Clongeen outclass GOH
CLONGEEN EASED their way to a comfortable 20-point victory over a disappointing Geraldine O’Hanrahans side in this Joyces Expert Intermediate ‘A’ football championship Group B game in Gusserane on Saturday.
It took Clongeen just 30 seconds to open their account through a Jamesie Rochford point, while two minutes later the town side were back level via Dylan Egan.
Clongeen had pushed themselves into a 0-3 to 0-2 lead when they struck for their opening goal with an eighth-minute finish from Rochford who had been set up by a delicate pass inside the defence from Paul Curtis.
Remarkably, despite their lack of attacking ideas, the New Ross side got themselves back into the game.
Trailing by 1-5 to 0-4, they were awarded a 26th-minute penalty after Dylan Egan was fouled as he attempted to get his shot away on goal, leaving corner-forward Mark Lee to stroke the resulting kick low into the bottom right-hand corner of the net.
Clongeen finished the half strongly with points from Shane Kilkenny and Paul Curtis to lead by 1-7 to 1-4 at the interval.
Going into the second-half, very little separated the sides on the scoreboard, but Clongeen still looked the more composed.
And this was borne out through the opening minutes on the resumption as they increased their lead with points from Páraic Cullen (free and play) following excellent approach play from deep in defence, with wing-back Paudie Cahill laying on the final pass for the latter score.
Hopes of a Geraldine O’Hanrahans recovery faded in the 37th minute when they had Diarmuid Kehoe sent-off on a second yellow card offence.
As a result, Clongeen totally dominated the closing 20 minutes. Cullen (free) and Cahill tagged on further points, with the Barrowsiders having to wait until the 49th minute for their opening second-half score.
This was a second Mark Lee goal from a penalty, after the attacking Conor Cleere had been fouled as he moved in on goal, leaving the scoreline 1-13 to 2-5.
Clongeen were rampant through the closing ten minutes as they added further goals through Adam O’Sullivan and Paul Curtis (two), with the opposition completely overwhelmed in those closing stages.
Clongeen: Stephen Bennett; Stephen Dundon, Shane Kilkenny (0-2), James Keating; Richard Rochford, Enda Murphy, Paudie Cahill (0-3); Collie Byrne (0-1), Shane Cahill; Daryl Murphy (0-1), Paul Curtis (2-5), Leon Stafford; Adam O’Sullivan (1-1), Páraic Cullen (0-5 frees), Jamesie Rochford (1-2, 0-1 free).
Geraldine O’Hanrahans: David Merrigan; Enda Kelly, Conor Cleere, Barry Kelly; Eoin Kelly, Matt Crowdle, Jerry Cash; Danielius Niekis, Jack Foran; Diarmuid Kehoe, Stephen Somers, Dylan Egan (0-3); Mark Lee (2-3, 2-0 pens., 0-2 frees), Pádraig Bailey, Michael Cullen.
Referee: Pat Kehoe (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown).