Room for improveme
Glen Emmets 0-10
St Nicholas 0-7
THE conditions were atrocious and their subs bench is bursting at the seams with talent, but 2014 finalists Glen Emmets have work to do to make amends for last year’s crushing disappointment.
With Conor Grimes and Eamonn Mullen held in reserve and Damien Grimes ruled out altogether, the Tullyallen men struggled to break down a resolute Nick’s side, who may well have caused one of the shocks of the summer but for a harsh red card call five minutes before half-time.
There was no question Declan Heeney caught Keith Lynch neckhigh and the challenge did warrant a card, but the straight red Paul Finnegan produced seemed to catch everyone by surprise, particularly given the treacherous underfoot conditions.
The Nicks were 0-4 to 0-1 up at that stage and definitely seemed to have their more illustrious opponents rattled.
Kevin Barry certainly felt action was required, sending in Mullen after 20 minutes and Conor Grimes five minutes after the break and it’s fair to say both substitutions had a positive effect.
And yet, as Emmets toiled to gain a foothold in the contest it was hard to wonder what might have been for the Nicks.
Roy Kierans kicked them into the lead after a minute and while Ronan Grufferty hit back on eight minutes, the Nicks pushed on impressively with a couple of fine points from Patrick Murtagh and a free from Brian Kierans.
Murtagh’s two points summed up Emmets first-half travails as he kicked the first and then won possession straight from the kick-out to add his second from a tight angle.
The Tullyallen side’s turnover count was way too high and they went a whopping 20 minutes without a score.