C Creed-Nolan 0-2 (0-2f), J McCarthy 0-1.

Ballygarvan: J Murphy; A Murphy, A Butler, N Murphy; C O’Sullivan, S O’Leary, J Barron; G Spillane S White; M O’Riordan, D Sweeney, D O’Sullivan; J Browne, J Spillane, D Bouse.

Subs: G White for N Murphy (45), M Kenefick for J Browne (50).

Carrigaline: J O’Reilly; D Bagnell, S Barry, T O’Connor; A Noonan, S Corkery, J Cowhig; D Cotter, D O’Regan; A Nolan, C Creed-Nolan, J McCarthy; C Neville, M Doody, T O’Sullivan.

Subs: K Ahern for D Cotter (h/t).