House on fire for Carnew

Two goals sink Coolkenno

CARNEW EMMETS COOLKENNO 3-6 1-10

TWO second half goals from substitute Justin House helped propel Carnew Emmets to victory over Coolkenno and into a Darcy Sand Intermediate Football Championship semi-final in Joule Park Aughrim last Saturday afternoon.

James Hickey’s men were full value for this win and it sets them on a course with Decky Byrne’s Laragh who qualified for the last four after a dramatic victory over Ballymanus the week previous. Carnew will no doubt fancy their chances against the Laragh men, but last year’s Junior ‘A’ champions are there on merit and must be respected.

Just before House fired home his first major, Carnew were ahead of Coolkenno by the minimum at 1-5 to 0-7, with the semi-final spot up for grabs to either team at that moment in time. That goal on 45 minutes was a severe blow to the Coolkenno challenge and eight minutes later the Carnew substitute plucked a high ball from the sky and fired home to make it 3-5 to 0-9 to give Damien McMahon’s men a mountain to climb.

James Hickey’s side have shown continual improvement as the season has progressed, across both codes it has to be said, and to be nestles snugly in a county semi-final without the services of Brendan McCrea and Cillian Gilligan is a fair achievement and, should the semi-final hurdle be crossed by the Wexford border side, the promise of an Intermediate decider between them and old foes Tinahely or the very promising Kilmacanogue would set the mouth watering.

Plenty of football to be played before that, however, as Laragh have proven that they are a serious threat

Coolkenno enjoyed a healthy start to this game with an early point from Paul Murphy. Scoring was never going to be a convenient activity in this game with defences looking to shut down attacks as early and as efficiently as possible, so it was no surprise that it was seven minutes later before Carnew’s trusty free-taker John Kavanagh split the posts for the leveling score from 30 yards out.

The always reliable Nick Skelton fired over for Carnew after a ball from Kavanagh but Coolkenno’s Eamonn Rossiter replied before a strong drive up through the middle from Jim Cushe saw him split the posts for the lead score.

Coolkenno were without Don Jackman for this game but they did welcome back Eamonn and Cathal Rossiter from injury.

Carnew sent in Andy Hughes and Jack Doyle into the fray in place of Mark Collins and Thomas Kennedy either side of Conor Walker pointing a free given away by Collins and things were looking fairly decent for McMahon’s side.

But Carnew would move up through the gears for the remainder of the half. Points from John Kavanagh (two, both frees) and a stunning 1-1 from Conal McCrea, the goal an absolute beauty after he dissected the Coolkenno defence before dispatching sweetly past John Corcoran, knocked Coolkenno back big time as the Carnew men went in at the break leading by 1-5 to 0-4 and enjoying the benefit of the breeze in the second half.

Coolkenno began clawing their way back into this game early on in the second period with points from Conor Walker (three frees) while Ben Jackman was also introduced into the fray as Carnew led by a single point.

In the 44th minute, the Coolkenno revival started to falter. A ball from Jack Doyle to Justin House saw the substitute tip home from close range and despite Coolkenno managing to keep their scoreboard ticking over with another Conor Walker free and a Conor Doyle effort from play their work was undone when the formidable House gathered a high ball before tucking it home with 53 on the clock to make it 3-5 to 0-9.

A John Kavanagh free extended the lead and credit to Coolkenno they came back fighting but found in Cormac Doyle a goalkeeper in excellent form and he saved from Conor Walker to prevent a resurgence from the Carlow border outfit.

Ben Jackman would point, and Bob Keogh would goal after a lovely move up the field, but it would be too little too late as a disappointing Coolkenno make their championship exit while Carnew march on. James Hickey’s side are getting better with each passing game. Whether their good enough to make the decider and return to Senior football remains to be seen. What is certain is that no team will get anything easy from a tightly knit group who can play some lovely football at times.

Scorers – Carnew Emmets: Justin House 2-0, Conal McCrea 1-1, John Kavanagh 0-4 (4f), Nick Skelton 0-1.

Coolkenno: Jim Cushe 0-1, Conor Walker 0-5 (5f), Bobby Keogh 1-0, Pauric Murray 0-1, Eamonn Rossiter 0-1, Conor Doyle 0-1, Ben Jackman 0-1.

Cormac Doyle; Michael Rock, John Walshe, Willie Collins; Mark Collins, Paul Nolan, Nick Skelton; Thomas Kennedy, Padraig Doran; John Doyle, Conal McCrea, Enda Donohue; Niall Osborne, John Kavanagh, Seanie Kinsella. Subs: Andy Hughes for M Collins, Jack Doyle for T Kennedy (inj), Justin House for S Kinsella, Paudi McGing for N Osborne (inj), Drew Brennan for E Donohue.

John Corcoran; Willie Doyle, Paul Keogh, Shane Walker; Jim Cushe, Bobby Keogh, Cathal Rossiter; Paddy Dalton, David Cole; James Gregan, Eamonn Rossiter, Eoghan Dolan; Pauric Murray, Paul Murray, Conor Walker. Subs: John Gregan for C Rossiter, Ben Jackman for P Murray, Philip Timmons for E Dolan.

Anthony Nolan (Baltinglass)