Solid showing from seasiders Dunne limps off in loss
Kilmore remain unbeaten
KILMORE REALT NA MARA 2-15 0-8
A BURST of Kilmore scores in the last eight minutes finally put a gallant Réalt na Mara to bed in Group A of the Joyces Expert Intermediate ‘A’ football championship at the Ferns Centre of Excellence on Saturday.
The seasiders put in a solid performance to open their season with a victory over Cloughbawn, and they were efficient and full value for their victory at the end of a hard-fought 60 minutes in this one too.
Kilmore will rightly be delighted with their start to the season. They looked big, sharp and powerful across the centre and have a real handful for opponents to deal with on the edge of the square in Noel Casey.
He netted twice in this game, was maybe a little unlucky to have a third ruled out, and was the focal point of an attack that could push this side deep into the reckoning come the autumn months.
It’s hard to not believe that Réalt na Mara were hampered by not having a game under their belts last week.
Just getting those minutes in the legs helps, and it was no surprise that they conceded 1-5 in the final eight minutes to fall away.
A brace apiece from Daithí Moore and Aaron Goff had Kilmore 0-6 to 0-2 ahead when Tom Byrne fed brother Paddy down the inside left channel. He bided his time before handpassing across goal for Casey to net from close range.
Down by 1-7 to 0-3 at half time, and then by three more after points from Tommy Cousins, Tom Byrne and Rob Cousins, Réalt na Mara found their feet.
They scored four of the next five points - three from the superb Patrick Naughter and one from Brian O’Connor - to close to 1-11 to 0-7 down.
However, the goal they desperatly craved was not forthcoming as Kilmore battened down the hatches. The clincher arrived in the 52nd minute when Casey converted again after more good play by Tom Byrne through the middle to leave their side a perfect two wins from two heading into the break.
Kilmore: Shane Cassidy; Shane Goff, Stevie Cousins, Tommy Cousins (0-1); Páraic Reville, Denis Kenny, Aaron Kielthy; Tom Byrne (0-2), Paddy Byrne; Aaron Goff (0-3), Daithí Moore (capt., 0-3, 2 frees), Mark Sinnott; Criostóir Reville, Noel Casey (2-1), Conor Moore (0-2). Subs. - Rob Cousins (0-2) for Sinnott (38), Tom White (0-1) for C. Reville (53).
Réalt na Mara: Shane Quinn; Colm Kennelly (0-1), Stephen Redmond, Johnny Sinnott (0-1); Brian O’Connor (0-1), Darren Morris, Tom Sinnott; Cormac Moore-Kavanagh, David Doran; Adam Fleming, Patrick Naughter (capt., 0-5, 1 free), Brendan Corcoran; Eddie Redmond, Jimmy Murphy, Tom Hobbs. Subs. - John Doyle for Doran, inj. (23), Seamus Doyle for Hobbs (31), Dylan Sweeney for Corcoran (39), James Fleming for A. Fleming (53), James Kavanagh for Murphy (57).
Referee: Mick Lanigan (Shelmaliers).
GUSSERANE D’TOWN-C’CUDDY
A STRONG second-half with the breeze propelled Gusserane past Davidstown-Courtnacuddy to a solid opening victory in Group A of the Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior football championship in Cushinstown on Sunday.
After missing out on opening their campaign against the Shamrocks a week earlier, this was new territory for last season’s Junior ‘A’ champions, but they looked ready for the challenge with a strong defensive showing in the first-half and clinical display of shooting in the second.
Davidstown-Courtnacuddy were far more competitive than they were against a rampant Oylegate-Glenbrien in their opener but, apart from an early burst from Pádraig Loughlin, they were heavily reliant on the quality of youngster James Kelly for scores.
What will be of a worry, not only to Davidstown-Courtnacuddy, but also to Davy Fitzgerald, was the injury sustained by David Dunne in the last ten minutes.
The county hurler limped off with his sock rolled down after receiving treatment to the ankle area.
Gusserane would have been delighted to be level at 0-4 each at the break after a fairly uneventful first-half.
Darragh Doyle scored a couple of fine points and Eoin Codd broke from deep to register as they made light of playing into the breeze.
Within five minutes of the restart Gusserane struck a decisive blow.
There was an element of luck to the opening goal, as Tom Foran’s long-range strike came down off the bar and Alan Myler was on hand to force it home from close range.
Despite a couple of Kelly points, Martin Fitzharris hit his stride at the other end and Gusserane moved clear.
The clinching goal came with twelve minutes left when Darragh Doyle shot from deep. It struck the bar, then the back of goalkeeper Stephen Dunbar, and rolled into the net to compound Davidstown-Courtnacuddy’s misery.
Gusserane: Brian Hennessy; Eoghan Foran, Paul Wall, Robert Browne; Eoin Codd (0-1), Gary O’Grady (capt.), Jack Culleton; Darragh Doyle (1-3), Ciarán Conway; Seán O’Connor (0-1), Jamie Cooney, Tom Breen (0-1); Martin Fitzharris (0-3), Tom Foran (0-1), Alan Myler (1-1, 0-1 free). Sub. - Cathal Somers for Breen (44).
Davidstown-Courtnacuddy: Stephen Dunbar; Barry Nolan, Kevin Keane, Donal O’Shea; Stephen Kennedy, Philip Murphy, Danny Delaney; David Dunne (capt.), Stephen Sheridan; Pádraig Loughlin (0-2), James Kelly (0-5, 2 frees), Billy Martin; Alan Hickey, Andrew Furlong, Vinny O’Brien. Subs. - Mark Murphy for Furlong (31), T.J. Owens for S. Kennedy, inj. (32), Seán Cooper for Martin (36), Ryan Murray for O’Brien (49), Kieran McCabe for Dunne, inj. (55).
Referee: Bob Treacy (Clongeen).