Kearns grabs vital Monageer major

A SECOND-HALF Peter Kearns goal proved decisive as Monageer-Boolavogue eventually edged their way to a deserved five-point victory over Starlights in this Junior football championship quarter-final at rain-swept Ferns on Sunday last.

Both sides struggled through the opening 30 minutes in the slippery conditions with many mis-directed passses, while scoring was limited as the respective attacks kicked numerous wides in their efforts to find the target.

Monageer-Boolavogue enjoyed the brightest start with points from James Sweeney and Bertie Gahan inside the opening seven minutes, before the town side opened their account one minute later through a Tom Ryan point. The sides were deadlocked on 0-2 each at the end of the opening quarter, with the Starlights’ second point courtesy of a Jack Hanley free.

With very little pattern to the game, the eventual winners finished the half strongest, adding late points through a Peter Kearns free and Bertie Gahan to go in leading by 0-5 to 0-4 at the interval.

Monageer-Boolavogue played their best football into the stiff breeze, resuming with two quickfire points from Kearns and Michael Sweeney, before points from John Daly and Tom Ryan kept the Stars in touch.

After a Richie Farrell point had brought the sides level, the decisive score arrived in the 43rd minute when full-forward Kearns fired a shot across ’keeper Mick O’Toole into the opposite corner of the net, a score that drove them on to eventual victory as their opponents were unable to create a worthwhile impression in attack.

Monageer-Boolavogue: Seán McCabe; Brian O’Loughlin, Chris Daly, Declan Kelly; Denis Walsh, Paddy Breen (0-1), Niall O’Reilly; Damien Fenlon, Colm O’Loughlin (0-1); Michael Sweeney (0-2, 1 free), Shane Kehoe, Mark Gahan (0-1); Bertie Gahan (0-2), Peter Kearns (1-4, 0-1 free), James Sweeney (0-1). Subs. - Dean Fenlon (0-1) for Walsh, Niall O’Loughlin for Damien Fenlon.

Starlights: Mick O’Toole; Joe Carley, Maurice Donohoe, Wayne Breen; Mark Redmond, Killian Lett, Seán Cloherty; John Daly (0-1), Richie Farrell (0-5, 3 frees); Pa O’Rourke (0-1), Adrian Fenlon, Tom Ryan (0-1); Eamonn Furlong, Adrian Maher, Jack Hanley (0-2 frees). Subs. - Lenny Connolly for O’Rourke, Stephen McGorman for Hanley, Oisín Dunbar for Ryan, Damien O’Brien for Donohoe, Nick Doyle for Furlong.

Referee: Paul Browne (Clonee).