Mangan stars as Donard get the better of Carnew men
DONARD-THE GLEN 2-14 CARNEW EMMETS 1-11 LAST time out it was Alan Daly who stole the show for DonardThe Glen, but it was his attacking colleague Harry Mangan who can rightly claim the plaudits after his tally of 1-06 and his tormenting of the Carnew defence went along way to earning his side a precious victory in the Intermediate football championship.
That’s not to say that Alan Daly didn’t bring something to bear on this game. He played a more supporting role for much of the game and was well wrapped up by a fine defensive job from Andrew Hughes but Daly came good in the end with a splendid 1-01 to put the tie to bed once and for all.
This was always going to be a tricky game for Donard-The Glen. The men of Carnew are always a dogged and determined group of players who enjoy a physical joust and for much of the first half Casey O’Brien’s men were the better team with Donard looked out of sorts.
In fact, Jack Doyle should have goaled in the opening moments for Carnew which would have given this game a completely different complexion. The midfield pair of Laim and Thomas Kennedy linked up and Thomas Kennedy flicked a handpass over Kevin Osborne’s head but the pass was too close to Colm Toomey on the Donard line and he interfered with Doyle just enough to thwart his efforts.
Carnew did win a free however as Donard cleared the ball which Enda Donohue pointed to get them off the mark.
The Wexford border side were lining out without men such as Brendan McCrea, although he was on the line, Conal McCrea and Timmy Collins, who was suspended, and Seanie Kinsella but it was former Clonmore attacker Owen Coleman who dominated the early stages with three points to put Carnew 0-04 to 0-01 ahead with Donard’s only score coming from a fine Liam Mullen effort off his left.
A Donohue 45 was answered by a lovely Harry Mangan effort and then Alan Daly brought a great save out of Thomas Kinsella in the Carnew goal and the ball fell kindly to Laim Mullen who also went for goal but Niall Osborne got a hand to it to direct it over the bar to make it 0-05 to 0-03 in favour of Carnew.
Owen Coleman and Pádraig Doran pointed from play but Mangan and two points from Brian Lennon, one from a free, sent Carnew in leading by one at the break, 0-07 to 0-06.
Carnew continued on the upward trend with an Owen Coleman point from the fist shortly after the restart but then things took a turn for the worst.
A sloppy looking trailing leg from full-back TJ Hennessy earned a penalty decision from Anthony Nolan and Mangan rifled home past Kinsella even though the Carnew keeper guessed correctly.
But things took a dramatic turn moments later when Coleman latched on to a loose ball with his foot and the ball made it across the donard line. Carnew back in front and Brendan McCrea entered the fray for Casey O’Brien’s men and Willie Rooney came in for Donard.
Enda Donohue pointed a free won by McCrea but Harry Mangan replied instantly with a converted free of his own. Conor Kelly and Ray Halloran were sent in by the Donard-the Glen management and things started to turn in their favour.
Alan Daly slapped down a high ball to Mangan. Point. Mangan sent over a free and Carnew lost TJ Hennessy to a black followed by a red card. Sides level.
Mangan again with a Coleman reply but then Alan Daly cut loose thanks to a monstrous run from Mikey Daly and Alan rocketed home past Thomas Kinsella. He followed it up with a sublime point and it was game over with Donard-The Glen recording a 2-14 to 1-11 victory to keep their IFC title aspirations well and truly alive.
Scorers – Donard-The Glen: Harry Mangan 1-06 (p, 1f); Brian Lennon 0-04 (3f); Alan Daly 1-02; Liam Mullen 0-02 (1f).
Carnew Emmets: Owen Coleman 1-05 (1f); Enda Donohue 0-04 (3f, 1 45); Pádraig Doran 0-01.
Donard-The Glen: Colm Toomey; Mikey Daly, Alan Tutty, Kevin Osborne; Gerard Healy, Colin Osborne, Bill Flynn; John Hanbidge, Brian Lennon; Eoin Kelly, Alan Daly, Dermot Daly; Harry Mangan, Liam Mullen, Kevin Kealy. Subs: Willie Rooney for G Healy (41min); Conor Kelly for E Kelly (46min); Ray Halloran for D Daly (50min).
Carnew Emmets: Thomas Kinsella; Willie Collins, TJ Hennessy, Cormac Doyle; Niall Osborne, Andrew Hughes, Mark Collins; Thomas Kennedy, Liam Kennedy; Nick Skelton, Pádraig Doran, William Osborne; Owen Coleman, Enda Donohue, Jack Doyle. Subs: Brendan McCrea for N Skelton (40min); Billy Rickerby for TJ Hennessy (BC).
Referee: Anthony Nolan