Bagenalstown Gaels 4-22
Naomh Brid 3-10
Eddie Scally's charges followed up their Bolger Cup win with his Bagenalstown Gaels side's rampant scoring burst either side of half time the ultimate difference in their 1st round SHC battle with Naomh Brid.
Scally who is aiming to follow on from leading Black and Whites to the Kilkenny JHC last year prevailed easily in the end over the Willie O' Shaughnessy led men in maroon.
Naomh Brid showed 2 changes with the injured Niall Roche and Zack Kelly replaced by Shane Kirwan and Dylan Kavanagh while Bagenalstown Gaels started as selected.
The opening exchanges in Netwatch Training Centre in Fenagh were of an even variety, Fiach O'Toole getting the scoreboard moving from a placed ball soon to be cancelled out by the impressive Paddy McDonnell.
Dylan Kavanagh (a big loss later from injury replaced by Kelly) from close range restored the lead for Naomh Brid before the Gaels middle third dominance with wind assistance creating a platform for accurate ball in to a forward line who were causing problems for the Naomh Brid rearguard with Craig Doyle punishing any indiscretions.
3 times he raised the white flag from frees , bookending points from the returning Jason Wall (B/G) and debutante Shane Kirwan (NB) for a 0-6 to 0-3 lead for last year's losing finalists with 20 minutes on the clock before Aaron Amond took advantage literally of no linesmen at the venue.
The ball gone out for a Naomh Brid sideline some 10 seconds earlier in the play but with no one in charge of the flag just 2 weeks on from the high profile All Ireland preliminary Quarter final and following Carlow's never to be forgotten win in the Joe McDonagh was just beggars belief and not fair to either team, club, Patrick Murphy or the supporters in attendance.
Amond nonetheless took the advantage after being fouled to finish past Andrew Townsend for the equaliser at 1-3 to 0-6.
A potential turning point and controversial at that it acted as a spur to drive on the Town with 1-8 being chalked to their account in the 12 remaining minutes of the half.
Paddy Mc with the goal, John Murphy's point for Naomh Brid smothered by Danny and Jake Doyle with a brace each, 3 points from the unmarkable McDonnell and a Styler free for good measure left it 1-14 to 1-4 at half time making full use of the wind.
Paddy Salt had hardly time to get his bearings before he was waving the green flag from Jake Doyle's close range finish some 15 seconds in.
Mikey Bambrick then showed a clean pair of heels at the other end with Townsend helpless as the top corner of the net rattled for 2-14 to 2-4.
Mark McDonald having dropped back in John Murphy's vicinity since half time meant both teams had a bit extra cover defensively in the respective half lines anyway, but any lingering thoughts of a Naomh Brid comeback soon got their answer.
Jason Wall and another Styler free before the youngest of the Páirc Mhuire Doyle's , Jake netted goals 2 and 3 for himself , clinical in the extreme , with Milky now having joined the fray as a sub.
We also saw an impressive cameo from Robbie Kane who knocked 2 points over suggesting he wants a lower jersey than 24 the next day.
Fiach O' Byrne, Colin Byrne and Sean Raftry were now seeing game time for Naomh Brid also who had gone down to 14 with Shane Kirwan receiving a 2nd yellow.
The eventual losers kept plugging away, Aaron Amond with 2 from play and a goal from a close in free kept scores on the move with Jake Doyle from a free, Kealan Guidera, Styler with 2 more dead balls responding for the Town.
Adam Dunne with a fine point and the consistent Fiach O Toole scored near the end.
The points went to an impressive Bagenalstown Gaels, their next outing a repeat of last year's semi final with MLR in NCP, with Naomh Brid and St Mullins facing off in Fenagh Training Centre. Both those games are on Friday.
Scorers:
Bagenalstown Gaels: Jake Doyle 3-4 ( 0-2f ), Paddy McDonnell 1-4, Craig Doyle (0-6f), Jason Wall 0-2, Danny Doyle 0-2, Robbie Kane 0-2, Darragh Nolan (0-1f ), Kealan Guidera 0-1
Naomh Brid: Aaron Amond 2-2 (1-0f), Fiach O' Toole 0-4 (0-2f), Mikey Bambrick 1-0, Dylan Kavanagh 0-1, Shane Kirwan 0-1, John Murphy 0-1 Adam Dunne 0-1
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