Galway champs claim title

Ballinasloe 0-14 Kenmare 0-10:Their team jerseys didn't make it to Croke Park – but Ballinasloe didn't let the mishap upset them as they collected the AIB All-Ireland junior club football title in Croke Park yesterday.

Club sponsors, the Carlton Shearwater Hotel, missed out on their moment on the big stage as the Galway champions were forced to borrow the jerseys of Dublin club Na Fianna for their All-Ireland bid.

The panic didn’t distract the Ballinasloe players, however, and barring a little flurry when Kenmare scored four points in a row to lead 0-4 to 0-2, they were in control and led for most of the game.

Ballinasloe were deserving champions and scored nine points in a row as they held Kenmare scoreless for 26 minutes.

On top in midfield with a limitless supply of ball going in to their forwards, five of their six starting forwards had scored from play within 24 minutes.

Former Kerry senior player Paul O’Connor scored 0-3 from play in the opening quarter, but he had little support.

Ballinasloe led by 0-7 to 0-4 at half-time and were good value for it.

BALLINASLOE: N King; E Fenton, D Nevin, J Shaughnessy (0-1); N Hynes, K Kelly (0-3, 3f), S Kenny; L Lynch (0-1, 1f), L Tierney; D Burke (0-1), P Cunningham (0-2), G Canavan (0-1); D McCormack (0-2), M Colohan, P Whelehan (0-3). Subs: C Casey for Kenny (53 mins), S O’Brien for Harrington (54 mins), S Cogavin for Colohan (56 mins).

KENMARE SHAMROCKS: H Murphy; D Crowley, T O’Sullivan, C O’Sullivan; A O’Callaghan, S O’Leary (0-1), A Crowley; S Dalton, J Wharton; R O’Sullivan, M Crowley, A O’Leary; DJ Brennan (0-4, 3f), P O’Connor (0-5, 1f), K O’Sullivan. Subs: S Duncan for A Crowley (21 mins), P O’Dwyer for R O’Sullivan (26 mins), S Harrington for Dalton (45 mins). Referee: Ciaran Branagan (Down)