Pearses 1-18 Mountbellew-Moylough 0-6: This local derby was unique as it seen brothers John and Martin Raftery in opposition, as the Managers of both teams! Pearses controlled proceedings from the beginning and never looked like losing. A first half blitz of points opened a half-time lead of 0-14 to 0-4. The second half was played at as slow pace, as the game came to its inevitable conclusion.
After 15 minutes Pearses lead Mountbellew-Moylough by 0-8 to 0-2, with Lee Murphy accurate from frees and Aidan Kilkenny and Robbie Donnellan chipping in from play. Noel McDonagh was Mountbellew-Moylough’s best player scoring both their points. The second quarter went much the same way as the first with Donnellan and Murphy scores from frees and play. Darragh Kelly and Conor O’Grady (2) also added their names to the scoresheet.
Mountbellew-Moylough started the second half well and were first off the mark with another McDonagh point, but Pearses took control again outscoring Mountbellew-Moylough 1-4 to 0-1 in the remaining 23 minutes. Ronan Skehill was the pick of the forwards in the second-half, with 1-1, Donnellan, Kilkenny and Conor O’Grady the other point scorers.
Captain Pandamp;aacute;iric Raftery, Damien Wynne, Lee Murphy (until retiring at half-time), Robbie Donnellan and Conor O’Grady were best for Pearses. This was the Junior B’s first Championship game of the year. Group games remaining to be played are against Moycullen, Oranmore-Maree, Ballinasloe, Ahascragh-Fohenagh and Kilconieron, all to be ployed at neutral venues.
Pearses: Paul O’Brien; Paul Lally, Pairic Raftery (C), John Jenkins; Leo Morrissey, Damien Wynne (0-1), Brendan Egan; Niall Skehill, Paul Moore; Lee Murphy (0-6), Aidan Kilkenny (0-2), Robbie Donnellan (0-4); Darragh Kelly (0-1), Ronan Skehill (1-1), Conor O’Grady (0-3). Subs used: Niall Gelston, Thomas Broderick, John Lally, Gerry Dywer, Gary Hennelly.