Anne’s built a big lead

ST. ANNE’S 4-11 VOLUNTEERS 2-9

ST. ANNE’S blitzed Volunteers through the opening 30 minutes, setting up an eventual comfortable eight-point victory in the process in their Greenstar Under-20 football Division 3A championship game in Rathangan on Wednesday.

Much like the majority of games in this championship to date, there was a real lack of a competitive atmosphere, particularly as St. Anne’s took the initiative from the opening minutes.

With the Vols struggling for numbers, just managing one substitute, they were always playing catch-up despite an improved second-half showing.

St. Anne’s dominance became quickly apparent as they powered into a 2-3 to nil lead inside the opening seven minutes.

After Kyle Kennedy had powered his side in front with an excellent long-range point inside the opening minute, the opening goal arrived four minutes later when Kevin Breen pounced to find the cornet of the net.

The excellent Kyle Kennedy was causing early problems and he set Breen up for his second goal two minutes later.

The eventual winners were leading by 2-4 to nil when the town side eventually managed to open their account with a 17th-minute Paddy Glover point.

While Aaron McGuire picked off a neat second point for the visitors, the home side finished with Breen completing his hat-trick of goals close to the break, leaving them with a 3-5 to 0-2 interval lead.

St. Anne’s continued to control matters on the resumption as Barry Roche and Páraic Reville dominated in midfield.

Within two minutes of the re-start they added a fourth goal when Kyle Kennedy got on the end of a four-man move to beat ‘keeper Aaron Kinsella with a rising shot to the net.

That should have proved a real body blow, particularly as the eventual winners added further points through Andy Kennedy and two from Dylan O’Brien, while Paddy Glover managed one in between for the opposition.

The Vols gave brief hope of a recovery when Harry Kehoe finished a fine move with a terrific goal, but they still trailed by 4-8 to 1-3 after 43 minutes.

The Vols finished the half strongly, with Jack O’Leary adding a 50th-minute goal, but there was never any doubt regarding the eventual outcome.

St. Anne’s: Dylan Kavanagh; Vincent Carroll, Andrew Walsh, Kevin Redmond; Michael Carroll, Brian Kavanagh, Billy Ryan; Barry Roche (0-1), Páraic Reville; Philip Rawson, Andy Kennedy (0-2), Kyle Kennedy (1-3); Conor Ryan, Dylan O’Brien (0-5), Kevin Breen (3-0). Subs. - Eric Molyneux for K. Kennedy, Barry Stone for Ryan.

Volunteers: Aaron Kinsella; Jason Moore, Cian Rossiter, Jack Murphy; Cian Kehoe, Paddy Glover (0-2), Eoin Reck; Ben McMahon, Harry Kehoe (1-2, 0-1 free); Aaron McGuire (0-2), Jack O’Leary (1-2), Luke Dowdall (0-1); Jack McMahon, Ryan Busher, Aaron Roche. Sub. - Oisín Kehoe for Roche.

Referee: James Flood (St. Mary’s, Maudlintown).