A fresh start for Enniskerry

Pain of defeat will inspire

ENNISKERRY AGB 3-16 1-13

BEATEN finalists for the last two years Enniskerry set off in search of the elusive Junior ‘B’ title with a well-earned victory over Arklow Geraldines last Thursday evening.

Enniskerry’s centre forward Gavin Barton, with a personal tally of 2-9, was the difference between the sides in a match that was closer than the scoreline suggests .

Enniskerry set their stall out early with the opening three points. Firstly, Colm Nolan found space and pointed.

Brendan Barton won dirty ball and glided a ball over the black spot before Gavin Barton got his first of the day after good grunt work by Mark Mullen.

At this stage it was all Enniskerry with their wing backs Mullen and Luke Dalton attacking with pace and a few sloppy wides allowed AGB to settle.

Darragh Culleton, Arklow’s big midfielder got the south wicklow team’s first score and followed up with a beautifully clipped second moments later.

Two frees from evergreen full-forward Alan McBride gave the visitors a lead after 17 minutes.

Rhys Cope restored parity for the black and amber before Nolan and AGB’s Gary Fennell traded scores.

With the game tied five minutes before the break it was at this point Enniskerry took control.

Good build up play by Barton and Alan King fed Nolan and he stroked home for the all important first goal. Both sides traded scores to leave the hosts four to the good at the interval.

The opening 15 minutes of the second period was all Enniskerry and they put the game to bed during this time.

Barton opened with a free before a roaming Dalton found Jack Conroy in space he fed Barton who turned on a sixpence before drilling low under Arklow keeper Kyle O’Connor for an eight point lead.

The next four points were shared before Barton once more rattled the AGB net.

Cope who was a constant menace cut in from the left flank as the defence converged he located Barton who arrowed a shot past O’Connor. The lead was out to 12.

AGB battled on with Culleton, supersub King and McBride pointing however the goals they required wouldn’t come and audacious efforts from Dalton and a couple from Barton kept the townies at distance. Eventually in injury time Arklow did get their goal, McBride dropped a free into the square and amongst a swarm of bodies the ball squirmed to the net with King doing his best Harry Kane impression and claiming it.

An entertaining contest that apart from 15 minutes either side of half time was evenly contested. McBride, Culleton and King on his introduction were best for Arklow. For Enniskerry, Dalton,Cope and Colm Nolan had fine games however towering above all else on the field was Gavin Barton. If anyone deserves that elusive championship it’s Barton.

Scorers - Enniskerry: Gavin Barton 2-9, Colm Nolan 1-2, Rhys Cope 0-2, Brendan Barton 0-1, Luke Dalton 0-1.

AGB: Alan McBride 0-5, Gareth King 1-2, Darragh Culleton 0-3, Donal O’Keeffe 0-1, Jack Darcy 0-1,Gary Fennell0-1

Ian Kirwan; James Maloney, Seamus O’Gorman, Luke Dillon; Luke Dalton, Brendan Fitzgerald, Mark Mullin; Owen Corrigan, Craig Williams; Rhys Cope, Gavin Barton, Jack Conroy; Dan Kelly, Brendan Barton, Colm Nolan. Subs: Alan King, Josh Williams, Tom Egan, Stephen Cahill, Paul Kavanagh.

Kyle O’Connor; Michael O’Sullivan, Paul O’Donaghue, Ryan Stafford; Shane O’Donaghue, Tom Hurley, Johnathan Doyle; Darragh Culleton, Donal O’Keeffe; Stewart Mills, Jack Darcy, Mark Fitzgerald; Ross McBride, Alan McBride, Gary Fennell. Subs: Gareth King, Corey Mills, Ger Kavanagh.

Ian Culbert.