Senan’s teamwork a real treat
Enniscorthy lads put paid to Kennedy Park double bid
TEAMWORK AND quality passing that one would normally associate with an adult side were on view in rich abundance in St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, recently, when an extremely well-drilled St. Senan’s side surged to the Rackard League boys’ football urban schools title with an impressive victory over Kennedy Park.
The Wexford town lads had looked very strong in a five-game unbeaten run to the decider, but on this occasion they had to bow to the superior craft of their rivals from up the N11 who played with the composure and maturity of veterans.
I have watched a lot of games at all levels during the year, and I must say that the unselfish approach of the winners – always looking for the best option to pick out a team-mate with a pass – was on a scale that belied their youth and lack of experience.
The omens may have looked bright for Kennedy Park when they pointed first into the wind, with joint captain Kaylem Harnett doing the honours from a ’30 after Rían O’Grady’s drive on goal was beaten away by netminder Martin O’Brien.
However, Brendan Power placed James Kavanagh for an equalising point in the fifth minute, before St. Senan’s struck for an opening goal and never looked back.
Full-forward Andy Kelly posed a constant threat, and he off-loaded to Johnny Rossiter who first-timed to the net to put the Templeshannon crew in the driving seat.
Their second goal came from Kelly in the twelfth minute, getting the vital connection on the ball after a free landed around the square, and he added another in similar circumstances just 90 seconds later (3-1 to 0-1).
Ronan McGrath extended the gap to ten points before Kaylem Harnett converted a free to give Kennedy Park a glimmer of hope.
St. Senan’s were intent on posing more problems before the interval though, and James Kavanagh posted a second point before Andy Kelly assumed centre stage once more.
He was only denied a hat-trick by the crossbar before he closed the first-half scoring just before the break, dispossessing netminder Conor Byrne near the endline and firing the ball over the bar (3-4 to 0-2).
The talented Kaylem Harnett, who was moved to midfield, tried all he knew to drag Kennedy Park back into the game on the re-start, but credit must go to St. Senan’s for the manner in which they worked in packs to constantly close him down.
The victors had a tall, polished full-back in Jack Byrne, while James Kavanagh and Paddy Kelly excelled throughout in the middle of the field.
Kennedy Park boasted a real pocket-rocket in the diminutive Callen O’Grady who stood back from nothing and thundered into tackles, but overall they weren’t as well balanced as their rivals.
They did strike a goal nearly eight minutes into the new half, with Alex Gahan firing home expertly after an initial shot by Eoghan McCleane – who had moved from defence to attack – was blocked and broke into his path.
However, the super response from St. Senan’s left nobody in any doubt that they were intent on bringing the cup across town to their base.
They may have been playing into the teeth of a strong wind, but that made no difference as they struck for a title-clinching 1-3 in a devastating four-minute burst.
Tomás Manning kicked a point before placing James Kavanagh for a goal, and a quality high kick over the bar by Ronan McGrath was followed by an accurate Paddy Kelly free to make it 4-7 to 1-2.
Kennedy Park deserve credit for their refusal to throw in the towel, and they were rewarded by pulling back an unanswered 1-2 in the closing stages.
Kaylem Harnett converted a free before underlining his quality with an unstoppable drive to the roof of the net, while his fellow joint captain, Conor Shortall, tested the goalkeeper with a head-high drive that Martin O’Brien turned over the bar.
St. Senan’s succeed their friends from across town, St. Aidan’s, as worthy urban boys’ champions, and we are sure to hear a lot more about several of their very promising players as they move up through the grades.
St. Senan’s: Martin O’Brien; Marcus Doyle, Jack Byrne, Lochlann O’Brien; Tadhg Kenny, Bobby Rackard (joint capt.), Brendan Power; James Kavanagh (1-2), Paddy Kelly (0-1 free); Stephen Wallace, Ryan Phillips, Tomás Manning (joint capt., 0-1); Johnny Rossiter (1-0), Andy Kelly (2-1), Ronan McGrath (0-2). Subs. (unused) – James Byrne, Ira Crosby, Piers Hogan, Callum Doyle, Dylan Webster, Finn Kirwan, Jake O’Neill, Paddy Murphy, Aaron Phillips, Odhrán Kirwan, Kinan Alkurdi, Lee Jordan, Johnny Barron, Alan Redmond, Michael Folan, Thomas O’Shea, Finn Cahill, Keenan Nolan, Jamie Quinn-Codd, Adam Williamson.
Kennedy Park: Conor Byrne; Ryan Messitt, Eoghan McCleane, Adam Blazek; Adam Goodison, Adam Furlong, Callen O’Grady; Cian Leacy, Rían O’Grady; Conor Shortall (joint capt., 0-1), Kaylem Harnett (joint capt., 1-3, 0-2 frees, 0-1 ’30), Billy Martin; Cian Cullen, Darragh McLaughlin, Alex Gahan (1-0). Subs. - Tommy Hillis, Declan Foley, Rhys Farrell-O’Connor, Seán Hennessy (used), also Billy Kelly, Deon Fankinle, Luke Hunt, Ryan Hunt, Aaron Monaghan, Leon Donohue, Eoin Meagher, Josh Kendall, Kyle Sutherland, Chris Wall.
Referee: John Diskin (Bannow-Ballymitty).