Past Carnew
looking to unleash Andy on the Carnew goal and a clever ploy of pushing their inside men out the field and leaving space inside for the talented county star was the key to unlocking his goal scoring potential.
His opening major arrived when a long ball from George ‘Boo’ O’Brien trickled past a collection of bodies and was met by the galloping O’Brien. With only Andrew Hughes for company, O’Brien turned and headed for goal. The Carnew support were out of place so O’Brien raced towards Michael Collins’ goal, weaving a path between Graham Keogh and Oisin Furlong before cleverly releasing the ball and firing a low shot to the bottom corner of the net.
Enda Donohue (two frees), and Don Hyland pointed to pull Carnew back to a decent position at 0-08 to 1-06 with 13 gone but then a gorgeous ball from Eddie Kelly flew in over the head of Willie Collins and into the hand of Andy O’Brien who turned and rifled home past Hughes and Collins for what was the killer score.
O’Brien could have had a third moments later. Drew Brennan pointed for Carnew before Christy Moorehouse launched a bomb down on top of O’Brien who caught superbly in a crowd before turning and firing over a rasper that brushed the top of the Carnew crossbar on its way.
Enda Donohue made it 2-07 to 0-10 after 23 minutes but a stunning trio of points from John ‘Dee’ O’Brien put paid to any slim hopes of a Carnew recovery despite Enda Donohue driving low to the back of Eoghan O’Mahony’s net and two sweet scores from substitute Timmy Collins.
A final score of 2-12 to 1-12 provided Pat’s with a sweet victory over the men of Carnew with Andy O’Brien’s rapid fire 2-01 being a major turning point. The midfield performance from Eddie Kelly and George O’Brien was a massive factor in this win with O’Brien’s double early in the second half serving to boost the Pat’s morale at a key moment.
John ‘Dee’ O’Brien’s magnificent hat-trick of points drove Neary’s men on at an important stage and fine work from the Pat’s defence, apart from the late concession of 1-02, helped them record a very significant win.
Carnew needed the injured Timmy Collins much earlier in the game but his heavily strapped leg suggests that his introduction had to be managed carefully. Their lack of scoring threat is incredibly worrying. The return of Conal McCrea and Wayne Kinsella may help in this regard but they are a team in a difficult place at this moment in time.
Pat’s power on. Their reliance on Andy O’Brien may eventually be their downfall but if he finds space he will score goals and no team is safe when that happens.
Scorers – St Patrick’s: Andy O’Brien 2-06 (3f), John ‘Dee’ O’Brien 0-03, George O’Brien 0-02, John Connors 0-01 (f).
Carnew Emmets: Enda Donohue 1-05 (4f), Timmy Collins 0-02, Don Hyland 0-02, Graham Keogh 0-01, Robert Lambert 0-01, Drew Brennan 0-01.
St Patrick’s: Eoghan O’Mahony; Michael Connors, John Connors, Andrew Conway; Dale Quinn, Terry Healy, Christy Moorehouse; Eddie Kelly, George O’Brien; James Byrne, James ‘Bonner’ O’Brien, George ‘Boo’ O’Brien; George O’Connor, Andy O’Brien, John ‘Dee’ O’Brien. Subs: John O’Brien for G ‘Boo’ O’Brien, James O’Brien for G O’Connor, Denis ‘Ta’ O’Brien for C Moorehouse.
Carnew Emmets: Michael Collins; Willie Collins, Graham Keogh, Oisin Furlong; Aaron Kinsella, Padraig Doran, Daire Foley; Andrew Hughes, Enda Donohue; Robert Lambert, Dan Nolan, James Gregan; Drew Brennan, Don Hyland, Cormac Doyle. Subs: Liam Kennedy for D Nolan, Timmy Collins for J Gregan.
Referee: Jimmy Kelly (Knockananna)