Stratford-Grangecon return to summit with tough victory in Shillelagh

STRATFORD-GRANGECON 3-07 SHILLELAGH 1-05 STRATFORD-GRANGECON battled their way back to the top of the table in Division 2 of the SFL with this good, but hard earned, win over Shillelagh at the fairground on Friday evening.

The home side had their county Minor, Brendan Behan, back in action for the first time and the flying centre forward gave them the lead with a spectacular goal in the fifth minute.

However that advantage did not last long. The west side had piled a lot of their strength into a half back line of Eoin O'Neill, Jason Bolger and Paddy Walsh so openings for scores were hard to find.

Stratford-Grangecon hit back with a vengeance; in a two minute spell they lashed home two goals and added a point for good measure.

One of their young players, Sean O'Neill, rounded the defence to score the first goal in the 10th minute; in defence splitting movement involving four or five passes Eoin O'Neill sent Ciaran Byrne through for another goal for the Stratford men.

Straight from Darren Kavanagh's kickout Michael Mangan plucked the ball out of the clouds and drove it back over the bar.

Shillelagh, to their credit hit back. Paddy 'Smokes' Byrne sent over a point; Keith Collins added another but the Stratford defence held and left few openings. Anything that did get through their full-back line was dealt with capably by Paddy Cronin, now surely the best club goalie in the county.

Shane Byrne sent over two points for the west side with Ciaran Byrne driving over a 45 for to close the first half scoring.

Half time - Stratford-Grangecon 2-4; Shillelagh 1-3 - still all to play for.

Ciaran Byrne was winning a fair bit of possession at midfield and was keeping the home side in the match. Noel Murphy, Paddy Hennessy and Francis Simpson were defending well with the result that a point by the other Ciaran Byrne for Stratford was the only score in the third quarter.

Even that score brought a quick reply from Shillelagh when Brendan Behan pointed a free

As the game ticked into the last quarter Michael Mangan powered through from midfield, passed inside to Mathew Manley and the youngster fairly blast an unstoppable shot to the net and the game was over as a contest.

Substitute Sean Carroll did get another point for Shillelagh but it was a case of too little too late.

Scorers - Stratford-Grangecon: Ciaran Byrne 1-2; Matt Manley 1-0; Sean O'Neill 1-0; Shane Byrne 0-3; Eoin O'Neill and Michael Mangan 0-1.

Shillelagh: Brendan Behan I-1; Ciaran Byrne 0-2; Keith Collins, Paddy Byrne and Sean Carroll 0-1 each.

Stratford-Grangecon: Paddy Cronin; Adam Doyle, Marcus Hanbidge, Alan Kealy; Eoin O'Neill, Jason Bolger, Paddy Walsh; Michael Mangan, Mark Landan; Matt Manley, Shane Byrne, Mikey Carrioll; Dermot Phelan, Ciaran Byrne, Sean O'Neill. Subs: Alan Norton and Jimmy Barrett.

Shillelagh: Darren Kavanagh; Jack Dewhurst, Frances Simpson, Paddy Hennessy; Laurie Cullen, Noel Murphy, Daire Foley; Ciaran Byrne, Cathal Murphy; David Whelan, Brendan Behan, Keith Collins; Karl Dagg, Paddy Byrne, Ennan Foley. Sub: Sean Carroll.

Referee: Pat Keogh, Kiltegan.