Slick Emmets leave Rocks in a hard place

CARNEW EMMETS ARKLOW ROCKS 0-14 0-08

CARNEW proved to have too much in the armory for a game Arklow Rocks side in this IHC clash in Joule Park, Aughrim, last Saturday evening.

Coming off the back of a 2-12 to 2-08 defeat at the hands of Bray last weekend, the Rocks needed a win in this game to give their championship hopes a major boost but Carnew were in no mood to cooperate and they clocked up their second win on the trot following their very decent victory over Kilcoole in their championship opener.

An early wide for each team was followed by a dainty little effort from Carnew’s Martin Molloy thanks to decent foraging work out the field by Nick Skelton.

Key to the victory for Carnew were the performances of the aforementioned Skelton, the impressive Michael ‘Wally’ Collins, Ian Clancy, Justin House and Liam Kennedy at centre back.

The first and second shot at goal for Rocks were produced by the eager Paddy Mellon at half-back, his second after good work by Jason Redmond.

The stand out players on the Rocks team was full-back John Furlong, especially in the opening half when he nullified the threat of the burly Joe Hughes, Cormac Whitmore and Mellon and Redmond.

It was Carnew who settled much the better and John Walshe to Skelton to the unmarked ‘Wally’ Collins saw the centre-half forward slot over superbly from distance for Carnew’s second score after five minutes.

Fast forward 25 minutes and Carnew look to be in complete control at 0-07 to 0-02 thanks to points from the nimble Ian Clancy (2), Paul Murphy, Justin House, and a converted free from ‘Wally’ Collins after a foul on Justin House.

The Rocks’s two points had arrived from the hurl of Cormac Whitmore, the first from a free, in a very disappointing opening half in terms of attack.

The loss of Adrian Myers to injury failed to slow down the Carnew train with Niall Osborne entering the fray and bringing his own inimitable edginess to the proceedings.

Joe Hughes opened their second half account with a fine score before two ‘Wally’ Collins points, one from a free, pushed Carnew out to a more or less insurmountable 0-10 to 0-02 lead after five minutes of the second half.

The Rocks would need goals or else a major change of fortune around midfield and the half-forward line where Seanie Kinsella, Justin House, and Liam Kennedy were bossing matters.

The goals didn’t come and while they did manage to offer more of a challenge for the remainder of the game they couldn’t unlock the Carnew defence in any real sense and Carnew ran out convincing 0-14 to 0-08 winners thanks to points from ‘Wally’ Collins, Ian Clancy, Nick Skelton, and substitute John Joe Myers.

The Rocks had their account swelled by three fine efforts from Jason Redmond, one free, two from Paddy Mellon, one free, and a single from play from 18.

Scorers – Carnew Emmets: Michael Collins 0-05 (3f), Ian Clancy 0-03, Martin Molloy 0-01, Paul Murphy 0-01, Justin House 0-01, Joe Hughes 0-01, Nick Skelton 0-01, John Joe Myers 0-01.

Arklow Rocks: Jason Redmond 0-03 (1f), Cormac Whitmore 0-02 (1f), Patrick Mellon 0-02 (1f), 18 0-01.

Carnew Emmets: Ted Kennedy; Enda Foley, Paul Nolan, Mark Collins; John Walshe, Liam Kennedy, Adrian Myers; Sean Kinsella, Justin House; Nick Skelton, Michael Collins, Paul Murphy; Martin Molloy, Joe Hughes, Ian Clancy. Subs: Niall Osborne for A Myers (H/T, inj), TJ Hennessey for L Kinsella (47min), John Joe Myers for M Molloy (50min), Thomas Collins for E Foley (52min), Martin Murphy for T Kennedy (55min).

Arklow Rock Parnells: Keith Barnes; Kevin O’Reilly, John Furlong, Martin Gilbert; Colin O’Connor, Tony Kinsella, Patrick Mellon; Conor Doyle, Cormac Whitmore; Jason Redmond, Charlie Monaghan jnr, James Dignam; Chris Kavanagh, Eamon Doyle, Tyrone Byrne. Subs: John Cushe for E Doyle, Keith Long for T Byrne, Paul Lacey for C Kavanagh, Davey Monaghan for J Dignam.

Referee: Ciaran Manley (Glenealy)