Doyle delivers vital scores
O’Grady shows his class too as Jimmies see off Sars
TWO CHIEF sources of scores – one more predictable than the other – combined to give the verdict to St. James’ as the Senior football championship started with a very exciting Group A clash before a decent crowd in Taghmon on Friday.
Close observers of the club scene won’t have been in the least bit surprised to see speed merchant Kevin O’Grady picking off six priceless points from play for the Ramsgrange side, but the marksman for two of their three goals might have been an eye-opener for some.
Veteran Brendan Doyle has been more noted for his ball-winning and distribution over a distinguished career, but this time around he rattled the net twice to guide his team to victory at the expense of a Sarsfields side also making a rich contribution to this lively first-ever Senior championship contest between the clubs.
His second goal was a particularly memorable finish, an exocet to the top left corner that established a 2-8 to 0-10 lead for St. James’ in the 35th minute.
And while their town rivals will take heart from the high tally recorded in defeat, at the same time they will be haunted by the fact that all three of the winners’ goals came from needless turnovers.
With Lee Chin starting at midfield but moving immediately to full-forward, Sarsfields had an outlet for long balls that they used as often as possible. And with Chin and Lee Smith successfully kicking frees with right and left peg respectively, they were well in this contest at half-time when the sides were level (0-9 to 1-6).
Captain Michael Hanrahan set the tone with a solo point after 19 seconds, and a Smith drive just cleared the crossbar and went over before St. James’ rocked their rivals with the first of those goals in the seventh minute.
Kevin O’Grady robbed an opponent before finding Donal Barron, and his handpass across goal was first-timed to the net by Brendan Doyle (1-0 to 0-2).
It was 1-4 to 0-3 by the end of the first quarter, with Matthew O’Hanlon among the St. James’ scorers, but the Sars outscored them by 0-6 to 0-2 in the lead up to half-time as Chin (three, two frees) and Smith (three frees) hit the target.
However, the town team did have one lucky break in the 16th minute when Tommy Walsh fisted the ball off the crossbar after good work by Liam Murphy and Graeme Molloy, with full-back Cathal Kirwan clearing the danger.
Eoin Roche had a goal attempt blocked beforehand at the other end, and St. James’ drew first blood on the re-start via O’Grady and O’Hanlon before Dylan Furlong responded (1-8 to 0-10).
Brendan Doyle’s second goal followed in the 35th minute, a clinical finish from a Graeme Molloy lay-off, and they added a third after a Sars attacking move broke down early in the last quarter.
The swift transfer that followed featured Tommy Walsh and O’Grady before Molloy rattled the net for a 3-10 to 0-13 lead, and Brian Molloy added the next point.
Sarsfields wouldn’t lie down, though, and they still retained hope after debutant substitute Conor Kehoe slid in to finish a loose ball to the net in the 59th minute (3-12 to 1-14). ’45, breaking it victory Kevin left
Barron, Shane (0- Barron, Graeme Doyle (53), for
thal Michael Kirwan, (0-
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Lee Chin added points from a free and a 45, and David Gouldson swung his boot at a breaking ball that was blocked in between, but
was fitting that St. James’ should finally seal victory in added time through their star man,
evin O’Grady, whose closing point from the left wing was sheer class.
St. James’: John Ryan; Paul Barron (capt.), Jason Barron, Daniel Keating; Darragh Lyons (0-1 free), Shane Murphy, Brian Molloy (0-1); Matthew O’Hanlon 0-2), Brendan Doyle (2-0); Liam Murphy, Robbie Barron, Kevin O’Grady (0-7, 1 ’45); Tommy Walsh, Graeme Molloy (1-1), Donal Barron. Subs. - David Doyle for L. Murphy (41), Mark Molloy for R. Barron 53), Greg Doyle (0-1) for Walsh (55), Owen Whitty for D. Barron (58).
Sarsfields: Philip Cullen; Brendan Mulligan, Cathal Kirwan, Con Ó Donnagáin; Dylan Furlong (0-1), Michael Hanrahan (capt., 0-1), Shane Hall; Ciarán Kirwan, Lee Chin (0-8, 5 frees, 1 ’45); David Gouldson 0-1), David Mooney, Pierce O’Connor; Lee Smith (05, 4 frees), Conall Clancy, Eoin Roche. Subs. - Colm Browne for O’Connor, inj. (21), John Bridges for Clancy 38), Seán Ó Corcora for Mooney (51), Conor Kehoe 1-0) for Smith (56), Adam Carroll for Hall, inj. (57).
Referee: John Carton (Monageer-Boolavogue).