Beaufort Seniors sponsored by Maurice Foley of MF Decorating travelled to Castlegregory to play the locals in the First Round of the Junior Championship on Sunday. The game was played in lovely summer conditions.
Castlegregory began well and had 3 points on the board inside the first 5 minutes but the Beaufort sideline moved quickly and made some positional changes which curbed the danger of Castlegregory’s corner-forward. Beaufort had Michael John O’Connor as an extra man as Castlegregory had a forward playing as an extra defender. Beaufort had a wide free before Francis Courtney had Beaufort’s first score-a free after a pick up off the ground was punished by referee Gordon Kerins. This was followed by a point from play from Ronan Murphy as Padraig O’Sullivan picked up a break at mid-field and put Ronan through. On 12 minutes good defensive play by James O’Reilly, Ger Hartnett saw Francis Courtney play a good ball into Danny Healy. Danny was fouled and Kevin O’Brien scored the resultant free. Three points a piece. Fergal Hallissey gave Beaufort the lead with a free on the 45. Beaufort fouled off the ball but were lucky to see the home side miss the free. Castlegregory had a point on 14 minutes and again Beaufort were lucky when a ball hit the cross-bar and earned a free-out. They had another chance of a goal but the ball was driven over the cross-bar. A ball won at mid-field by Fergal Hallissey laid off to Ronan Murphy who soloed through and scored a point to leave the minimum between the teams. Ronan won a throw-in, laid the ball off to Ger Hartnett and he set Francis Courtney in on goal but his shot was parried over the bar. Beaufort had 2 wides before a great fluent move saw Kevin O’Brien score from play. The final score of the half came from Micheal O’Sullivan who had replaced Niall O’Connor and after good work by Liam Carey and Ronan Murphy he scored a point from an acute angle to leave the half-time score Castlegregory 0-6 Beaufort 0-8.
Castlegregory had the first effort of the 2nd half but shot wide. Beaufort then hit a purple patch and scored some fine points. Kevin O’Brien scored a peach of a free out on the side-line after Danny Healy was fouled. Danny Healy was again fouled and Francis Courtney scored the free, ahead by 4 at this stage. Beaufort were really defending well in numbers and curtailed Castlegreorys attack. Francis Courtney had another point from play, Beaufort lost a free because of discent but Ronan won the throw up, laid off to James O’Reilly and Liam Carey put Francis Courtney through-5 points ahead. Beaufort worked a ball in from the end-line but a shot from Fergal Hallissey was saved and cleared. Another point for Beaufort, this time from Liam Carey after Ronan Murphy won a kick-out. They had another point from Fergal Hallissey after he picked up a bad clearance. Castlegregory then had their first score of the 2nd half on 15 minutes after Castlegregory made a good break from the back. Beaufort lost Ronan Murphy to injury after a fine game on county panellist Alan Fitzgerald. Ronan was replaced by Conor Breen. Beaufort drove on and Ger Hartnett and Liam Carey linked up with Francis Courtney for another point from play. Sean Foley replaced Danny Healy. Shane O’Sullivan picked up a short kick-out from Mike Moriarty, went on a fine solo run and was fouled. Kevin O’Brien duly scored the awarded free. Castlegregory had 3 points within 2 minutes-2 were frees, one a short kick-out punished. Another great point from Francis Courtney as he was at the end of a move involving Shane O’Sullivan and Nathan Breen. Patch O’Sullivan came on for Padraig Hartnett at this stage. The final action came from a free from Francis Courtney as he was fouled. Final score Castlegregory 0-11 Beaufort 0-17. Team and scorers: Mike Moriarty, Michael John O’Connor, Ger Hartnett (capt.) James O’Reilly, Padraig Hartnett, Nathan Breen, Shane O’Sullivan, Ronan Murphy (2 points), Fergal Hallissey (2 points-1 free), Francis Courtney (7 points-4 frees), Liam Carey (1 point), Padraig O’Sullivan, Niall O’Connor, Kevin O’Brien (4 points-3 frees), Danny Healy. Subs: Micheal O’Sullivan (1 point), Conor Breen, Sean Foley, Patch O’Sullivan, Padraig Hallissey, Jason Foley, Gary Tangney, Brendan Cronin, Darragh Coffey, Alan Courtney, Gary Coffey, Sean Fogarty (injured)
Beaufort G.A.A. match reports 