Baltinglass finish with a flourish to reach final

BALTINGLASS set up another county final date with arch-rivals Rathnew following a five-point win over St Patrick’s at Aughrim on Saturday (1-10 to 1-5).

St Patrick’s had a menacing looking full-forward line in Paul Earls, Dara O’Sullivan and Tommy Kelly but they were well shackled by Baltinglass in a match where both defences were dominant.

In the 25th minute John McGrath, floated a line ball from the right touchline into the goalmouth and full-forward Peadar Burke volleyed past the advancing St Patrick’s keeper Colm Byrne. That goal gave the Slaneysiders a 1-3 to 0-3 lead at the break and left the Wicklow town men chasing this match.

Midway through the second half St Patrick’s wing-forward David Smullen provided the clinical finish to a move involving his two corner-forwards Dara O’Sullivan and Tommy Kelly and his goal narrowed the gap to two points, 1-4 to 1-6, However Baltinglass finished strongly and points from John McGrath, Peadar Burke and Joey Kelly closed out this game.

In the county hurling championship, champions Carnew required a late rally to see off Kiltegan on Saturday (1-15 to 0-11) while in the other semi-final Glenealy impressed against Bray Emmets at Arklow (2-19 to 0-8), with football star Leighton Glynn scoring nine points.