Big improvements as Carnew get the better of Laragh
CARNEW EMMETS LARAGH 3-8 1-8
HUGE improvements all over the field for Carnew Emmets helped pave the way for what will very likely be a vital victory for James Hickey’s men over Laragh in Joule Park Aughrim on Sunday evening last.
Having appeared to run out of steam against Ballymanus after a frantic first half, the Wexford border men needed a reaction from within the group if they were to relaunch their championship campaign having kicked off their big for Intermediate glory with a draw aaginst Donard-The Glen in Shillelagh.
Wins against Ashford and the aforementioned DonardThe Glen had left Decky Byrne’s Laragh coming into this game with a great chance to if not top the group 1 table then finish nice and tight to Ballymanus. Alas, many’s the team who have perished on the rock that is a wounded Carnew, and so it proved again on Sunday.
Scoring seems to be one of the biggest problems for Carnew of late in both codes and while eight points won’t light up the world over the course of the hour, three excellent goals and a fierce workrate will go a long way to winning any game against any opposition.
Of that 3-8, Carnew bagged 3-3 in the opening half, knocking Laragh for six as they went with majors from the excellent Nick Skelton after seven minutes, the second from the very imressive Conal McCrea after 12 and the third from the same man from the penalty spot on the cusp of half-tme.
The goals were vital but the workrate was even more so. James Hickey was treated to big games from John Walshe, Michael Rock, Niall Osborne, the Collins brothers, Seanie Kinsella and Padraig Doran and it was this aspect of the game that unlocked the Laragh defence time and again.
Decky Byrne’s side failed to score until the 20th minute of this game, that a John Nolan point to leave the scoreboard reading 2-1 to 0-1 and a steep hill to climb for the Laragh men already.
Carnew Emmets got to work right from the start with great work from Nick Skelton to overturn an early Laragh move and Michael Rock to win a free which John Kavanagh converted with two on the clock.
A wide from Conal McCrea was followed by Nick Skelton’s goal. The tigerish half-for- ward collected a wayward Laragh pass and fed Padraig Doran who returned to the wily Skelton who went long to Enda Donohue. The full-forward found Doran who fed Seanie Kinsella who fired the ball across to John Kavanagh who picked out Skelton who had continued his run and he found the back of Aaron Lynham’s net.
A seanie Kinsella free to John Kavanagh allowed the corner-forward pick out Conal McCrea with a ball in the danger area moments later and Lynham was picking the ball from his net for a second ime with 12 on the clock.
A loss of possession by James Hickey’s men forced a foul from Niall Osborne on Mark Miley and John Nolan split the posts but this answered swiftly by Padraig Doran.
Laragh were coming more into the game at this stage and they sent Stevie Olohan into the fray with 26 on the clock and had a wide and a shot dropped short by the time John Nolan bagged their second and third points in the 30th and 32nd miniute to leave it 2-3 to 0-3.
However, disaster was to strike for Decky Byrne‘s side when Padraig Doran was fouled by Aaron Lynham and Conal McCrea assumed responsibilty and and corner-forward fired home from the spot to send Carnew in leading 3-3 to 0-3.
Two Stevie Olohan points either side of a Nick Skelton white flag was a positive start for Laragh who had switched John Nolan and Mark Miley, but a Seanie Kinsella point was followed by the introduction of Myles Conway as Decky Byrne’s side were now in need of a proactive approach.
A John Kavanagh free was followed by a Myles Conway point and Laragh were thrown a lifeline whe they were awarded a penalty. Damien Hanlon stepped up an his first effort was saved by Cormac Doyle but he got a second chance and fininshed with aplomb, 3-6 to 1-6 with five of normal to go.
Laragh brought it back to a five-point game brielfy when John Nolan swung over from play but Carnew were always able to answer and from the boot of Conal McCrea they did just that to push Carnew ahead by six again while Stevie Olohan and John Kavanagh (free) both raised white flags late on. Laragh needed goals but that Carnew defence wasn’t about to oblige.
An excellent and badly needed victory for Carnew who could cause major problems in this form. This could be a significant bump in the road for Laragh depending on their reaction. Only time will tell.
Scorers – Carnew Emmets: Conal McCrea 2-1 (1p), Nick Skelton 1-1, John Kavanagh 0-4 (4f), Seanie Kinsella 0-1, Padraig Doran 0-1.
Laragh: John Nolan 0-4 (2f), Damien Hanlon 1-0 (p), Stephen Olohan 0-3, Myles Conway 0-1.