Big statement from Vols
VOLUNTEERS PUT out a statement of intent in their delayed Joyces Expert Intermediate ‘A’ football championship Group B tie with St. Patrick’s in Oylegate on Friday.
The Páirc Charman club were at their smothering, intense best to add another scalp to an early season list of casualties that also includes the neighbours of their opponents, Craanford.
Everything about the victors was impressive. From their teamwork and link-up play, their hunting in packs and with no lack of energy and endeavour, to the way they patiently took their scores, it was an all-round excellent performance.
If you face Volunteers, one thing is an absolute must, you simply have to match their workrate or it’s going to be a long 60 minutes. St. Patrick’s failed in that task and they paid a heavy, almost humiliating, price.
I doubt anyone involved with the Camolin-based club thinks they are 16 points worse than the Vols but they were made to look it.
They were only 0-5 to 0-2 down at the break and were given a good dressing down, so to be worse again after the resumption must have left management speechless.
Composure helped Volunteers move 0-5 to nil up after 24 minutes. They worked the scores well, with David Shannon getting three, and Dylan Carty adding the other two, as they eventually went in at halftime three ahead.
There were some question-marks over the accuracy of John Doyle’s point that put two between the sides in the 33rd minute, but Volunteers needn’t have worried.
Mikey Lawlor made it 0-6 to 0-3 before Carty fired a perfect shot across goal from Luke Dowdall’s feed to break the Pat’s resistance.
Scores just flowed after the goal, as Carty, Jeff Scally, Dowdall and Cian Brennan all registered before Jack O’Leary drilled past Jack Quinn in the 49th minute to make it 2-11 to 0-3.
The Volunteers had added another couple of points before Richie Flood scored a scarcely-deserved consolation goal.
The Wexford town lads managed their lead well in the final ten minutes, despite continuing to lose manpower. They put a seal on their impressive victory in added-time when Shannon palmed home O’Leary’s hopeful ball to leave their side perfect through two games.
Volunteers: John Coady; Jason Kearns (capt.), Keith Furlong, Paudge Brennan; Aaron McGuire, Mikey Banville, Cian Brennan (0-1); Stephen Burke, Danny O’Sullivan; Peter Walsh, Mikey Lawlor (0-2), Luke Dowdall (0-1); Dylan Carty (1-4, 0-2 frees), David Shannon (1-4), Jeff Scally (0-1). Subs. - Brian Deeny for O’Sullivan, inj. (10), Brian Sheridan for McGuire (41), Jack O’Leary (1-0) for Banville, black card (46), Donal O’Connor for Walsh, inj. (55), McGuire for Lawlor, black card (60+1).
St. Patrick’s: Jack Quinn; James Cousins, Hughie Doyle, Joe Cousins; Daryl Murphy (joint capt.), Michael O’Brien, Peter Roche (joint capt.); John Doyle (0-3, 2 frees), John Farrell; Tommy Dunne, Stephen Ryan, Tommy Morris; Tomás Morris, Richie Flood (10), Ashley Tully. Subs. - Glen Carton for Tommy Morris (44), Shane Finn for Tully (44).
Referee: Pádraig Byrne (Kilanerin).