Carnew hold on for victory Early blitz caused damage

to be safe, and brightened at the end by a spirited Michael Dwyers comeback that failed to rectify the 2-08 to 0-02 deficit which Jim Bob Doyle’s men had engineered by the ninth minute of the second half.

The standard of shooting and shot selection was abysmal at times and vast improvements would need to be made if either of these teams is to make any progress.

Dwyers’ Ross Coogan opened the scoring after two minutes of play after an Adam Barnes wide was the first action registered.

In a highly forgettable first half, Cillian Gilligan’s goal that limped over the Michael Dwyers line after 17 minutes was probably the high point.

Carnew Emmets led by 1-03 to 0-02 at the break and the Michael Dwyers players felt the full wrath of Nigel Byrne’s frustration during the half-time team talk.

Byrne’s message didn’t seem to be taken on board from the restart, however. Dean Grandy fired over an outrageous point after 40 seconds followed by a sweet Cillian Gilligan score and suddenly it was all Carnew as they blitzed the home side’s defence.

Points from Jack Doyle, John Doyle, Paudie McGing, and Carnew’s second goal from the fist of Sean Murphy left it 2-08 to 0-02 for the visitors.

Home and hosed you would have thought.

But maybe Nigel Byrne’s words did have an effect.

Substitute Steven Coogan fired over a good point to get the ball rolling as the Dwyers started to play a bit of football.

A Ruairi Phelan shot took a deflection off Jack Doyle and ended up in the back of Martin Murphy’s net. Game on at 2-08 to 1-03 with 15 gone in the second.

Ruairi Phelan pointed, Padraig O’Toole added a point and then another and it was 2-08 to 1-06.

Carnew gathered their thoughts and burst upfield only for Sean Murphy to fire wide, but the pressure was relieved.

Back Dwyers came but they couldn’t breach the Carnew defence to any great extent despite getting themselves in decent positions.

Mark Murphy brought it to a four-point game close to the end after Ross Coogan tried to hammer home a close-in free only for Martin Murphy to block on the line.

The final say of the night went to Colm Keogh who dropped over a lovely score ball to leave three between the sides at 2-08 to 1-08 and so it would stay, as referee Keith Peppard sounded the final whistle shortly after.

Carnew Emmets: 1. Martin Murphy; 2. Seamus Mulhall, 3. James Gregan; 5. Niall Crosby, 6. Adam Barnes, 7. Jack Doyle; 9. Dean Grandy; 10. John Doyle, 11. Adam Hughes, 12. Paudie McGing; 13. Cillian Gilligan, 15. Sean Murphy.

Michael Dwyers: 1. Conor Hanly; 2. Padraig O’Toole, 3. Jamie Daly, 5. Adam Wynne, 16. Aaron Byrne, 7. Alan Byrne, 11. Steven Coogan, 12. Aaron O’Neill, 13. Niall Gartland, 14. Jonathan Donegan, 15. Ross Coogan, 16. Colm Keogh, 18. Bryan Kearney, 19. Ruairi Phelan, 20. Andy Foley, 23. Noel Byrne, 19. Mark Murphy

Referee: Keith Peppard (Hollywood)