Réalt get the derby verdict
Three first-half goals vital
THREE first-half goals proved to be decisive as Réalt na Mara just about edged neighbours St. Patrick’s in an attritional Gorey District derby in the opening round of the Joyces Expert Intermediate ‘A’ football championship Group B in Páirc Uí Shíocháin on Saturday.
The seasiders appeared to favour goal opportunites, and in fact didn’t register a point at all until first-half injury-time when Patrick Naughter shot over after playing a quick exchange with Johnny Sinnott.
They opened the scoring in rather fortunate circumstances when Eoin Corcoran’s floated delivery sparked confusion amid the St. Pat’s last line of defence, and James Fleming was on hand to knock to the net.
The already depleted Camolin-based lads lost Stephen Ryan to injury just before throw-in, and when Tynan Flynn hobbled off five minutes in, they were suddenly short two experienced players.
And Réalt na Mara goaled again on eight minutes when James Kavanagh slipped the ball to Stephen Redmond to power to the top corner of the dressing-room end net.
Kavanagh was then denied a third goal when Jack Quinn got down low to stop his shot, before St. Pat’s finally got up and running with a flurry of points.
Shane Finn - now at full-forward - teed up Hughie Doyle for an ice-breaker, Doyle neatly pointed again soon after, while Niall O’Brien turned Darren Morris inside out to make it 2-0 to 0-4 after 25 minutes.
However, the Ballygarrett/Courtown side were unrelenting, and struck their decisive third goal one minute later when Kavanagh slipped it to Naughter who coolly picked his spot.
Redmond aided James Fleming in flighting over an excellent point three minutes into injury-time as Réalt na Mara developed 3-2 to 0-4 daylight at the change of ends.
But they didn’t score again until the final eight minutes through Sinnott and Naughter (free) as instead St. Patrick’s slowly dragged themselves back into contention.
Doyle generated a free which Murphy converted, and when Niall O’Brien was fouled by Quinn in the square, Tommy Dunne stepped up to the resulting penalty. His effort was poorly struck though as Quinn saved, but Doyle palmed the rebound to the net as the difference was reduced to 3-2 to 1-5.
Tomás Morris raced away to kick the best score of the game one minute later, but they would reach double figures in the wides count and couldn’t get any closer.
Interestingly, the victors are managed by John Nolan, who guided St. James’ to their maiden Senior football title in 2015.
Réalt na Mara: Shane Quinn; Eddie Redmond, Darren Morris, Fergus Lacey; Tom Sinnott, Colm Kennelly (capt.), Eoin Corcoran; Stephen Redmond (1-0), Seán O’Brien; Brendan Corcoran, James Kavanagh, Adam Fleming; James Fleming (1-1), Patrick Naughter (1-2, 0-1 free), Johnny Sinnott (0-1). Subs. - Seamus Doyle for O’Brien (38), Cormac Moore-Kavanagh for B. Corcoran (45), Brian O’Connor for T. Sinnott, inj. (46), Aidan Murphy for Lacey (59).
St. Patrick’s: Jack Quinn; James Cousins, Joe Cousins, Peter Roche (capt.); Ollie Gahan, Richie Flood, Daryl Murphy; Shane Finn, Michael O’Brien; Tommy Dunne, Hughie Doyle (1-2), Tynan Flynn; Ciarán Murphy (0-2 frees), Niall O’Brien (0-2), Tomás Morris (0-1). Subs. - Shaun Kavanagh for Flynn, inj. (5), Michael Carroll for Finn (HT).
Referee: Gearóid McGrath (St.
James’).