Ould Belvedere defeated Ballinahinch 56-10 in the League of All Ireland on Saturday. The hosts opened their campaign with a commanding victory in front of a sell-out crowd. Ballinahinch had nothing to show for their first outing.
By then the gap was already unbridgeable. The hosts never got going in the first half and were never asked a question after that. Things came to a head when the old head settled them down, but there was nothing to settle at this stage. The visitors saw it out without mounting any real pressure.
The standings now tell their own story. Ould Belvedere sit top of the table with one game, one win, and four points. Ballinahinch occupy seventh place after a single defeat and zero points. The hosts are closing in on a deal with momentum on their side.
Recent form makes the contrast stark. Ould Belvedere last played on September 26th, winning 47-14 against Young Munster. Ballinahinch lost 24-39 to USID on the same date, though they have played more games in previous seasons against College University Cork and Clontarf.
Cup football has its own rules, but league football rewards consistency. The hosts will be confident after two straight wins, while the visitors have work to do. A fourth straight win is possible if they find their feet soon enough.
