Dunlavin storm to victory against struggling Dales
DUNLAVIN picked up a vital brace of Arklow Bay Hotel League points as the swept aside Avondale on Saturday evening last.
The IFC favourites notched up an impressive score line to root the visitors to basement of the league table.
Shane Carthy pointed in the second minute for the opening score of the match. Fionn Deegan and Daniel Dawson each pointed to increase the lead. Cian O’Sullivan landed a great point as Dunlavin laid siege to the Avondale goal.
Avondale could not break the strong hold of Paul Murtagh and Daniel Dawson in the midfield sector. Full-forward James Walshe added a brace of points to round of the first quarter.
Avondale finally got up the pitch and won a free which Sean McGraynor pulled to the wrong side of the upright for their first effort after 17 minutes. Daniel Dawson found Shane Carthy who pointed for the homeside.
Wing back Steven Lee finally got Avondale off the mark with a great point in the 20th minute. Avondale got up the pitch again and Sean McGraynor laid the ball off to Cian O’Hannin whose shot on goal brought off a wonderful point blank save from Tom McGuirk.
Lively corner-forward Cian O’Sullivan added another brace of points for the west side. Paul Murtagh was delivering great ball into his forward line. James Walshe pointed a free. Kevin Fitzpatrick added the visitor’s second point of the game after good build up play by Seamus McGraynor.
On the stroke of half-’ime, Cian O Sullivan dispatched a beautiful weighted 35-meter pass to the on rushing Paul Murtagh who rocked the back of the Avondale net to raise a green flag.
Cian O’Sullivan added another point to bring the first half to conclusion with the scoreboard reading 1-12 to 0-02 for Dunlavin.
Manager Thomas Harney introduced a couple of subs for the restart. Brian Nolan hit the opening point of the second half to increase the lead. Dean Gahan sent a long ball into the danger zone and Liam Kinsella was fouled. Penalty was the call from the Tinahely official. Full-forward Cian O’Hannain placed the ball on the spot and, bang, right in the bottom corner past Tom McGuirk in the 37th minute.
Cian O’Sullivan added a point for the home side. Up the other end Tom McGuirk gave away possession with a stray hand pass to Cian O’Hannain, however McGuirk redeemed himself with a brilliant point blank range save of O’Hannain’s shot.
Cian O’Sullivan was in great form as he tapped on another point to close out the third quarter. Saoirse Kearon found Cian O’Hannain with a great pass and O Hannain passed across to Dean Gahan who fisted the ball into the net for Avondale.
Paul Murtagh put in great pass to James Walshe who was brought down in the large parallelogram and we had the second penalty as Avondale escaped without a black card.
Up stepped James Walshe and with nerves of steel, dis- patched the ball to the net. Avondale to their credit didn’t drop their head’s and added a brace of point’s from Sean McGraynor and David Baker from 45 meters out. James Walshe added two more points to close out the game as Dunlavin cruised home. Avondale will have to regroup and start picking up a few league soon.
Thomas Harney will be delighted with display by his side. When this team unleashes its full potential it will take a fair team to stop them in the upcoming IFC as they also have the services of Gary Allen, Eoin Murtagh and Thomas Davis to compliment this fine squad. A nice headache any manager would want.
Scorers - Dunlavin: Cian O’Sullivan 1-07, James Walshe 1-05, Paul Murtagh 0-02, Fionn Deegan 0-01, Shane Carthy 0-01, Brian Nolan 0-01.
Avondale: Cian O Hannain 1-00, Dean Gahan 1-00, Sean McGraynor 0-01, David Baker 0-01, Kevin Fitzpatrick 0-01.
Dunlavin: Tom McQuirk; Tom Whelan, Sean Phelan, Louis Caplis; James Sinnott, Trevor Birchall, Tom Kelly; Daniel Dawson, Paul Murtagh; Fionn Deegan, Enda Bowes, Daryl Huntley; Shane Carthy, James Walshe, Cian O’Sullivan. Subs: Brian Nolan, Marty Caplis, Harry Coleborne, Mark Rigley, Barry Miley, Mark O’Sullivan.
Avondale: Brian Burke; Sean Kinsella, Shane O’Neill, Shane Beevor; Steven Lee, Saoirse Kearon, Steven Langan; Seamus McGraynor, Dean Gahan; Sean McGraynor, David Baker, Anthony Byrne; Liam Kinsella, Cian O’Hannain, Kevin Fitzpatrick. Subs: James Busher, David Hughes. Venue: Dunlavin Ref: Kieron Kenny (Tinahely).