AGB CLAIM CROWN
AGB, Coolkenno and Bray await West winners in semis
AGB CARNEW EMMETS 1-11 0-06
THE curtain finally came down on the Arklow Bay Hotel Bay Hotel Southeast League when Carnew Emmets made the journey to Arklow to face the home side in the last game of the competition.
The game saw both clubs enter the contest knowing that the winner would be crowned Group 1 champions and in doing so would receive the Jack Whites Cup and become the first club to receive silverware for 2017.
The end result saw the home side emerge victorious with an eight-point winning margin thanks to a good all-round team performance which included 12 players who have come up from juvenile level while experienced players Jim Bolger, Alan McBride and Ian Bracken also played their part and judging by this power packed display by AGB they will provide stiff opposition in league and championship in the months ahead.
Playing against the breeze in the opening half the winners showed their intent early on the first attack saw wing forward Peter Hempenstall opening the scoring with a point, while top scorer Alan McBride scored a point from a free after five minutes of play.
At this stage, a typical Carnew rally saw them up the tempo but their shooting left a lot to be desired which saw them record five wides in a row.
Also, a solid home defence left scorers hard to come by for the Wexford border men.
The Arklow side responded which saw they launched attack after attack but they were also guilty of some poor shooting as they recorded a number of wides both from play and a frees before Alan McBride and Garrett Kenny scored a point each which saw the winners leading 0-04 to no score at the end of the first quarter.
The winners continued to keep the pressure on when full-forward Ian Bracken land a point while midfielder Darragh Culleton scored the first of his two points to increase the lead by six points with the challengers having failed to score in the opening 24 minutes.
Carnew set about reducing the deficit and after a move that was started in their own defence saw centre-forward John Kavanagh score a point from play and the same player showed his team mates how to take a score when he kicked his second point from long range to close the first half scoring which saw the winners leading 0-06 to 0-02 at the break.
The winners were first out of the traps and they upped the tempo once more and after they recorded two wides the third attack saw a number of players involved before Jack Darcy scored the only goal in the game to give the winners a commanding lead of 1-06 to 0-02.
Despite the set back, Carnew kept plugging away and set about reducing the deficit as they took the game to their opponents. They hit a good spell which saw the Wexford border side score three points in a row through John Joe Myers (free), John Kavanagh and midfielder Billy Rickerby which left four points between the sides, 1-06 to 0-05.
There were many talking points in the game but the one to be remembered was the only penalty awarded during the game after Carnew full-forward Gary Doran was grounded by goalkeeper Jim Bolger who was lucky to stay on the field.
But the villain turned out to be a hero when Bolger produced an excellent save following Diarmuid Doran’s shot.
The remainder of the game saw fitness tell which saw the winners take complete control in every sector of the field as they went on to outscore their opponents by five points to one.
Midfielder Darragh Culleton and wing forward Peter Hempenstall scored their second point each while Alan McBride showed his ability as a free taker when he added three points from frees while Carnew’s only reply was a point from their best player John Kavanagh which left AGB worthy winners.
After the game, Mick Hagan, Chairman of the CCC, presented the cup to joint winning captains Jack Hamilton and Ian Bracken and in doing so congratulated AGB on their success and wished both clubs the best of luck for the remainder of the year.
– AGB: Jack Darcy 1-00, Alan McBride 0-05 (4f), Peter Hempenstall 0-02, Darragh Culleton 0-02, Garrett Kenny 0-01, Ian Bracken 0-01.
Carnew Emmets: John Kavanagh 0-04 (1f), John Joe Myers 0-01 (f), Billy Rickerby 0-01.
James Bolger; Tadhg O’Callaghan, Jack Hamilton, Ryan Stafford; Jonathan Doyle, Ciaran O’Shea, Corey Mills; Jack Furlong, Darragh Culleton; Peter Hempenstall, Alan McBride, Shane Donohoe; Jack Darcy, Ian Bracken, Garrett Kenny. Subs: Tom Hurley for J Hamilton, Shane McBride for C Mills, Quentin O’Reilly, for S Donohue, Donal O’Keeffe, for T O’Callaghan, Gavin Bentley for J Darcy.
Scorers AGB:
Robert Roche; Seamus Mullhall, Patrick Nolan, Graham Byrne; Ciaran Mullhall, Michael Collins, Will O’Neill; Diarmuid Doran, Billy Rickerby; Stephen Murphy, John Kavanagh, Drew Brennan; Richard O’Hara, Gary Doran, John Joe Myers. Subs: Michael Osborne for G Byrne, Thomas Collins for W O’Neill, JJ McCrea for R O’Hara, Dara Kelly for S Murphy, Joe Hughes for John Joe Myers.
Gerry Corbett (Shillelagh).
Carnew Emmets: Referee: