Blues Off To A Flyer

 Our Senior side got off to a winning start in the Football League Division 1 over the weekend defeating County Champions Palatine in there own back yard on Sunday evening . The full time score read 1-10 to 1-09 but it was a game in which the one point defeat flattered Pal a little as the Blues dominated the game from start to finish . Pal opened the scoring after 3 minutes through a well taken David Reid point but the Blues responded from the kick out  Ray Walker won the ball at the middle of the field off loaded to Lee Walker who in return set Danny Thompson away Danny was hauled down 14 metres from goal and Graham Power pointed the resulting free to level the scores . On 13 minutes the Blues lead 0-03 to 0-01 after a brace of Danny Thompson points however Pal did respond through a Shane O Neill free after three minutes later  . Then came the games crucial score Graham Delaney picked the ball up out around the middle of the field and drove straight at the Palatine defence before rifling the ball past Craig Kearney to the net . Palatine next score came through a pointed free but the Blues finished the half the stronger a Graham Power pointed free and a Delaney point from play left the Blues in a commanding 1-05 to 0-03 lead at the break . The second half began the same way the first ended with Graham Delaney and Ray Walker on top at midfield and Lee Walker and Simon Doyle winning plenty of dirty ball around the middle . Palatine had a great chance to get back into the game when Ciaran Moran found himself one on one with Blues keeper Fionn Kehoe however Fionn dived low to his left to deny Moran and keep the Blues commanding lead in tact . Danny Thompson pointed a free after been pulled down himself in the 43rd minute to leave the scores the Blues 1-06 Palatine 0-04 with just over 15 minutes remaining. Graham Power converted a free just a minute later before Big Daryll Hayden kicked the score of the game Hayden was fed the ball low which he won about 40 metres from the Pal goal he held off his man while cutting in from the right and let fly off his big size 14 left boot the ball seemed to hang for an eternity but there was no doubt where it would land but straight over the blackspot on the crossbar . Palatine responded.with a score from play themselves but as soon as they did a quickly worked free found Lee Walker in space and Fester done what he does best and blasted the ball straight over the bar . The Blues then had a great chance to finish the game off but a well worked move found Joe Lea on his own at the back post but Joes handling let him down at the last minute when a goal wouldve been to seal the game . Danny Thompson pointed a free to finish the scoring for the Blues on 52 minutes and in that last 10 minutes Palatine did kick an unanswered 1-04 as the Blues lads tired saying that Pals goal was fortunate as a high ball in hit the post and fell straight into Ciaran Morans arms who couldn't miss from 8 yards out.. The lads dug deep and held out for what was a much deserved win and I'm sure new manager Brian Lonergan will be delighted with the way the lads performed in his first game in charge . Next up for the lads is a home game this Sunday in the Deerpark against Tinryland throw in at 6.30 pm we hope to see everyone there to drive the boys on to another win .