Mill Celtic 4

Baltinglass Town 2

Mill Celtic entertained local rivals Baltinglass in Ballitore this morning in an early season top of the table clash, with both sides looking to carry on their unbeaten runs.

The home side settled the better with the midfield partnership of Alan Norton and James Fahey imposing themselves in the opening quarter. The opener arrived after 12 minutes when Shane Molloy played a good ball over the top to find Aaron Kennedy and he fired home with the outside of his left foot. Baltinglass to their credit bossed the next ten minutes before Shane Lennon grabbed a deserved equaliser with a perfectly placed free kick from 25 yards. The remainder of the half was an even affair with both sides cancelling each other out and the score remained one all at the break.

Mill started the second half much like they did the first and regained the lead after 54 minutes when Andrew Baldwin found himself one on one with the visiting goalkeeper and calmly slid home. Andrew Baldwin and twin brother James were getting through a mountain of work and their enterprise was rewarded after 60 minutes when a deep cross from the left was met by Aaron Kennedy who thumped a volley home to double Mill’s lead. The game looked safe at this stage but the visitors had other ideas and hauled themselves back into contention with ten minutes to go when another direct free kick by Shane Lennon found the top corner. Mill showed great character to dig in and the back four who were well marshalled by goalkeeper Maher stood firm. The game was finally sealed in the last minute when a throw in from the left was brilliantly flicked on by Eoin O’Neill and the ball found its way to Kennedy who poked home to put the icing on the cake.

Best for the Ballitore men on the day were the Baldwin brothers, Alan Norton and hat-trick hero Kennedy. Best for Baltinglass were Shane Lennon, Steven Heaslip and Ross Nolan.