Ballysaggart back on the title trial thanks to Bennett brothers
Shane and Kieran Bennett played pivotal roles for Ballysaggart along with their other brother Stephen as they beat Dunhill. The Bennett's scored an impressive 5-10 out of their side's final tally of 5-14. Photo: INPHO/Ken Sutton
With all three Bennett brothers back on board Ballysaggart served notice in Lemybrien on Saturday last that they are back in title contention as they proved too strong for a Dunhill side much changed from that which competed at senior level over the past few years.
With Shane Bennett shooting 3-3 as top scorer and Stephen and Kieran notching 2-7 between them the brothers accounted for all but four points of their side’s total but it was not all plain sailing as Dunhill competed strongly in general play when aided by the breeze in the first half but shooting a total of ten wides saw them trailing on a score of 2-6 to 1-3 on the halftime whistle.
Early goals in the 4th and 8th minutes by Shane Bennett set the pace for Ballysaggart as the impressive John Groves kept Dunhill in it with a few excellent points from play. An outfield delivery from Aaron Foran went all the way to the net to keep Dunhill in it but they were always going to face an uphill battle in the second half when facing the strong wind.
The Eastern side could not have hoped for a better start on the resumption as the impressive John Groves sent over three unanswered points in as many minutes. That was as good as it was going to get however as Kieran Bennett struck for his goal in the 34th minute for a 3-6 to 1-6 lead. From then on the issue was never in doubt despite the best efforts of Groves to keep Dunhill in the game. Stephen Bennett was sending over the points and had his side’s fourth goal in the 49th minute with Shane Bennett following on with his third major to confirm an impressive win.
That is not to say that this win was all down to the Bennetts for this Ballysaggart team has a nice balance about it with young players coming through.
The breakup of the alliance with Bunmahon has hit Dunhill but more so has the absence of their top scorers of recent years Eamonn Murphy and Shane Casey. Without Murphy in particular they will struggle to retain Premier status despite the best efforts of such as John Groves, Darryl Swift, Eoghan Casey and Jamie Burns.
Shane Bennett 3-3, Stephen Bennett 1-5 (1-3Fs,0-1 ‘65’) Kieran Bennett 1-2, Chris O’Gorman and Kyle Bennett 0-2 each.
John Groves 0-8 (4Fs), Aaron Foran 1-0, Eoghhan Casey and Adam Greene 0-1 each.
Michael Ryan, Liam O’Gorman, Darren Meagher, Eoin O’Brien, John Roche, Sam Ryan, BaSubs – Sean Nugent and Kenneth Cashel.rry Murphy, Caileann O’Gorman, Kieran Bennett, Ronan Walsh, Shane Bennett, Kyle Bennett, Stephen Bennett, Chris O’Gorman, Shane Bennett Jnr.
Donal Carey, Frank Kavanagh, Darryl Swift, Dylan Colfer, Damien Burns, Eoghan Casey, Darraqgh Murray, Adam Green, Sean Kavanagh, Cillian Bonner, John Groves, Aaron Foran, Tommy Griffin, Jamie Burns, Ben Gallagher.
Michael O’Brien (Portlaw).
