Six of the best from Parnells

Avondale defeated Éire Óg

AVONDALE PARNELLS 6-06 ÉIRE ÓG 2-04

WEATHER conditions were good for the under-13 Shield hurling semi final between Avondale Parnells and Éire Óg, played in Ballinakill on Friday night last.

However, the heavy dew of the late October night made ground hurling almost impossible and with the mowing of grass difficult in recent times, lifting and striking was really the only option for the players.

The Avondale/Parnells combination got into their strike earliest and Adam O’Leary notched their first point in the opening minute. Seosamh Kelly, Sean McCarthy and Daire Furlong continued to keep up the pressure but Éire Óg equalised after their first raid in the fourth minute when the impressive Oisin Shanahan converted a free.

Almost from the puck out, Adam O’Leary bagged his first goal to give his team a lead that they would not lose again.

The Avondale/Parnells side continued to dominate and had further points from Sean McCarthy and two from Seosamh Kelly frees to lead by 1-4 to 0-1 coming into the last five minutes of the half.

Éire Óg began to gain a little more territory at this stage.

Two points from Oisin Shanahan frees and another from play by Christy Connors left the North Wicklow side just three points adrift at the break 1-4 to 0-4.

Adam O’Leary began the second half as he had the first, netting his second goal after four minutes.

The balance of play was even enough over the next 15 minutes with Oisin Shanahan and Cian O’Lionngaigh putting in a big stint in the middle of the field to keep their opponents under pressure.

However, the Avondale/Parnells defence, well marshalled by Kyle Byrne and Conor Gahan, with a safe Ross Murphy in goal, kept them scoreless.

A Dara Furlong goal eased the pressure for AP combination after 15 minutes.

However, Oisin Shanahan kept Éire Óg in touch when he goaled from long distance.

Sean McCarthy added another point two minutes later.

When Seosamh Kelly switched to attack in a swap with Tiernan Gahan the move proved beneficial to both players.

Gahan continued to play well but Kelly’s ability to land in long balls from frees and play had immediate results.

A long free dropped in to the goalmouth leading to Adam O’Leary completing his hat-trick of goals with six minutes left.

An effort for a goal from a twenty metre free by Oisin Shanahan was well saved by the defence but when the ball was returned to Oisin he scored a great goal into the left corner.

Kelly pointed another free and O’Leary finished the game with a flourish when he netted two goals in the last few minutes.

Both teams and their mentors are to be complimented on a very sporting game.

Scorers – Avondale Parnells: Adam O’Leary 5-1, Daire Furlong 1-0, Seosamh Kelly 0-3, Sean McCarthy 0-2.

Éire Óg: Oisin Shanahan 2-3, Christy Connors 0-1.

Avondale/Parnells – Ross Murphy; Oisin Ward, Kyle Byrne, Padraig Kelly; Seosamh Kelly, Conor Gahan, Liam Murphy; Sean McCarthy, Daire Furlong; Niall O’Donovan, Cian Redmond, Adam O’Leary; Josh Tunney, Tiernan Gahan. Subs – Fionn Merrigan, Oran Ward.

Eire Og – Mikey Hatton/O’Brien; Tomas O’Connell, Ciaran Foley, Fintan Potts; Chase Scully, Patrick Byrne, Sam Travers, Oisin Shanahan, Cian O’Lionngaigh; Darragh Shanahan, Kevin Booth, Conor Ryan; Christy Connors, Frankie Byrne.

Referee: Ciaran Manley