Super Saints take giant step towards last eight
ST KEVINS got their bid for Junior Championship glory up and running with victory over Sean McDermotts at Stabannon on Saturday night.
Although there were just five points between the teams at the end, this was a more comfortable victory than the scoreline suggested as the Kevins looked the likely winners from a long way out.
The Philipstown men played some good football in the first half and landed some fine scores and only the concession of a penalty goal denied them building up a bigger lead at the break.
Once that lead was stretched to seven early in the second half, the Kevins were content to keep the Seans at arm’s length and rarely looked in danger of letting the initiative slip.
To their credit, the McDermotts battled for everything but despite a late goal from Patrick Osborne, they didn’t carry the necessary threat in front of the posts.
The Kevins set the tone for the night inside 30 seconds when Seanie Crosbie landed a point and their quick movement and ability to open up space created a series of chances which resulted in Cian Callan, Lee Crosbie and Paul Duff adding points.
It was looking very comfortable for their side at that stage but they were briefly stopped in their tracks when a foul on Kevin McGahon allowed Lorcan Myles to find the net from the penalty spot.
However, the young Kevins attack continued to stretch the opposition defence with some good link-up play, resulting in scores for Callan (2), Lee Crosbie and Liam Boylan, while only a slip in front of the posts denied Callan a goal after another incisive move.
Late scores from Tony Kelly and Callan again saw the Kevins lead by 0-9 to 1-1 at the break, which didn’t reflect their dominance.
When Callan added two points inside as many minutes at the start of the second half there was never going to be any way back. The Mountrush men gave all they had with Peter Osbourne driving them forward but at this stage the Kevins had retreated deeper in a bid to consolidate their lead and gave their opponents very few opportunities.
Any lingering doubt about the outcome when Patrick Clarke got on the end of an excellent Seanie Crosbie pass and fired to the roof of the Seans net to make it 1-11 to 1-3 with ten minute remaining.
The Seans fought to the end and after Tony Kelly pulled back a point, a long range free from Peter Osborne wasn’t dealt with by the Kevin’s defence and Patrick Osborne scrambled the ball over the line.
With just four points between them once again, there was brief hope for the McDermotts but the Kevins remained composed and comfortably held out for the win. The Philipstown men can confirm their place at the top of the group with victory over Cuchulainn Gaels this weekend. ST KEVINS: Conor Callan; Barry Byrne, Ciaran Lynch, Aaron Roche; Darren McMahon, Patrick Duff, Liam Boylan 0-1; Andrew Campbell, David Smith; Patrick Clarke 1-1, Lee Crosbie 0-2, Cian Callan 0-6 (3f); Paul Duff 0-1, Seanie Crosbie 0-1, Aaron Khan. Subs: Enda McKenna for C Lynch, Aidan Craven for L Crosbie, Michael McKenna for A Roche.
SEAN MCDERMOTTS: David Brennan; David Balfe, Ciaran McMahon, Daniel Reilly; Ian Corbally, Peter Osborne, Kevin McGahon; Sean McMahon, Tony Kelly 0-3 (2f); BJ Matthews, Kevin Carroll, Lorcan Myles 1-0 (pen); David O’Neill 0-1, Kevin McMahon, Patrick Osborne 1-0. Subs: Emmet Duffy for BJ Matthews, Lorcan Ludden for K McGahon, Danny Commins for D Balfe, Ronan Curran of D Reilly, Brendan McGahon for D O’Neill.
REFEREE: John Murphy.