Naomh Eanna shake off strong challenge for second victory
NAOMH EANNA DAVIDSTOWN-C’CUDDY
NAOMH ÉANNA secured their second Group A win in the Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior football championship when they saw off a strong challenge from Davidstown-Courtnacuddy in St. Patrick’s Park on Sunday.
While the eventual victors looked like the stronger side for lengthy periods of the game, they were never assured of their win as their opponents pushed them all the way but just couldn’t find the scores that they worked so hard for.
The Enniscorthy District side gave themselves every opportunity of securing their first win as they got off to a flyer, hitting two goals in the first five minutes thanks to Alan Hickey and Barry Nolan.
Stephen Byrne and Seán Delaney were proving accurate for the Gorey town side but so too was Stephen Kennedy for their opponents, hitting two beautiful placed balls midway through the half.
There was five between the sides after Timmy Morrissey and Michael Molloy traded scores, but Naomh Éanna were then given a great boost when Molloy linked up with Darragh Hughes to set up John O’Brien who fisted the ball to the net, leaving two between the sides at the break.
It always seemed that there was more in this Naomh Éanna side and that proved to be the case as they hit 1-4 without reply in the early exchanges of the new period, with the goal coming from Conor Hughes who read the flight of the ball perfectly, slipping inside the defence and finishing calmly.
Davidstown-Courtnacuddy were shaken but got back to business midway through the half and, with some great work all over the field, they hit three unanswered points from Stephen Kennedy, James Doyle and Eoin Keane.
However, they failed to grasp an equaliser after two squandered chances with ten minutes remaining in the game.
This gave the Gorey side the confidence to finish out the game.
And with points from Shane Stokes and John Doyle they sealed their second win of the campaign and in doing so, left Davidstown-Cournacuddy still in search of their first victory and needing to beat Shamrocks to avoid a relegation final.
Naomh Éanna: Kenneth Byrne; John Doyle (0-1), Tom Stafford, John Lillis; Nathan Byrne, Simon Doran, Evan O’Dwyer; Stephen Byrne (0-2), Darragh Cullen; Conor Hughes (1-0), Darragh Hughes (0-1), Michael Molloy (0-1); Seán Delaney (0-4, 1 free), Niall Kirwan, John O’Brien (1-2). Subs. - Shane Stokes (0-1) for Kirwan, Paul Timmons for Cullen.
Davidstown-Courtnacuddy: Stephen Dunbar; Mick Power, Darragh Cooper, Luke Harrington; Danny Delaney, Paddy Kennedy, Barry Nolan (1-0); Pádraig Loughlin, Timmy Morrissey (0-1); James Doyle (0-1), James Kelly (0-3, 1 free), Mark Murphy; Kieron McCabe, Stephen Kennedy (0-3 frees), Alan Hickey (1-0). Subs. - Eoin Keane (0-1) for McCabe, Dylan Martin for Hickey.
Referee: Michael Gannon (Horeswood).