Bennettsbridge hosted this Junior b North Hurling League game on a warm bright Easter Sunday afternoon. Bennettsbridge were quick off the mark with a point from a Kevin Brennan free within 40 seconds after John Muldowney pulled wild over Eddie Fitzgerald. Conaghy responded with a pointed free themselves Bill Murphy. However this was the last flag the visitors would raise until the 30^th minute. In this time the home side took total control winning every line of the field and taking some well worked scores. Another pointed free from Kevin Brennnan was followed by a nicely worked goal finished to the net by Richie Walsh. 2 further pointed dead balls from K Brennan was followed up with a nicely finished point from the left by the same player. 2 further points by Luke Dowling put the home side on 1-9 to a single score coming up to the half time whistle. Just before the break Conaghy scored 2 points from Niall Coogan and a free from Bill Murphy. The second half started with the Bridge again taking control with a lovely point from Micheal Shiel and another free from Kevin Brennan. Conaghy brought on 5 subs at half time but it was centre back Donal Brennan who got them off the mark with a 65 and a long range free in the 3^rd and 5^th minutes. Bennettsbridge were awarded a penalty after Aidan Byrne was brought down . Kevin Brennan was happy to tap the ball over the bar despite the encouragement from Conaghy full back Peter Harding standing on the goal line. Bennettsbridge brought on Tom Kiely for Richie Walsh after 12 minutes of the second half. Pointed frees were exchanged between Bill Murphy and Kevin Brennan before a well taken point from Shane Walsh who was one of the half time subs on the Conaghy side. This was followed by a second Bridge goal which was finished to the net by Aidan Byrne or Tom Kiely (both denied getting it) after a good save from John Byrne in the Conaghy goal. Bennettsbridge brought on further subs for the last 6 minutes and this reaped its own reward with Willie Duggan taking a very nice point straight away. In fairness to Conaghy they kept plugging away and another nice point from Shane Walsh was the result of hard work by their defence. A further pointed free from K Brennan was quickly followed by a well finished point from another sub Ronan O’Connor for the Bridge boys. This was the final score of a game where the result was never in doubt after the first quarter. This result gives the Bridge boys full points after 2 games and with a very young panel and some hard work the year could reap some rewards for this team following on from their victory in the Joe Walsh Cup last year.

The teams were Bennettsbridge. Ben Tynan, Paul O’Neill, Shane Nolan, Bill O’Neill, Michael Power, Shane Byrne, Eddie Murphy, Eddie Fitzgerald, Micheal Shiel(0-2), Luke Dowling(0-2), Patrick O’Neill(0-1), Kevin Brennan(0-10 1-65, 1 pen, 6 frees, 2 play.), Dylan Walsh, Richie Walsh(1-1), Aidan Byrne(1-0). Subs Tom Kiely , Ronan O’Connor(0-1), Joe Murphy, Brian O’Neill, William Duggan(0-1) . Conaghy. John Byrne, Padraig Conway, Peter Harding, David Maher, Owen Fitzpatrick, Donal Brennan(0-2, 1- 65, 1-free), Tom Mullan, Tom O’Shea, Niall Coogan(0-1), Michael Bergin, John Muldowney, Bill Murphy(0-3 frees), Tom Nolan, Sean Brennan, Jack Kelly. Subs Shane Walsh(0-2), David Kennedy, Colm Healy(0-1), David Maher,