Garden reach Gerry Reilly Cup quarter-finals
HUGH KENNY’S Wicklow under-16 footballers put Laois to the sword in the Leinster Under-16 Gerry Reilly Championship in Joule Park Aughrim last Saturday morning.
Having drawn with Wexford the previous weekend, the Wicklow side were hoping for an improved performance and while they got the victory they deserved they will need to improve significantly if they are to beat the stronger sides in this competition.
This is a team littered with talented footballers all the way up from full-back Jack Grace through the lines to full-forward Keith Burke and in Matthew Ging they have an attacker who will cause any defence headaches. The Tinahely man slotted 2-2 on the day (one penalty) and could have had plenty more if truth be told.
Not to take too much from the Wicklow victory but Laois were very disappointing. They shot six criminal wides in the first half and left two balls short to Caoimhin Rawson in the Wicklow goal, with some of the wides coming from utterly scorable frees.
Wicklow were far less wasteful in front of the posts and they led by 1-2 to 0-1 after 15 minutes with Matthew Ging opening through a bomb from out on the stand side, Sean Coffey proving that you should never give up on any ball when he won a seemingly lost cause on the endline and powered through to fist over and then Ging slotting home a beautiful penalty after a foul on the very impressive Jason Kenny.
While Wicklow looked sharp in attack, they were squandering ball as they emerged from their defence and their lack of accuracy must have caused the management team some concerns on the day as a more ruthless and capable outfit will punish such a lethargic approach with venom.
Jason Kenny and Matthew Ging added points before a fine move up the field saw the ball passed into the path of Ging in front of the Laois goal and the Tinahely club man caught it on the volley and drove it hard to the back of the Laois net. Wicklow took a 2-4 to 0-2 lead into the break with Laois having changed their freetaker to no avail in that opening period.
The visitors sent in Adam Connolly after the break and they were finally able to harvest a few scores from placed balls. They enjoyed a productive spell early in the second half and had the game at 2-4 to 0-5 when Eoin O’Neill fired over a sweet score from a tight angle.
The hard-working Shane Daly popped over a lovely point off his left before good work from Keith Burke provided Jason Kenny with a chance in front of goal and the Baltinglass man didn’t miss.
Points from Jason Kenny and two from midfielder Jack Hanlon (one free, one 45) put Wicklow in a comfortable position as the second half matured and Jason Kenny’s second goal of the day killed the game off late on as Wicklow ran out 4-9 to 0-9 winners.
Plenty of positives for Hugh Kenny and his management team to take from this game. There is a strong work ethic within this side encapsulated nicely in the example of Matthew Ging saving a Laois goal effort after 18 minutes of the second half in his own square.
Lots of potential in this team, and if they can reduce the errors they need not fear anyone. They face Meath in the Leinster Gerry O’Reilly Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, August 11 in Oldacstle GAA Club
Scorers – Wicklow: Matthew Ging 2-2 (1p), Jason Kenny 2-2, Jack Hanlon 0-2 (1 45, 1f), Eoin O’Neill 0-1, Shane Daly 0-1, Sean Coffey 0-1.
Laois: Paul O’Flynn 0-3 (1f), Adam Connolly 0-2, Rioghan Murphy 0-2, Jamie Stafford 0-1, Patrick Hosey 0-1.
Wicklow: Caoimhin Rawson; Arun Daly Danne, Jack Grace, Bradley Hickey; Cillian McDonald, Neill Browne, Adam Hadden; Sam Kearney, Jack Hanlon; Jason Kenny, Sean Coffey, Shane Daly; Matthew Ging, Keith Burke, Eoin O’Neill. Subs: Alan Miley for S Coffey, Cillian Keane for A Hadden, Daniel Hedderman for AD Danne, Fionn O’Sullivan for K Burke, Dylan Lynch for J Kenny.
Laois: Ruairi Neavyn; James Knowles, Nathan Little, Josh Mulhalll; Paul O’Flynn, Mark Kehoe, Jamie Kelly; Kevin Swayne, Derek Dunne; David McDonald, Rioghan Murphy, Ben Brennan; Ciaran O’Neill, Jamie Stafford, Patrick Hosey. Subs: Lee Nolan for D McDonald, David Murphy for D Dunne, Darragh Murphy for J Kelly, James Hennessy for J Knowles.