Ballinamore cruise past Melvin Gaels in Connacht Gold Leitrim SFC

First half goal by Michael McKiernan & Brian Leyden enabled Ballinamore to have a facile 21 point win  over winless Melvin Gaels in strong windy conditions with a light first half shower at Páirc Sheáin Uí Eslin in Saturday's Connacht Gold SFC  round game.

Despite a battling performance, Melvin Gaels only matched Ballinamore for the opening quarter as Ballinamore took control early in the second quarter after Michael McKiernan whipped over a two pointer. The Ballinamore men's big win lifts them up to third place in the table behind leaders Leitrim Gaels and Fenagh St. Caillins and ahead of Glencar Manor thanks to the head to head result while Melvin Gaels look destined for the relegation final.

Once Ballinamore got motoring, the team's performance grew impressively and confidently. Ballinamore went on to build up their points difference advantage with relative ease against probably the weakest of the eight teams in the championship. Ballinamore will travel to take on St. Mary's while Melvin Gaels will entertain Fenagh St. Caillin's in the final round of games.

Michael McKiernan, Brian Leyden and Tom Prior impressed for Ballinamore while Cillian McGloin, Kieran Clancy and Joe McGloin never gave up for Melvin Gaels. However it was Paul Honeyman's performance that stole the show.

Melvin Gaels made a bright start and claimed a two points lead in the first two minutes with  Joe McGloin splitting the posts twice from play and a placed ball.

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Ballinamore opened their account with a Paul Honeyman free after Melvin Gaels Cillian McGloin was penalised for taking too many steps and two minutes later Michael McKiernan levelled the proceedings. O'Heslins got their noses in front for the first time when Tom Prior split the uprights with an 8th minute effort.

Shortly afterwards a Brian Leyden Ballinamore piledriver hit the crossbar and Tom Prior was on hand to pick up the rebound and add another point for his side.

Melvin Gaels managed to get on level terms thanks to a well hit Jack Ronayne two pointer on 11 minutes and they got their noses back in front three minutes later after Micheál Ferguson whipped over a two pointer free that was awarded for a foul on Cillian McGloin.

Michael McKiernan saw a goal  disallowed for a 'square ball' infringement but Paul Moran reduced the Gaels lead to the minimum when fired over a 17th minute point. Two minutes later a McKiernan two pointer from play put Ballinamore into a lead they would not relinquish as McKiernan found the net when getting Ballinamore's first 'legal' goal. 

Ballinamore stretched their lead when Paul Honeyman converted a 21st minute free with Cillian McGloin replied with a point within a minute. Ballinamore finished the half with a flourish with Brian Leyden palming home a well worked move to the Gaels net.

Paul Honeyman whipped over a point that put Ballinamore into a 2-9 to 0-7 halftime lead. the early second half action saw  Leyden and Joe McGloin swapped points but a Paul Honeyman 35th minute goal put O'Heslins into a commanding 11 point and the game further out of Melvin Gaels reach. 

Shortly after, Honeyman increased his side's lead further from a placed ball while Tom Prior also chipped in with a point to give his team a 13 point advantage with only seven minutes played in the second half.

Melvin Gaels, to their credit, never gave up and Conor Sheridan fired to the Ballinamore net shortly afterwards when he tried to initiate a fight back for the Kinlough men. After that Joe McGloin converted a 40th minute Melvin Gaels free that reduced his side's deficit with Ballinamore to nine points.

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Ballinamore switched their game up several gears again with Paul Honeyman and Tom Prior splitting the Melvin Gaels posts over the next two minutes. In reply Joe McGloin tapped over a 44th minute Melvin Gaels two pointer free, which again reduced his side's deficit with Ballinamore to nine points.

However McGloin's two pointer free proved to be Melvin Gaels last score as Ballinamore went on to take complete command in the final quarter. Paul Honeyman rattled the Melvin Gaels net twice in succession and added a point from a free while Tom Prior also split the uprights.

BALLINAMORE SEAN O'HESLINS

Scorers: Paul Honeyman 3-7, 5f; Michael McKiernan 1-3, 1 tp; Tom Prior 0-5; Brian Leyden 1-1; Paul Moran 0-1

Team: Darren Maxwell; Conor Moran, Brian Banks, Mathew Murphy; Paddy Connaughton, Keelan McHugh, Cathal McHugh; Donal Feely, Wayne McKeon; Paul Moran, Michael McKiernan, Paul Honeyman; Luke Murphy, Tom Prior, Brian Leyden. Subs: Liam Ferguson for K McHugh (36); Naoise McManus for Connaughton (45); Killian Maguire for Banks (48); Shane Murphy for McKiernan (55); Danny Smith for Moran (57)

MELVIN GAELS

Scorers: Joe McGloin 0-6, 5f; Conor Sheridan 1-0; Jack Ronayne (tp) & Micheál Ferguson (2f) 0-2 each; Cillian McGloin 0-1

Team: David Cleary, Mathew San Pedro, Kieran Clancy, Conall McGowan, Shane McGloin, Liam Ryan, Jamie Moore; Conor Sheridan Cillian McGloin; J.J. Lipsett, Micheál Ferguson, Philip McGowan; Sean McSharry, Joe McGloin, Jack Ronayne. Subs: Sean Carolan Morris for P McGowan (35); Ben Higgins for Ferguson (37); Paddy McGowan for Sheridan (39); Jamie Curran for McSharry (55); Daithi McGloin for C McGowan (56)

REFEREE: Kevin Mallon