A promising start
Carnew Emmets have too much for Dwyers in feisty battle
CARNEW EMMETS 1-6 MICHAEL DWYERS 1-3
‘AH MICK, I want to get dinner at some stage today,’ was one of the cries heard in the second half of a niggly MFL Division 3 clash in Carnew between the home side and Michael Dwyers on Sunday morning last.
The reason for the concern at missing the Sunday roast from a Carnew mentor was the stop-starty nature of the game that was constantly being brought to a halt by referee Mick Owens as he tried to gain control of affairs while offering words of advice to the various players.
With a growing animosity between these two sides there was always going to be tension at some stage in this game given that Carnew had defeated Dwyers in the football final last season and Dwyers had toppled Carnew in the Minor hurling decider but the constant delays in the game only added to a sense of frustration and this led to the showing of three red cards in a game that although on the edge in terms of late tackling and the likes seemed completely free of any straight-red-card offences.
Dwyers came into the game on the back of a very positive pre-season with wins over Ballinglen and An Tochar and were fancying their chances against a Carnew side who had the bare 15 players for this game.
However, as many teams have found to their cost over the years, you get nothing easy in Carnew Emmets GAA Club.
The home side started brightly and raced out to a 1-3 to 0-0 lead while playing down the hill as a wind whipped across the field. Points from Liam O’Neill (2) and Edward Smith was complimented by a fine goal from Will Molloy after the Michael Dwyers backs failed to deal with a ball that should have been cleared.
A key moment of the game arrived in the 12th minute. Michael Dwyers full-forward Conor Byrne looked to have grabbed a goal for the visitors but referee Mick Owens deemed that the ball had went over the crossbar instead of underneath it.
Impressive Ciarán Harmon added another point for Dwyers and Carnew lost Darragh Rawson to injury after 16 leaving them down a player as they had no replacements.
The score remained at 1-3 to 0-2 at the break and Dwyers pulled themselves right back into the game after the break with a fine goal from Conor O’Neill and a point from Conor Byrne to level the game at 1-3 apiece after five of the second half.
The remainder of the game was a dire episode of football. Carnew registered three more scores, two Liam O’Neill frees and a point from Dan Redmond.
Tempers flared close to the sideline after 23 Mick Owens flashed two red cards, one for Dwyers and one for Carnew for what is believed to be contributing to a melee. A second Michael Dwyers player would receive a red card late on but both clubs are likely to appeal all three red cards.
A great start for Carnew Emmets in terms of the win. Lots of work to do for Dwyers if they are to realise the obvious potential in their ranks.
Scorers – Carnew Emmets: Liam O’Neill 0-4 (2f), Will Molloy 1-0, Edward Smith 0-1, Dan Redmond 0-1 (f).
Michael Dwyers: Conor O’Neill 1-0, Conor Byrne 0-2, Ciarán Harmon 0-1. CARNEW EMMETS: Adam Jordan; Dylan Farrell, Ruairi O’Brien, Darragh Rawson; Zach Jordan, Thomas Collins, Jake O’Dwyer; Liam O’Neill, Richard Greene; Maurice Sheil, Shane Byrne, Dan Redmond; Will Molloy, Edward Smith, Callum Patterson.
MICHAEL DWYERS: Callum McRae; Charles Canning, Fionn Morrissey, Caolin Goetelan; Cathal Sheehan, Oisin Morrissey, David Vierra; Tom Parker, Ciarán Harmon; Ewan McRae, Seán Harmon, Eoin Byrne; Adam Kinsella, Conor Byrne, Conor O’Neill. REFEREE: Mick Owens (Avondale)