Three from three for Shels

SHELMALIERS MADE it three wins from three in Group A of the Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior football championship with a convincing triumph over Davidstown-Courtnacuddy in Killurin on Saturday.

The Over The Water side made full use of having the wind at their backs in the first-half, building up an unassailable 4-8 to 0-3 advantage in the opening period.

And although the Enniscorthy District outfit gave it their best shot after the interval, their opponents always managed to keep them at arm’s length.

Shelmaliers were out of the traps like a champion greyhound and raced into a 4-4 to 0-1 lead inside the opening 16 minutes.

Target man A.J. Lehane was first to ripple the net when he gathered a crossfield Adam Kelly delivery and finished with aplomb in the sixth minute.

Two minutes later Lehane turned provider when he teed up the inrushing Eoin O’Leary, and the midfielder didn’t need a second invitation, powering the ball past Stephen Dunbar.

The full-forward again provided the assist for Shelmaliers’ third major, handpassing to Conor Walsh who buried a rasping drive into the top corner of the net in the 14th minute.

Moments later the green flag was waving again with Kyle Roche this time doing the needful, latching on to a hopeful ball from Eoin O’Leary before powering forward and steering a shot past a frustrated Dunbar.

Lehane kept the scoreboard ticking over with some nice points and although Davidstown-Courtnacuddy contributed the last two scores of the half through James Kelly (free) and James Doyle, it looked a hopeless cause as they trailed by a massive 17 points.

Pádraig Loughlin gave them something to smile about when he gathered a James Doyle pass and finished to the corner of the net, and they then enjoyed a decent spell midway through the half, with James Kelly scoring four points on the trot.

However, Shelmaliers soon dispelled any notions by grabbing their fifth goal, with Ryan Hanrahan collecting a pass from the impressive Kyle Roche and firing to the net.

Davidstown-Courtnacuddy were unlucky not to add another goal late on, with substitute Timmy Morrissey and Stephen Kennedy both seeing efforts rattle the crossbar, but it was always going to be Shelmaliers’ day.

Shelmaliers: Aodhán Foley; Adam Hearne, Joe Redmond, Paul McCleane; Conor Walsh (capt., 1-0), Graham Staples, Robbie Staples; Eoin O’Leary (1-1), Páraic O’Leary; Brian O’Connor (0-3), Ryan Hanrahan (1-0), Niall Murphy (0-2); Kyle Roche (1-3), A.J. Lehane (1-5), Adam Kelly. Subs. - Mark Power for Kelly, Stephen Rossiter for Walsh (black card), Mark Flood for Hanrahan.

Davidstown-Courtnacuddy: Stephen Dunbar; Daniel Delaney, Kevin Keane, Barry Nolan; T.J. Owens, David O’Dwyer (capt.), Mark Murphy; Pádraig Loughlin (1-1), David Shore; Seán Cooper (0-2), James Doyle (0-1), James Kelly (0-8, 4 frees); Alan Hickey, Stephen Kennedy, Kieron McCabe. Subs. - Darragh Cooper for Keane, Timmy Morrissey for Shore, Joe Atkinson for Kennedy.

Referee: Kevin Kehoe (Our Lady’s Island).