O’rourke runs amok against poor Barrowsiders

WICKLOW 2-12 CARLOW 0-06

THE U-21 footballers continues their hectic schedule of matches on Tuesday night when they travelled to the Palatine GAA grounds to take on Carlow in the first round of a tournament run by the Barrowsiders.

While Wicklow were not at full strength for this match they still turned in a good performance, led all the way and ran out good winners.

Paddy O'Rourke got us off to a good start with a smart point in the second minute but it was his Dunlavin name sake Shane O'Rourke that really got the show on the road with a smashing goal in the fourth minute.

Darragh O'Brien got Carlow off the mark when he pointed a free but then An Tochar's Paddy Crowley powered his way through a bewildered defence to fairly test the riggings of the net. While O'Brien pulled back the deficit again when he pointed his second free Wicklow still went in with a comfortable lead at half time - 2-5 to 0-2.

Nothing much changed in the second half even though the Wicklow selectors began to bring on their reserve players. Eoin Devlin stormed into the game in the half forward line, scoring two good points.

The unrelated O'Rourke boys continued to torment the home defence while Shane Hogan and Theo Smith remained on top at centre field.

John Manley had another good game at full back while goalie Paul Miley handled what ever came his way.

The unrelated O'Brien's and Aaron Murphy looked good in the half backline while P.J.O'Keeffe, Phillip Murphy and James Kelly also had their moments.

It could be dangerous to read too much into this result as Carlow looked a moderate enough team on the night.

Wicklow - Paul Miley (Valleymount), Jamie Snell, John Manley (Rathnew), Jimmy Kelly (Dunlavin); Aaron Murphy (Bray E), Ross O'Brien (Rathnew), Martin O'Brien (Annacurra); Theo Smith (Rathnew)(0-01); Shane Hogan (Tinahely)(0-01); Eoin Devlin (Blessington) (0-02), Paddy Crowley (An Tochar)(1-00), Paddy O'Rourke (Tinahely) (0-02); P.J. O'Keeffe (Hollywood) (0-01), Phillip Murphy (Rathnew), Shane O'Rourke (Dunlavin) (1-04).

Subs: Alan Daly (Donard)(0-01), Phillip O'Connor (Newcastle), Michael Mangan (StratfordGrangecon), Joey Doyle (Ashford).