Avoca off to a flying start
AVOCA signalled their intentions of having a good run in this year’s Junior ‘B’ football championship with a fine win in Carnew last Thursday evening.
Never an easy place to come away from with a victory, a fit Avoca team overcame the dismissal of Martin Kenny in the 19th minute to fashion a good team performance with high work rate and make their edge in fitness pay.
Carnew battled gamely and for a brief period in the second half they looked like they could work their way back in to the game but the goal they desperately needed didn’t come despite a few good opportunities. The late arriving Gary Doran had strengthened their hand considerably in that second half but the 0-6 to 0-2 lead Avoca enjoyed at the interval was never really in danger.
PJ Fluskey got the opening score in a matter of seconds but ten scoreless minutes were to follow with Carnew having three wides in that time and Avoca also denied a goal by a good save from Robert Roche.
Martin Kenny pointed a free after the excellent Dean Power was felled and Adam Tuke and Jason Porter the two corner forwards also kicked Avoca points.
In the 18th minute Andy Doyle another who had a fine game kicked Avoca’s fifth point but they lost Kenny who was having a massive influence on the game seconds later. Tuke kicked another point before Willie Osborne finally got Carnew off the mark in the last minute of the half. Wing back Stephen Murphy got forward for a good point on the stroke of half time to give Carnew renewed hope as Doran was ordered to ‘get the boots on fast’ as the teams headed to the dressing rooms.
Eddie Leonard would have been glad of the break to sort out the problem of playing with 14 men but, as so often happens in this scenario, it seemed to matter little in the second half and the extra space probably suited a counter-attacking Avoca side in the second 30.
Six minutes in to that second half they got the tonic of a fine goal from Adam Tuke that was deflected past a helpless Roche in the Carnew goal. Patrick Kennedy had worked hard all evening at centre forward for the Avoca men and it was his hard work that created the
opening for Tuke.
Gary and Dermot Doran took over around the middle for a while and shared seven marks between them but a strong Avoca rear-guard where Robert Wilson and Michael Fahy were shining withstood the increasing Carnew pressure.
A clever short free by John Joe Myers to Mikie Osborne opened Carnew s second half account in the 38th minute before Andy Doyle soloed forward in reply with another Avoca point.
Dean Power then kicked a couple of fine scores from distance before Myers got on the scoresheet himself. Avoca now led 1-9 to 0-5 with ten minutes to play but still had a nervousness about them. A long kick out from John Harper bounced behind the midfield and Doyle was fastest to react and kick another good point.
Carnew had a goal chance cleared away from the line by Anthony Doran and after the scramble that followed Will O’Neill was shown a red card for Carnew in the 52nd minute.
Dean Power then unselfishly set Doyle up for a shot at goal which went narrowly wide as Avoca looked to close it out.
Carnew then had two clear cut goal chances when firstly Rob Youngs shot was blocked away after a clever Myers pass and a minute later corner back Paul Murphy seen his shot saved by Harper and the rebound cleared for a 45.
Avoca finished the stronger and kicked four more scores in injury time with Power (2), Doyle and Tuke again finding the range.
Avoca will test plenty in this championship and would have to be on the shortlist for honours. Fitness levels and discipline are certainly at a level that will please Leonard and his helpers.
Carnew Emmets: Robert Roche; Paul Murphy, Patrick Nolan, Thomas Kinsella; Liam Kenny, Drew Brennan, Stephen Murphy (0-2); Jack Kearney, Joe Hughes; William Osborne (0-1), Dermot Doran, Mikie Osborne (0-1); JJ Myers (0-1), Darragh Kelly, Robert Young. Subs: Will O’Neill for Hughes (BS) 20 mins, Hughes for O’Neill 23 mins, Gary Doran for Kelly 38 mins, Will O’Neill for Liam Kenny, Padraig Doyle for Young 56 mins.
Avoca: John Harper; Anthony Doran, Robert Wilson, Colin O’Connor; Stephen McCauley, Mikey Fahy, Aaron Tuke; Dean Power (0-4), Martin Kenny (0-1f); Chris Arthur, Patrick Kennedy (0-1), Andrew Doyle (0-3); Adam Tuke (1-2), PJ Fluskey (0-2), Jason Porter (0-1). Subs: Colin Doran for Kennedy 46 mins, Johnny Arthur for Porter 49 mins.
Referee: Stephen Fagan (Baltinglass)