Myles better from Laragh
LARAGH BARNDARRIG 1-11 0-08
WHEN Laragh manager Deccie Byrne looks back on this victory over Barndarrig, he might well consider his introduction of Myles Conway after 28 minutes of the opening half as one of the key moments in this entertaining encounter in Ashford early last week.
Although Laragh’s recovery from a disastrous opening 14 minutes where they fell six points to no score behind to a determined and impressive Barndarrig outfit – the turnaround being thanks largely to the free-taking of John Nolan – was well underway by the 28th minute, Conway’s introduction brought a new energy into the middle third of the field and drove the Laragh men on to what was a rampaging performance in the second half that saw them hold Barndarrig scoreless for 30 minutes of championship football.
That second half drought is what will be of huge concern to Barndarrig.
Martin Cullen’s close in free after 31 minutes of action was their only score of the second period, a half in which they were awarded roughly seven frees as opposed to Laragh’s nine (roughly) by referee Anthony Nolan, with only one of Laragh’s being ‘soft’ as they say, that won by Myles Conway.
Much of Barndarrig’s problems were arising when they delivered that last ball to the inside line.
On umpteen occasions that last ball was woeful with either Gary Cullen, who had a superb second half, or Ross Doonan or Peter Merrigan emerging with possession leaving Philip Andrew Kinsella and Stephen Collins with little or no chance of harvesting vital scores.
A cold and heartless autopsy on this game would be that Barndarrig owned the opening 14 minutes where Martin Cullen and Jimmy Waldron really impressed but that from then on it was the Laragh men who took over control of this game with Conway’s introduction being the secret ingredient into a full deserved victory.
The aformentioned Cullen and Waldron teamed up for the opening score of this game and that was a really outstanding point from Waldron off his left after 50 seconds.
Damien Hanlon fouled Stephen
Collins two minutes later and Jimmy Waldron did the necessary off his left and he added another before Martin Cullen pointed a free from 44 yards out before slotting an actual 45 a few moments later.
An excellent Waldron score from play and one from Michael Cullen and Barndarrig were in dreamland at 0-06 to no score with 13 minutes gone.
Barndarrig were employing a sweeper in the form of full-forward Keith Bradshaw and over the course of the hour this ploy just didn’t provide any real rewards, in fact, if anything, it robbed Barndarrig of another attacker.
Laragh eventually got off the mark after 14 minutes through Keith Lawlor and it was from here that the game turned.
A foul on Steven Olohan by full-back James Cullen, which also earned him a yellow card, gave John Nolan his first chance from a free and he swung over the first of his eight-point tally, seven from frees, with impressive ease.
From either side of the field, Nolan showed real class from the dead ball and his pre-kick routine is noteworthy. The Laragh man stands for a considerable time like a gunslinger in the Wild West about to engage in a deadly draw, knees slightly bent, hands out in front with the ball, he hops it twice, steadies and then strokes it over.
Nolan added all of Laragh’s remaining scores in the opening half to leave it 0-07 to 0-06 at the break in favour of Barndarrig with Waldron bagging Barndarrig’s seventh. High drama early on in the second saw Jammie Roe save superbly from Mark Miley from the penalty spot but moments later smooth hands from Steven Olohan sent Miley through and he fired home past Roe with a sweet strike.
And from here on in it was all Laragh. With Myles Conway and Damien Hanlon running the show at midfield and Olohan and Miley and Aaron Lynham looking capable with the ball and Peter Merrigan and Gary Cullen always in control
at the back, Barndarrig, especially without Michael Murphy, had no real answer to the challenge in the second half.
– Laragh: John Nolan 0-08 (7f), Mark Miley 1-00, Keith Lawlor 0-01, Steven Olohan 0-01, Damien Hanlon 0-01.
Barndarrig: Jimmy Waldron 0-04 (1f), Martin Cullen 0-03 (1f, 1 45), Michael Cullen 0-01.
James Nolan; Ross Doonan, Peter Merrigan, Ciaran Byrne; Craig McCoy, Gary Cullen, Andy Kenny; David McDonald, Damien Hanlon; John Nolan, Steven Olohan, Aaron Lynham; Keith Lawlor, Mark Miley, Eamon Kennedy. Subs: Myles Conway for E Kennedy (28min);
Jamie Roe; Johnny Devereux, James Cullen, Kevin Cullen; Nicky Sinnott, Jacques McCall, Shane Whelan; Paul Ryan, Martin Cullen; Jimmy Waldron, Hughie Doyle, Michael Cullen; Philip Andrew Kinsella, Keith Bradshaw, Stephen Collins. Subs: Patrick Byrne for J McCall (46min); James Quinn for S Collins (56min).
Anthony Nolan (Baltinglass)