Brilliant Byrne wins
at Pearses’ Park, Arklow Knockananna square to punch the ball in the net and Enniskerry led by 3-01 to 1-03 after twenty five minutes.
That would have been a nice lead but three important Knockananna points before half time reduced arrears to one and they had a chance in the second half of this game.
Gavin Barton gave Enniskerry a great start to the second half with two points but Tyrell replied with two frees and then Damien Byrne kicked another and the match was level.
Brendan Barton put Enniskerry back in the lead, Tyrell again levelled.
Gavin Barton converted his third free, goalkeeper John Farrell came up to level the match, again. It’s 3-05 to 1-11 entering the final ten minutes. Oh, the tension.
Derek Kavanagh blasted the ball over the bar with the goal at his mercy to put Knockananna in the lead for the first time. Tyrell doubled the lead.
The clock ticked past 60 minutes and the Knockananna crowd went white with fear when five minutes additional time was announced. A two point lead, the worst in GAA.
They have a couple of chances to kill the game off but the ball was fumbled and Enniskerry got the ball up the field.
Barton pulled another one back and moments later Alan King equalised.
The referee looked at his watch, there were 90 seconds left. Who would win? Who would lose? Wold they have to go again?
Up stepped Byrne to send his club back to Junior A. What will you have, Paddy? Scorers – Knockananna: Lorcan Tyrell (5f) 0-06; Johnny Wybrant 1-01; John Farrell (1 45), Garry Bradley, Patrick Byrne, Tristan Maher, Stephen Hinchy, Damien Byrne, Derek Kavanagh 0-01 each.
Enniskerry: Gavin Barton (3f) 1-04; Brendan Barton 1-01; Colm Nolan 1-00; Stephen Cahill, Alan King 0-01 each.
Knockananna: John Farrell; Paddy O’Keefe, Ronan Byrne, Keith Corrigan; Darren Flynn, Garry Bradley, Patrick Byrne; Tristan Maher, Padraig Lancaster; Stephen Hinchy, Lorcan Tyrell, Johnny Wybrant; Kevin Tyrell, Damien Byrne, Derek Kavanagh. Subs: Declan Whelan for Paddy O’Keefe (32 mins); Alan O’Neill for Declan Whelan (49 mins).
Enniskerry: Ian Kirwan; Jack Conroy, Brendan Fitzgerald, James Cahill; Stephen Cahill, Dan Kelly, Luke Wyrnn; Craig Williams, Colm Nolan; Luke Dalton, Gavin Barton, Mark Tyndall; Seamus O’Gorman, Donal Finch, Brendan Barton. Subs: Eoin Byrne for Luke Dalton (8 mins); Alan King for Brendan Barton (47 mins); James Maloney for Mark Tyndall (55 mins). Referee: Noel Kinsella *We cannot actually confirm that Paddy Byrne will never have to buy a pint again in with hostelry but if there’s any justice in the world then he shouldn’t.