Gaels come out on top
DESPITE looking like they were going to canter to an easy victory over Carnew last Wednesday evening, Pearse Gaels ended up being fortunate to escape from the Wexford border with a one-point victory after the home side rallied in the second half.
Leading by 1-09 to 0-04 at the break, the northerners had bossed the opening 30 minutes of this 13-a-side clash with their impressive physical size and no shortage of footballing ability.
Jordan Murray had been to the fore in that opening half from placed balls as he swung over free after free with a sublime kicking action off his left foot.
Indeed, Murray had opened the scoring after 60 seconds from a free before Eoghan Dolan grabbed the early equaliser for the home side.
But Carnew’s failure to pick up loose men led to Pearse Gaels going on something of a rampage with points from Seán Gregory, Murray from four more frees and one from play, Luke Evans (2), and a Aaron Toner goal to leave the visitors with a commanding 1-09 to 0-04 lead at the break. Surely no way back for a team who lost Adam Barnes to what looked like a hamstring injury in the process of this defeat.
But shortly after the re-start, midfielder Justin House got on the end of a deflected effort for a point from Dan O’Neill and he sidefooted off the outside of his boot in past Cian Staunton to give his side a real lifeline.
House pointed shortly afterwards as Carnew seemed to stir from the first half slumber but their flow was broken when an Adam Doyle free dropped short into the Pearse Gaels goalmouth and was cleared up the field where Ryan Heffernan dropped over a sweet score to make it 1-10 to 1-06 for the visitors.
A wide from Carnew full-back James Gregan was followed by an Eoghan Dolan point to reduce the arrears to three and then a John Doyle effort after good work from Dolan left just two between the sides.
Aaron Toner fire wide after collecting a dangerous ball inside and then Ken Turner pointed a free after 18 minutes of the second half to return the lead to three points for Pearse Gaels.
Carnew rallied again and two Cillian Gilligan pointed frees left the bare minimum between the teams but a sweet Cormac Doyle effort pushed the lead out to two points and time ran out for Carnew to launch an attack from which they might have snatched a late match-winning goal.
The winners were very well served by Conor O’Toole who is a formidable sight in the full-back line but who is also incredibly mobile and willing to burst forward at will.
Aaron Toner was ambitious, Jordan Murray was sublime for the frees and could be a serious talent at higher levels if he’s looked after. Ken Turner, Cal Connolly, Cormac Doyle, Luke Evans, Seán Gregory and the entire Pearse Gaels contingent put in a commendable shift and with some big names to return to the panel they will be a tough outfit to get the better of.
Carnew’s Justin House was the driving force that got Carnew back into the game and he was ably assisted by Eoghan Dolan, Adam Doyle, Dan O’Neill, and Cillian Gilligan.
Pearse Gaels: Cian Staunton (1), Conor O’Toole (3), Aaron Toner (4), Jack Mockler (5), Jordan Murray (6), Ken Turner (7), Cal Connolly (8), Cormac Doyle (9), Luke Evans (10), Seán Gregory (11), Ryan Heffernan (12), Kyle Duffy (13, Killian Hannon (14).
Carnew Emmets: Martin Murphy (1), Seamus Mulhall (2), James Gregan (3), Niall Bailey (5), Adam Barnes (6), Adam Hughes (7), Justin House (8), Eoghan Dolan (9), Paidi McGing (10), Adam Doyle (11), Dan O’Neill (12), Cillian Gilligan (13), John Doyle (14)
Referee: Gerry Corbett