Calry-St Joseph’s retain their status
Senior Championship Group One – Round Five Calry-St Joseph’s 2-7 St Farnan’s 1-9
ST FARNAN’S: infringement on Benedict Nwani in the St Farnan’s goalmouth. St Farnan’s responded with a goal from Thomas Cawley from a move started by Matthew Lang, with Fionn Connolly also involved. A third point from Patrick O’Connor for St Farnan’s was then cancelled out by Brian Callaghan’s point for Calry-St Joseph’s. Calry-St Joseph’s, for whom Brian Cox was excellent, didn’t score for the remainder of the opening period. Three unanswered points from St Farnan’s, all by Patrick O’Connor, left Calry-St Joseph’s facing a four-point deficit at the break.
The second-half, which was just as tense as the first-half, began with a glimmer of a goal chance for St Farnan’s but Fionn Connolly failed to trouble Aidan Devaney.
Another point from Patrick O’Connor increased the margin to five points, 1-7 to 1-2, but then disaster struck for St Farnan’s when Fionn Connolly picked up a second yellow with 15 minutes of normal time left. Calry-St Joseph’s had begun to play with more cohesion at this stage and four points without reply, including two converted frees from Daire O’Boyle, brought them to within a point of their opponents, 1-7 to 1-6.
Yet another point from Patrick O’Connor moved St Farnan’s further ahead but then came a major turning point for Calry-St Joseph’s when substitute Conor Griffin goaled from Damien O’Boyle’s assist after Brian Callaghan played a big part in the build-up.
Calry-St Joseph’s were ahead for the first time, 2-6 to 1-8, and then boosted by Patrick O’Connor’s dismissal. A black card for Calry-St Joseph’s substitute meant it was 14 versus 13 for the closing stages.
Kevin McGee equalised for St Farnan’s when he flicked over from Gavin Connolly’s long-range free attempt. The drama wasn’t finished as Damien O’Boyle, pictured above, achieved hero status with his late score for Calry-St Joseph’s. Meanwhile, ex-Calry-St
Joseph’s player Darragh
Cummins started at centre-back for St Vincent’s in their Dublin GAA Senior 1 Football Championship quarter-final loss to Raheny, 0-14 to 1-8, last Sunday afternoon at Parnell Park.
In the same competition, Sligo player Pat Spillane – an inter-county team-mate of Cummins – helped St Jude’s progress to the semi-finals following their one-point defeat of Cuala, 2-11 to 2-10.
Player of the Match: Brian Cox
Calry-St Joseph’s: Aidan Devaney, Conor Stinchon, Cormac Coyne, Brian Shannon, Eoin Nicholson, Brian Cox, Dara Foy,
Mark Flanagan, Damien O’Boyle (0-1),
Brian Callaghan (0-1), Eoin Doherty (0-2), Benedict Nwani, Gavin Lynch (1-1, 1-0 pen, 1f), Daire O’Boyle (0-2, 2f), Conor McGovern Subs used: Michael Flynn, Conor Griffin (1-0)
St Farnan’s: Simon Mullarkey, James Weir, Conor Gordon, Ronan Molloy, Trevor Kilgannon, Matthew Lang, Shane O’Brien, Gavin Connolly, Kevin McGee (0-1), Martin Mulligan, Ciaran O’Connor, Fionn Connolly, James Golden, Patrick O’Connor (0-8, 6f, 1 ‘mark’), Thomas Cawley (1-0)
Subs used: David Hallinan, Niall Hallinan
Referee: Gavin Cawley