Published: Wednesday, 27th January, 2010 4:15pm

Brady blasts Ballinahown to victory in goal fest amid the fog

Ballinahown 8 Cavan Utd 4

BALLINAHOWN cruised into the second round of the Michael Dolan Division 1 Cup last Sunday, disposing of a rather disorganised Cavan Utd on an extremely foggy and bitingly cold morning at Ballinahown Sports Ground.

With a thick fog descending over Athlone and its surrounding areas on Sunday morning, there was huge doubt about whether this game would even go ahead, but referee Aidan Sherlock decided to proceed, despite the difficulty in seeing clearly from one end of the field to the other.

But Ballinahown, who raced into a 5-1 lead before half-time, thanks largely to the skill and endeavour of striker Cian Brady, will be glad the game got the thumbs-up, and will now be hopeful of getting a good run in the Michael Dolan Cup.

The opposition, Cavan Utd, are a poor side, though, and operate out of the CCFL Division 1 Saturday, a league which includes the likes of Ballymahon and Cavan Town, so Ballinahown will not be getting carried away by this resounding victory.

After just five minutes, Ballinahown threatened the Cavan goal, when Kevin Gaylard's 25-yard free kick was pushed away by visiting 'keeper Joseph McDermott. But the home side took the lead a minute later. Dermot Kelly did brilliantly down the left wing and got himself into a good crossing position. His centre was met from six yards by the impressive and quick-heeled Brady, who managed to force the ball past McDermott despite the attentions of a couple of Cavan defenders.

Cavan's first attempt at goal came three minutes later when Martin O'Hanlon shrugged off Colin Harrington, but his low drive went harmlessly wide of Darren Costello's goal.

The visitors undeservedly found themselves level in the 12th minute when Shaun Reilly's free kick from just outside the Ballinahown area took a wicked deflection off the defensive wall and gave Costello no chance.

But Ballinahown quickly regained full control of the contest and Gaylard was narrowly off target with a fine header. Philip Hogan, a composed player at the back for Ballinahown, then drove an effort narrowly wide as the pressure built.

And Ballinahown were back in front on 26 minutes. Jeffrey Farrell, who was leading the frontline well, forced the ball into the path of Brady and he neatly tucked his effort past McDermott.

It was now chance after chance for Ballinahown, with Gaylard shooting over the top from distance and Brady unlucky as he tried to set up Farrell. Harrington also went close after Brady swung over a delightful free kick from the right wing.

A third goal arrived for Ballinahown on 33 minutes. Ray Feeney burst through the Cavan defence down the left flank and his low cross was turned home from close range by Ollie Nally.

Four minutes later, Farrell had the ball in the Cavan net but an offside decision ruled his effort out. Brady completed his hat-trick in the 40th minute, netting with a clinical finish after a well-worked team move, and Cavan were now losing any semblance of shape and discipline they might have had at the outset.

Brady's pace and liveliness was an ever-present threat to Cavan, and he almost manufactured a chance for Farrell, but on this occasion the Cavan defence managed to avert the danger. Rory Fitzmaurice grabbed Ballinahown's fifth goal just before the break, capitalising on a mistake by McDermott, and clipping the ball into an unguarded net from just inside the Cavan penalty area.

Tony Brady could have got one back seconds before the interval but missed his kick at the back post.

On 49 minutes, Cian Brady found himself in a great position inside the Cavan box, but chose the wrong option with three team mates in excellent positions to receive a pass.

Niall Kelly's lofted free kick then picked out Gaylard, who timed his run into the box perfectly, but his first touch went astray and straight into the arms of McDermott.

On 53 minutes, Cavan made it 5-2 against the run of play when O'Hanlon converted a through ball by Brady.

But Ballinahown immediately killed off any thoughts of a Cavan comeback, when Nally slid in at the back post to expertly convert Feeney's left wing cross.

The fog actually became thicker as the game wore on but Ballinahown continued to create chances. Gaylard crossed from the right flank and Feeney's downward header almost found the net, before substitute Josh Buckley set up Brady but his effort crashed against the upright.

Ballinahown then took their eye off the ball for a brief period, allowing Declan Smith to make it 6-3 with a well-taken free kick on 72 minutes.

Four minutes later, Tony Brady made it 6-4 after bulldozing his way through the Ballinahown defence and finishing neatly past Costello.

However, two late goals by Farrell and Gaylard, the latter of which was taken with great poise, saw Ballinahown over the finishing line with some ease. The visitors were also reduced to ten men late on when O'Hanlon was dismissed for a couple of shows of dissent.

Ballinahown: Darren Costello; Rory Fitzmaurice, Dermot Kelly, Philip Hogan, Colin Harrington, Niall Kelly, Ollie Nally, Kevin Gaylard, Jeffrey Farrell, Cian Brady, Ray Feeney. Subs: Josh Buckley for Nally (65 mins), Conor Flynn for Kelly (69), Alan Egan for Feeney (69), Johnny Killian for Brady (82).

Cavan Utd: Joseph McDermott; Rory O'Hanlon, Declan Smith, Tony Brady, Michael Soska, Darren Humphries, Declan Conroy, Brian Mitchell, Shaun Reilly, Martin O'Hanlon, Daniel Sheridan.

Referee: Aidan Sherlock.