O’Callaghan toast of Ballylanders

A SUPERB exhibition of scoring by Kieran O’Callaghan powered Ballylanders to a comfortable victory over favourites Drom Broadford in a one-sided Limerick SFC final played before an attendance of 2,200 at the Gaelic Grounds yesterday.

This was far from a one man show, however. Patrick Fox, when moved from centre to full-back to mark Drom danger man Miceal Reidy, did an excellent job while Liam Martin and Tom Fox were other defenders to playing starring roles.

Many of Drom’s big names failed to measure up, and only Gareth Noonan, Sean Buckley and Miceal Reidy can look back with any degree of satisfaction.

Ballylanders were full value for their half-time lead; 1-6 to 1-2.

Ballylanders continued to dictate on the changeover and after Drom kicked two wides in a row, Ballylanders, with Mike O’Brien starring, stretched their lead with two points from O’Callaghan.

It took Drom 31 minutes to register a score, a Michael Reidy point from a free — their only score for the second half.

Drom’s cause wasn’t helped by the sending off of corner back Anthony Donnelly for a second yellow card offence.

Scorers for Ballylanders: K. O’Callaghan 1-7 (1-4 frees); J. Murphy 1-1; JB Murphy 0-2 (frees); T. Fox, W. Kelly, M. Mansell 0-1 each.

Drom Broadford: M. Reidy 1-1; P. Donnelly 0-1 (free).

BALLYLANDERS: D. O’Connor; L. Martin, Shane Fox, S. Walsh; C. McSweeney, P. Fox, T. Fox; W. Kelly, Stephen Fox; J. B. Murphy, M. O’Brien, J. Murphy; M. Mansell, D. Murphy, K. O’Callaghan.

Subs: D. Dineen for JB Murphy; E. Walsh for Mansell; M. Fox for T. Fox.

DROM BROADFORD: E. Scollard; M. Clancy, D. O’Leary, A. Donnelly; S. Buckley, T. McLoughlin, N. Clancy; M. O’Sullivan, G. Noonan; J. O’Kelly, R. Lynch, P. Donnelly; J. Ryan, M. Reidy, G. Egan.

Sub: D. McCarthy for J. Ryan.

Referee, D. Richardson (Murroe/Boher).