Kelly dominates as Pat’s power past Coolkenno
at Aughrim Dalton at full-forward and with Don Jackman in midfield for the throw in. They quickly swopped places and slowly the men from the Carlow border began to steady the ship.
Early on Paudge McWalter was coming forward from centre back on his familiar attacking runs but he soon needed to stay back home as Coolkenno established a short period of dominance. Don Jackman opened their account with one of his trademark points on the run after six minutes. Almost from the kick out, he gained possession again and set up Brian Rossiter for the leveller.
On the quarter hour mark, Paddy Dalton delivered a brilliant foot pass to Conor Walker from distance. It took out his marker and Conor duly delivered the lead to Coolkenno.
Tommy Kelly levelled matters again from a free a minute later.
St. Pat’s wing forwards John Crowe and Rory Marron were coming very far back into Coolkenno territory for possession and with Dean Healy coming more into the game at centre field, Robert Hollingsworth’s moved up a gear.
However, they were wasteful of their chances and the wide count began to rise. Coolkenno had a lucky escape when a Conor French shot for a goal came back off the crossbar after 20 minutes.
Despite enjoying a period of possession, St. Pat’s did not score again until Eamon Wolfe put them ahead with a point from play three minutes before the break. Conor Walker levelled matters as we moved into injury time but a pointed Tommy Kelly free left Pat’s ahead by 0-5 to 0-4 at half-time.
Coolkenno had held their opponents well in that first half but needed to reassert themselves quickly early in the second period.
However, three Tommy Kelly frees in a row had the game at double scores at 0-8 to 0-4 by six minutes. A James Gregan point from play on 10 minutes was responded to by Brian Doyle who was knocking over his second of the game.
Conor Walker pulled one back but once again Tommy Kelly countered with a point from play. For a short period just after the three quarter stage we witnessed a little bit of vintage Don Jackman. First he landed a long range point from the hand and almost immediately scored another on the run from thirty metres. With just two points between the sides at this stage, Coolkenno needed to keep the momentum going but it was in the other direction that the pendulum swung.
As Coolkenno began to falter, St. Pats scored 1-5 in the last 10 minutes – points from Brian Doyle, Tommy Kelly, John Crowe, a Kelly free followed by the games only goal from the hard working Dean Healy and Kelly again from a free closed the scoring to leave St. Pat’s deserving winners.
The final score line looks a little flattering to the winners but in fairness to them they squandered many scoring chances in the second quarter and should have built a better lead by half-time. For their part, Coolkenno stuck to their task well for 50y minutes but were unable to counter the St. Pat’s surge in the final 10 minutes.
Scorers - St. Pat’s: Tommy Kelly 0-10 (5f), Brian Doyle 0-3, Dean Healy 1-0, Eamon Wolfe 0-1, John Crowe 0-1.
Coolkenno: Conor Walker 0-3, Don Jackman 0-3 (1f), Brian Rossiter 0-1, James Gregan 0-1.
St. Pat’s: Ian Murphy; Emmet Cullen, Padraig Higgins, Ciaran Doyle; Niall Donnelly, Paudge McWalter, Wayne Doyle; Dean Healy, John Delahunt; John Crowe, Brian Doyle, Rory Marron; Conor French, Tommy Kelly, Eamon Wolfe. Subs: Shane Doyle for John Delahunt, Daragh O’Sullivan for Rory Marron.
Coolkenno: John Corcoran; Willie Doyle, Cathal Rossiter, Shane Walker; James Gregan, Stevie Cush, Bob Keogh; Jim Cush, Don Jackman; Brian Rossiter, Colin Murphy, Conor Walker; Eoghan Dolan, Paddy Dalton, Paul Murphy. Subs: Ben Jackman for Colin Murphy, David Tompkins for Eoghan Dolan, Barry Doyle for Paul Murphy, Colin Murphy for Stevie Cush (blood sub), Colin Murphy for Cathal Rossiter (BC).
Referee: Ciaran Fleming.