Byrne sending off was key
THREE goals over the hour helped Carnew Emmets emerge victorious from this highly entertaining IHC clash with Arklow Rock Parnells in Pearse’s Park, Arklow, last Friday night.
The loss of full-forward Philip Byrne to a red card in the 17th minute of this game was certainly one of the main reasons for the defeat for the Rocks, who were looking very competitive at that stage with a 0-04 to 0-01 lead under their belts.
With Byrne dismissed by referee John Keenan, Carnew started to dominate in certain sectors of the field and a sweet Jody Byrne goal on 20 minutes was followed three minutes later by a Joe Hughes rasper and at halftime the Carnew men led by 2-07 to 0-07 on a beautiful evening for a game of hurling.
It had all looked so promising for the Rocks. With Jason Redmond proving very effective from the placed balls and productive play from the likes of Patrick Mellon, Conor Doyle, and Philip Byrne, the Arklow men were in robust form all over the field.
An early Charles Monaghan point in the opening minute was followed by a cracker of a Patrick Mellon free after Seanie Kinsella had fouled Conor Doyle out the field.
The Rocks were doing all the pressing early on and a long ball from Conor Doyle to Monaghan, named at centre-half forward but playing on the edge of the Carnew square, had potential but Carnew’s Paul Nolan gathered but his clearance went to Kevin O’Reilly but the half-forward’s shot was wide of the target.
And the Rocks were defending well at the other end. A beauty of a puck out from Bob Fitzgerald found Seanie Kinsella who fired in a lovely ball to Jody Byrne who caught superbly but his shot was blocked and John Furlong cleared the danger.
Charles Monaghan went wide from a tight angle and this miss was followed by a wayward Conor Doyle shot as the play moved swiftly up and down the field.
Fine hooking by Niall Osborne was undone when he fouled Kevin O’Reilly and Jason Redmond lashed the ball over the bar from the free to make it 0-03 to 0-00 after 10 minutes.
A foul on the ball by Bob Fitzgerald provided Redmond with an easy chance for another score and the Arklow sharpshooter obliged with a fine effort and the Rocks were looking very good.
Michael Collins stopped the rot for Carnew with a lovely free from way out and then things took a slight turn for the worst for the Rocks when an altercation between two players brought Philip Byrne into the equation and he appeared to make minor contact with his head with the back of Niall Osborne’s head and John Keenan immediately flashed a red card in his direction much to the chagrin of his colleagues on the field. Niall Osborne collected a yellow for his agricultural treatment of a Rocks man just before this incident.
Redmond pointed a free after Dean Barnes had overcarried in defence and Michael Collins kept Carnew ticking over with another point and then Seanie Kinsella picked out Jody Byrne who turned and walloped home past Patrick Kinsella for the game’s opening goal.
Credit must go to the hard work of Billy Rickerby in the making of this goal as well.
A Jody Byrne point was followed by a Dean Grandy effort and suddenly Carnew were leading by 1-04 to 0-06 and then Rickerby fed Joe Hughes and the Rocks were left reeling when the centre-half forward hit the back of the net to make it 2-05 to 0-06 in the blink of an eye.
Credit to the Rocks, they kept plugging away. Patrick Mellon fired over a free from distance but Dean Grandy added two frees for Carnew to leave the score at 2-07 to 0-07 at the break. The Rocks were probably going to need goals but, unfortunately, that’s one thing they didn’t really look like getting.
They did enjoy a super start to the second half, however. Charles Monaghan splitting the posts after 20 seconds. Kevin O’Reilly followed this with a wide but he then profited from a poor Bob Fitzgerald puck out and fired over to make it 2-07 to 0-09.
Dean Grandy was proving very capable on the frees for Carnew and he added another before Patrick Mellon replied for the Rocks and John Furlong kept the recovery going with a lovely score after nine minutes of the second period to make it 2-08 to 0-10 in favour of Carnew.
Indeed, thing were looking very promising at this stage for the Rocks with two further points added, the first from Conor Doyle after he collected a quick free from Mellon, and the second from a free by Jason Redmond to leave just two between the sides and 18 minutes left on the match clock.
But disaster struck moments later when a Dean Grandy 65 sailed in over the heads of Patrick Kinsella and two defenders and came to rest in the back of the Rocks net to leave it 3-08 to 0-12.
But this Rocks team are made of durable stuff. They kept taking the game to Carnew despite the body blow and Olaigh Redmond and Jason Redmond raised white flags to eat into that Carnew lead yet again.
But clever play from substitute Gary Doran over the remainder of the game, which included scoring a point after 22 minutes, two more free from Dean Grandy, an excellent Billy Rickerby point at the death, coupled with resolute defensive work, meant that the four late points for Rocks, two from Conor Doyle (frees), and two Jason Redmond frees were not going to be enough despite a gallant effort.
Victory for Carnew who were very well served by Paul Nolan, Niall Osborne, Billy Rickerby, Michael Collins, Dean Grandy and Jody Byrne.
The Rocks must regroup now. They have some fine players in Jason Redmond, Conor Doyle, Martin Gilbert, and Patrick Mellon and they can still cause considerable damage in this very interesting competition.
Scorers – Carnew Emmets: Dean Grandy 1-06 (5f, 2 65); Jody Byrne 1-01; Michael Collins 0-02 (1f); Cormac Doyle 0-01; Joe Hughes 1-00; Gary Doran 0-01; Billy Rickerby 0-01.
Arklow Rock Parnells: Jason Redmond 0-08 (8f); Patrick Mellon 0-03 (3f); Charles Monaghan 0-01; Conor Doyle 0-03 (2f); John Furlong 0-01; Kevin O’Reilly 0-01; Olaigh Redmond 0-01.
Carnew Emmets: Bob Fitzgerald; Tommy McGing, Paul Nolan, Dean Barnes; Niall Osborne, Dan Nolan, Martin Molloy; Seanie Kinsella, Billy Rickerby; Cormac Doyle, Joe Hughes, Michael Collins; Dean Grandy, Jody Byrne, Steven Carter. Subs: Richard O’Hara for D Nolan (H/T); Patrick Nolan for J Hughes; Gary Doran for S Kinsella (inj); Thomas Collins for
Arklow Rocks: Patrick Kinsella; Sean Pierce, Martin Gilbert, Craig Kelly; Colin O’Connor, Patrick Mellon, Eamonn Doyle; Conor Doyle, John Furlong; Kevin O’Reilly, Charles Monaghan, Jason Redmond; James Dignam, Philip Byrne, Olaigh Redmond. Subs: Cian Doyle for J Dignam (47min).
Referee: John Keenan (Aughrim)