Clongeen too good for Pat’s
Victors rampant after break
CLONGEEN 4-11 ST. PATRICK’S 0-3
CLONGEEN TURNED on the style in the second-half as they stormed all over their opponents, St. Patrick’s, to emerge with a comfortable 20-point victory in this Joyces Expert Intermediate ‘A’ football championship Group B game in St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, on Sunday.
Clongeen maintained their winning form, following up on their convincing victory over Geraldine O’Hanrahans the previous week.
While short some key players, they still managed to control this game mainly through the fine midfield play of Páraic Cullen, whose ability to win possession coupled with his excellent distribution, along with accuracy from frees, proved inspirational in his side’s total second-half dominance.
For St. Patrick’s it was their second successive defeat and, on the evidence of this showing, their young side look prime candidates for relegation unless they are able to resurrect their season when the championship resumes in July, but they have an onerous task on their hands.
Clongeen swept into a 1-2 to nil lead inside the opening ten minutes, the goal a fine finish from diminutive corner-forward Jamesie Rochford, with the points from a Páraic Cullen free and Rochford.
St. Patrick’s had to wait until the 15th minute for their opening score, a fine Tommy Dunne point after linking up well with wing-back Ollie Gahan.
However, that proved their only first-half score as Clongeen added further points through Enda Murphy, Cullen (free) and Shane Cahill to lead by 1-5 to 0-1 at the interval.
After Paudie Cahill had extended his side’s lead with a point straight on the re-start, St. Patrick’s managed to apply lots of pressure.
This resulted in points from Tomás Morris and Ciarán Murphy, but despite this impressive spell they were unable to translate further chances into scores.
Having withstood that spell of pressure, Clongeen suddenly upped the tempo of their game, with Adam O’Sullivan goaling after 41 minutes to leave his side with a 2-6 to 0-3 lead.
St. Patrick’s found it difficult to mount any threatening attacks, as the Clongeen dominance continued.
And this brought further goals through Jamesie Rochford after 48 minutes, and Leon Stafford two minutes later, leaving the result a foregone conclusion.
The eventual winners played out the remaining time, adding points through Paul Curtis, Cullen (free) and Anton Stafford, to end their opening two rounds with a one hundred per cent record.
Clongeen: Ricky Rochford; Stephen Dundon, Shane Kilkenny, Donal Whelan; Richard Rochford, Enda Murphy (0-1), Paudie Cahill (0-1); Páraic Cullen (0-3 frees), Shane Cahill (0-2); Daryl Murphy, Paul Curtis (0-1), Leon Stafford (1-1); Adam O’Sullivan (1-0), Anton Stafford (0-1), Jamesie Rochford (2-1, 0-1 free).
St. Patrick’s: Jack Quinn; Shaun Kavanagh, Richie Flood, Joe Cousins; Ollie Gahan, James Cousins, Peter Roche; Michael Carroll, Michael O’Brien; Tommy Dunne (0-1), Darren Whelan, Daryl Murphy; Hughie Doyle, Ciarán Murphy (0-1), Tomás Morris (0-1). Sub. - John Doyle for Roche.
Referee: Martin Armstrong (Starlights).