Abán justifying favouritism with run to the semi-finals

Naomh Abán 2-6 St Vincents 0-10

NAOMH Abán justified the early season optimism surrounding their championship chances by booking their place in the last four of the PIFC thanks to two point win over St Vincent’s last weekend.

On a difficult evening for anything like good football, the Gaeltacht side showed their will to win can’t be quenched by Mother Nature with a dogged display with their two majors proving to be the key moments in this one.

Maidhc O’Duinnin got the ball rolling for the victors with a classy point before teammate Niall O’Ceallaigh netted to rock the men in green to the core.

St Vincent’s responded with a pair of points from Blake Murphy and another from Cian Barry during a period when the Seandún men were able to keep Naomh Abán scoreless.

Further Vincent’s points followed as Naomh Abán fell behind for the first time but credit to the boys in blue they stuck to their game plan and wrestled back control with points from Diarmuid Ó’Ceallaigh and O’Duinnin before the former finished a penalty past Paddy O’Shea in the Vincent’s goal.

Naomh Abán came in for some serious pressure from that point on however the rear-guard set did well to scupper the attacking threat before a huge score from Diarmuid O’ Scannaill sent the spoils the way of the Muskerry men

For St Vincent’s, it would ultimately be too difficult on this occasion to progress as a lack of a genuine goal threat would ultimately cost them victory. Considering the conditions 10 points is a very credible tally but the lack of a goal from Vincent’s and that fact that Naomh Abán netted twice, but scored less times than the vanquished side with be of little consolation to a team that came into this one with a real chance of causing an upset.

Naomh Abán will take some beating this year and with a place in the showpiece game just 60 minutes or so away it would be hard to bet against them making a genuine push for senior status.