Nolan goals crucial
CRAANFORD 2-11 OUR LADY’S ISLAND 0-10
TWO GOALS from Matthew Nolan gave Craanford the edge over Our Lady’s Island in this Top Oil Intermediate ‘A’ hurling championship Group B opener in a blustery St. Patrick’s Park on Saturday.
After going in at the break trailing by five points, the north county side came out with a blazing second-half performance to dominate proceedings, with lofty full-forward Nolan pivotal to the turn-around.
The Island enjoyed their fair share of the spoils in the opening half, with Quinn Saunders opening the scoring in the early exchanges.
The same player could have given his side a great lead 30 seconds later after he was excellently put through by Dean Maloney, only to miscue and see his effort roll wide.
Maloney had his own chance shortly afterwards but he was denied by an excellent save by Andrew Tighe.
But the Island were all over their opponents and struck three without reply thanks to Darragh Sinnott, Cathal Devereux and Saunders before Niall Berney finally got Craanford off the mark with a point in the ninth minute.
Craanford now had the ball rolling and they added points from Oliver and Eamonn Doran and were denied an almost certain goal thanks to an unbelievable point-blank save by David Pettit midway through the half.
Respective free-takers, Maloney and Oliver Doran, traded scores on two occasions before the leaders finished out the half strongly with two points from Maloney and one each from Saunders and Dean Corish to give them a five-point lead at the break.
It was hard to tell how much of an influence the wind was having on proceedings, but it could probably be gauged by the opening ten minutes of the new half.
After just 14 seconds, Craanford had the net rattling after Matthew Nolan grabbed a high delivery with one thing on his mind and raced inside for a cracking finish to the roof of the net.
Our Lady’s Island were now struggling greatly with their wind-assisted opponents who soon drew level thanks to two pointed frees from Oliver Doran.
And, things could only get worse for the south county side after Robbie Reville was sent to the line for a wild pull midway through the half.
The resultant free from that incident was sent over by Doran to put his side in front for the first time, and it was evident that the lead would not change hands again.
Craanford finished the half strongly, holding their opponents scoreless, and with points from the Dorans and Niall Berney and a second goal from Nolan, a carbon copy of his first, it was quite a comfortable victory in the end.
Craanford: Andrew Tighe; Joe Berney, Michael Lyons, Michael O’Loughlin; Páuric Redmond, Patrick Murray, William Conroy; Jim Kenny, Oliver Doran (0-7, 3 frees); Eamonn Doran (0-2), Niall Berney (0-2), Eoin Doyle; Ger Lyons, Matthew Nolan (2-0), John Lancaster. Sub. - Kevin Poole for Lancaster (39).
Our Lady’s Island: David Pettit; Josh Burke, Colm Kinsella, Davy Corish; Aaron Corish, Fintan Mullins, Dean Corish (0-1); Joey Murphy, Robbie Reville; Quinn Saunders (0-3), Cathal Devereux (0-1), Cian Meyler; Dean Maloney (0-4 frees), Noel Dempsey, Darragh Sinnott (0-1). Subs. - Eoin Kinsella for Sinnott (53), Eoin Wright for Maloney, inj. (58).
Referee: James Owens (Askamore).