Ballykelly 1-04 Cappagh 2-12

Our Joe Mallon Motors sponsored Senior Footballers picked uo their first two points of the league campaign with a comfortable victory away to Ballykelly on Good Friday evening.

Cappagh were in control for most of the game, but it was only in the last 15 minutes that they made their superiority show on the scoreboard against the home side who were playing their 1st competitive game of the year.

Cappagh were down a few regulars due to injury but you couldn't tell as they played with pace and confidence from the start.

The game was notable in that it saw Peter Warren and Glen Carter make their 1st league starts and also saw the welcome return of Oisin O'Cuill from London.

Cappagh hit the front from a free from Thomas Jackman and a point from play from Jack Mulligan following good link up play with Glen Carter. Jack then kicked a second score following a good ball in from Thomas. The Ballykelly backline were struggling to get to grips with Jack, who won a ball at the corner flag, came in along the end line played a one two before finishing to the net to put Cappagh in control at 1 03 to 0 00.

Cappagh were defending well and following a turnover moved the ball swiftly up the field to Jack who was fouled, and kicked the resulting free over the bar.

Cappagh then lost Peter Warren who had started well, to an injury to be replaced by the returning Oisin OCuill.

Ballykelly got their first score from an impressive free off the ground from 45m into the breeze. They followed this up with a second point form play from a tight angle.

Halftime. Cappagh 1 04 Ballykelly 0 02

James Grogan replaced Cillian Devine at midfield for the 2nd half.

From the throw in Ballykelly drove forward a won a free which they converted.

Jack Mulligan opened the Cappagh scoring in the 2nd half with a point from a mark.

Ballykelly playing with greater determination responded with a score from play, to leave the score Cappagh 1 05 Ballykelly 0 04. From the kickout Cappagh went forward and James Grogan found Jack with a long ball who finished in style off his left foot for another point.

However Ballykelly were back in the game when an attempted point from a free fell short and ended up in the Cappagh net to leave just two points in it despite Cappagh's dominance.

Stung by the concession of the goal Cappagh responded with two points from frees from Jaxy, the second after a foul on Eoin Barclay which resulted in a Ballykelly blackcard.

Cappagh were defending well now and not giving anything away at the back. Shane Harris relaced Brendan Sheridan at full forward with 10 minutes left on the clock. Further points from Jack Mulligan, Thomas Jackman (2 frees) and David Lovely stretched the Cappagh lead to 8 points before Glen Carter got on the end of a good team move to finish to the net for the final score of the game.

Final Score Ballykelly 1 04 Cappagh 2 12

Cappagh team and scorers;

Dylan Whelan, Alan Duff, Alvin Galligan, Peter Warren, Oisin Farrell, Iarla Nolan, Glen Carter, David Lovely (0-1), Cillian Devine, Patrick Jackman, Thomas Jackman (0-5f), Eoin Barclay, Jack Mulligan (1-6 (1f,1m) , Brendan Sheridan, Brian Kelly. Subs, Oisin O'Cuill for Peter Warren, James Grogan for Cillian Devine, Shane Harris for Brendan Sheridan.