Improving Carnew put Éire Óg to the sword after thriller
CARNEW EMMETS and Éire Óg Greystones served up a well contested and enjoyable Dacia Senior Hurling Championship game at a windswept St Patricks GAA grounds at Dunbur Road in Wicklow on Saturday evening last.
As in the earlier Intermediate game the strong breeze blowing down the pitch into the clubhouse goal end proved to be a spoilsport as it meant a game of two halves.
Carnew Emmets had first use of wind advantage and set out in determined fashion to make it count. They pointed straight from the throw in when full forward Timmy Collins gathered in front, turned and shot his score.
With midfielders Conal McCrea and particularly Wayne Kinsella on top and half backs Robert Lambert, Willie Collins and John Doyle making it difficult for Éire Óg to progress, the flow of play was mostly one way for the first quarter hour.
The Emmets were shooting for scores at every opportunity and with points from Enda Donoghue, Jack Doyle, two converted Donoghue 65s, Joe Hughes, Padraig Doran and another Jack Doyle point they led by 0-8 to no score at the quarter hour mark.
They also had a number of wides and had amassed eight wides by half time.
Stephen Kelly got the first Eire Og point from a free in the sixteenth minute.
The Greystones men had been blitzed up to now, but they slowly came more into the game with lively corner-forwards James Cranley and Eoin Dorgan coming outfield and getting more on the ball.
Full-forward Andy Walsh looked dangerous in possession but up to now the big man was well policed by Martin O’Brien, the Emmets’ full-back.
Enda Donohue from a 65 and Jack Doyle from play brought the Emmets up to ten points. Leon Browne pointed from play for Éire Óg who were having a better final ten minutes to the half. John Doyle and Wayne Kinsella (2) had further Carnew points but Stephen Kelly and James Cranley responded with Éire Óg points.
The Greystones side had a few misses as well and had five wides by half-time. Three minutes into time added Andy Walsh caught a high ball, escaped the clutches of Martin O’Brien and beat Ted Kennedy with a shot into the top corner of the net. Carnew substitute Drew Brennan replied immediately with the final point of the half to leave the Emmets leading by 0-14 to 1-4 at the break.
Like Carnew in the first half, the Greystones men started the second period in determined fashion to reduce the leeway. And reduce it they did. James Cranley pointed a free, Kristin Flynn had a long-range point, Cranley pointed a 65, Stephen Kelly pointed a long range free (brought forward for dissent) and when Andy Walsh pointed there was only two points of a gap.
Carnew looked to be in trouble with still twenty minutes left to face that strong breeze. Padraig Doran landed a great point from his own half and Enda Donoghue landed a point from a free to lift the siege somewhat.
In addition, the southern side pulled back players to crowd the area in front of Andy Walsh to reduce the threat of another goal. This effectively meant that both sides needed to score from distance as Carnew forwards were back in defence and Éire Óg forwards didn’t have the room.
Stephen Kelly pointed another long free, but Enda Donohue responded with two more pointed frees. Kelly maintained his accuracy with another long range free, but Éire Óg suffered a bad set back when they lost wing back Peter Keane to a red card on 20 minutes.
Padraig Doran had Carnew’s final point on 22 minutes. James Cranley brought the lead down to a goal when he pointed with six minutes left. Fourteen-man Éire Óg battled hard to rescue the game over the final ten minutes.
It was exciting stuff as Carnew defended valiantly. Éire Óg’s only chance came with almost the last play of the game when Dan O’Connor shot over the bar to bring the margin down to two points. However, the clock ran out, the final whistle sounded and Carnew collected the points from a well contested game.
Scorers – Carnew Emmets: Tim Collins 0-1, Enda O’Donohue 0-6, Jack Doyle 0-3, Joe Hughes 0-1, Padraig Doran 0-3, John Doyle 0-1, Wayne Kinsella 0-2, Drew Brennan 0-1.
Éire Óg: Stephen Kelly 0-5, Leon Browne 0-1, James Cranley 0-4, Andy Walsh 1-1, Kristin Flynn 0-1, Dan O’Connor 0-1.
Carnew Emmets: Ted Kennedy; Mark Collins, Martin O’Brien, Aaron Kinsella; Robert Lambert, William Collins, John Doyle; Conal McCrea, Wayne Kinsella; Paudie McGlynn, Padraig Doran, Jack Doyle; Enda Donoghue, Tim Collins, Joe Hughes. Subs: Graham Keogh, Nick Skelton, Drew Brennan.
Éire Óg: Dan O’Neill; Shaun Hughes, Mick Arrigan, Dan O’Connor; Kristin Flynn, Billy Cuddihy, Peter Keane; Conal Deeney, Stephen Kelly; Brian Lawless, Michael Walsh, Leon Browne; James Cranley, Andrew Walsh, Eoin Dorgan. Subs: Eoghan Potts, Danny Nolan, Sean Lawless.
Referee: Eddie Leonard. (St. Patricks)