Stars shine bright
Shield makes short trip to Bellefield
STARLIGHTS 3-8 NAOMH EANNA 2-8
STARLIGHTS WITHSTOOD a gutsy Naomh Eanna fightback to secure the New Ross Standard Under-13 football Division 1 shield in St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, recently.
In what was a breathless game from start to finish, the Bellefield boys took a 3-6 to 2-1 lead into the break but had to be at their resilient best to repel a hurricane of Gorey attacks in tough second period.
As one might expect from a champion, Starlights showed no sign of weakness.
They had a teak-strong spine, and it started right at the number one position with Adam Southall-Butler outstanding, making a handful of saves he had no right to make.
Zack Creane and Conor O’Brien led a gutsy defence that repelled wave after wave of Gorey attacks.
In midfield, Seán Hyland was the perfect foil for free-scoring Rhian Donohoe, while the tricky Jamie Pepper led an attack that had capable scorers across the board.
A lot of the goalmouth drama came in a first-half that featured plenty of gung-ho attacks.
After a brace from Donohoe, James Fanning sent a stunning finish to the top corner of the net, giving Seán O’Farrell no chance.
From 1-2 to nil down, Gorey rebounded against the breeze. Tiernan Meyler sent in a dipping, powerful strike to get his side going and, after Tom Funge pointed, Conor Robinson found the net to make it 2-1 to 1-2.
After that the Enniscorthy boys bossed the rest of the half.
Pepper palmed home a long ball to get his side back in front, and after a string of points from John Miller and Donohoe he struck again, making the lead eight at the change of ends.
Naomh Eanna chipped away throughout the second-half.
Matthew Ryan started it with a free-kick that was deflected over the bar, while Darragh O’Toole also took on the scoring mantle as Gorey got within a goal midway through the half.
However, Starlights re-doubled their efforts, and with Donohoe on target they were able to keep Naomh Eanna at arm’s length long enough to ensure that the shield made the short journey with them back across town to their Bellefield base.
Starlights: Adam Southall-Butler; Fionn O’Reilly, Zack Creane (capt.), Danny Kervick; Evan Horan, Conor O’Brien, Killian Brennan; Seán Hyland, Rhian Donohoe (0-7, 5 frees, 1 ‘45); John Miller (0-1), Jack Lacey, James Fanning (1-0); Jack Canavan, Jamie Pepper (2-0), Calum McVeigh. Subs. (rolling) - Thomas Nolan, Rhys O’Gorman, Dylan Farrell, Ben Walshe, Keanan Tracey, Patryk Tauroginski, Paddy Kelly, Andy Kelly, James Byrne.
Naomh Eanna: Seán O’Farrell; Stephen Dixon, Ciarán O’Brien, Callum O’Brien; Conor Robinson (1-0), Lee Doyle, Conor Flynn; Darragh O’Toole (0-4, 3 frees), Dara Kelly; Kian Keogh, George Kavanagh, Tom Funge (0-1); Tiernan Meyler (1-0), Matthew Ryan (03, 2 frees), Scott Doran. Subs. (rolling) - Max Ryan, Ted Sheehan, Aaron Kavanagh-Smith, Joseph Swords, Seán Traynor, Luke Christie, Rory Dineen.
Referee: Brendan Martin (Ballyhogue).