Glenealy get the job done First half goals sink Avondale

Energetic corner-forward Jamie Byrne (2), blood sub Jack Kavanagh and Danny Staunton added points from play to stretch out the lead to 0-4 by 25 minutes.

In addition Glenealy recorded six wides in this period of dominance.

The hard working Eamon Kearns landed an Avondale point from a ‘65’at this stage but in the final five minutes Glenealy finally pierced the Dales rearguard.

First Danny Staunton placed a great shot out of Tom Finn’s reach and just inside his right hand post on 28 minutes and this was followed by another major from Aaron Nugent just on the break.

Leading by 2-7 to 0-4, Glenealy would probably have felt that this was a clearer reflection of their dominance during the first period. However, Avondale still had the use of the stiff breeze from the Town goal to come in the second half.

Glenealy began after the break as they had finished the first half. Jack Kavanagh had replaced Jamie Byrne at half time. Both he and Danny Staunton added points from play in addition to a pointed free from Aaron Nugent to stretch the gap to 12 points before Eamon Kearns opened the Avondale account with an outfield point after 13 minutes.

Aaron Nugent responded from play but from here to the end the Rathdrum men enjoyed their best period in the game. Ray Nolan, who seemed to have moved outfield to play a deeper role, pointed a free and he added another by 20 minutes.

Niall Heffernan (2), Eamon Kearns (2) and a wonderful long range effort from corner back Jim Doyle completed the Avondale total to 12 points. The only response came from Jack Kavanagh with five minutes to go.

A feature of the second half was the Tom Finn puck outs, landing for the most part on or near the Glenealy 20 metre line.

While the outcome of the game was clear from early in the second half, it was good to see Avondale stick to their task and they scored some excellent points in the final quarter. GLENEALY SCORERS: Danny Staunton (1-3), Aaron Nugent (1-2), Jamie Byrne (03), Jack Kavanagh (0-3), Nigel Driver (0-1). AVONDALE: Eamon Kearns (0-5), Ray Nolan (0-3), Niall Heffernan (0-2), Dean Gahan (0-1), Jim Doyle (0-1). GLENEALY: Joey Driver, Declan Conyard, Wesley Manning, Robert Byrne, Emmet Byrne, Tommy Doyle, Joe Driver (Jr), Warren Kavanagh, Nigel Driver, Eanna Glynn, Gavin Byrne, John Manley, Danny Staunton, Aaron Nugent, Jamie Byrne. Subs: Michael O’Neill for Joe Driver (Jr) inj, Jack Kavanagh for Jamie Byrne, Paul O’Brien for Nigel Driver. AVONDALE: Tom Finn, Michael O’Toole, Eugene Dunne, Jim Doyle, Conor Sheehan, Keith Byrne, Owen Heffernan, Brian Hanlon, Eamon Kearns, Dean Gahan, Niall Heffernan, Danny Owens, Dermot Phelan, Ray Nolan, Craig Byrne. Subs: Paul Gahan for Craig Byrne, Ronan Doyle for Dermot Phelan, Dylan Kearns for Brian Hanlon. REFEREE: Ciaran O’Shea.