We travelled to Milltown on Monday last for Round 2 of the Championship against neighbours Ballynacaragy. On a fine evening for football it was our opponents who came away the victors with a two point win following a titanic battle.

Bun started this game well and dominated possession for the opening fifteen minutes. Mark Donnelly kicked the opening two points after being set up by Simon Moorehead and Barry O Mara respectively.

A Ballynacaragy goal mid way through the first half was a huge score for them as they started to assert their control at midfield. A two point effort together with a number of fine scores from play helped them to a 1:10 to 0:06 lead at half time. Two points from Barry O Mara and Ken Conroy respectively accounted for Bun’s scores. 

Ballynacaragy started the second half strongly and by the end of the third quarter they held an eleven point lead. Bun were never going to be beaten without a determined effort and so it proved. Over the last fifteen minutes they took charge of the game and ensured a pulsating finish to the game.

Simon Moorehead set up Donnelly for a goal to reduce the deficit to eight. This was quickly followed by a two pointed free from Barry O Mara. This momentum swing gave the Bun lads and their supporters a huge lift.

The introduction of Peter Tormey at half time was starting to pay dividends and he too got on the score sheet after a fine move. Another O Mara free followed and the deficit was down to four. A pair of Ballynacaragy points from a free and from play helped stem the tide but Bun responded again with a brilliant move which ended with Simon Moorehead firing low to the net.

A Moorehead effort was waved wide to the dismay of the Bun support as it looked to be clearly between the posts. Another O Mara score was cancelled out by a Ballynacaragy point but a huge two point effort from Ken Conroy left two in it with a minute to play. Try as they might Bun were unable to draw level and the final score read 1:17 to 2:12.

This was a very entertaining game and while Bun will be disappointed there was a lot of positives in the performance.

Footnote: Before the game a minutes silence was held in remembrance of Geraldine Murphy who passed away recently. 

Team: Liam Mitchell, Conor Newman, Simon Moorehead, Ronan Scally, Noel Yourell, John Kiernan, Matthew Hope, Enda Newman, Shane McGovern, Finian Newman, Brian Maguire, Luke Kiernan, Mark Donnelly, Barry O Mara & Ken Conroy. Subs: Peter Tormey for B. Maguire, Padraig Walsh for M. Hope, Eoin McGowan, Fintan Finnan, Jonny Nolan, Joe Tormey, Tommy Murphy, Gordon Medforth, Darragh Lyons, Aidan Finnan.