DEAN GOODISON
SHALMALIERS NAOMH EANNA 2-11 1-12
KYLE ROCHE drilled home a last minute goal to cut short a spirited Naomh Eanna fightback in the Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior Football Championship at Ferns CoE on Friday evening.
The Hollymount boys looked to be flagging under a Gorey onslaught in the last ten minutes but the young corner-forward soloed away down the left and fired home the winning goal at a time when just a point separated the sides in the 60th minute.
Coming off a win against the Shamrocks first time out, Shelmaliers looked to be on the way to victory as their dominant first half continued into the early stages of the second stanza. Yet, the foundations of their victory were set in the first twelve minutes.
As the sides felt each other out, Shelmaliers made the first move when Sean Keane Carroll broke on a delicate ball over the full-back line and punched past Larry Cullen to the net. Three quick points ensured the lead was 1-3 to nil a short time later.
Naomh Eanna got the major fillip they badly needed at the midpoint of the period. Stephen Byrne played creator, stealing possession high up the field, he fed Ryan Higgins and the Gorey full-forward fired home.
A pair of late Chris Cowman overs were enough to give Shelmaliers a 1-7 to 1-2 interval lead. Naomh Eanna kept chipping away but everytime they pulled within four in the third quarter Aodhan Foley hit back with a point at the other end.
When Craig Parker kicked his third free in the 50th minute his side still lead 1-11 to 1-7, however, after a string of Michael Molloy overs, Darragh Cullen pulled Gorey within one in the 58th minute.
Under severe pressure, Shels countered and Roche netted the winner. Their opponents kept plugging away in added time but their two points weren’t enough to prevent a second consecutive win for the Wexford District side.
SHELMALIERS: James Gordon; Adam Doyle, Adam Hearne, Joe Redmond; Craig Parker (0-3 frees), Conor Walsh (capt.), Mark Power; Kevin O’Leary, Sean Keane Carroll (1-0); Adam Kelly, Chris Cowman (0-3, 1 free), Aodhan Foley (0-4, 1 free); Kyle Roche (1-0), Pauric O’Leary (0-1), Ryan Hanrahan. Subs. - Chris Gordon for Kelly (31), Jamie Larkin Furlong for Power, inj (43).
NAOMH EANNA: Larry Cullen; John Doyle, Nathan Byrne (0-1), Evan O’Dwyer; Joseph O’Connor (0-1), Simon Doran (capt.), Eoin McGuckin; Stephen Byrne, Michael Molloy (0-7 frees); Paul Timmons, John O’Brien (Cork), Michael Bernie (0-1); Martin O’Donnell, Ryan Higgins (1-1), Ciaran Sheridan. Subs. Darragh Cullen (0-1) for Sheridan (31), C. Sheridan for O’Donnell (46).