CARNEW MARCH ON
Hickey’s men growing in confidence with every game
CARNEW EMMETS KILTEGAN 2-18 2-9
CARNEW’S steady improvement under the guidance of Mount Leinster Rangers stalwart James Hickey continues apace after this convincing victory over Nigel Byrne’s Kiltegan in Joule Park Aughrim on Sunday afternoon last.
A tally of 2-18 is a considerable improvement on totals recorded in earlier games and they now march on to face Bray Emmets in the last four in what promises to be an intriguing clash with Carnew having already toppled last year’s beaten finalists, albeit in a game of very little importance.
Carnew got nothing easy from this Kiltegan side who can look back on a much-improved season under Nigel Byrne.
Hurling is alive and well on the Carlow border and if the commitment and enthusiasm continues then progress will undoubtedly follow given the talent at their disposal in the form of Bryan Kearney, Ronan Byrne, Padraig O’Toole, Padraig Byrne, Rory Finn, Aaron Byrne and Seanie Germaine to name but a few.
Key to the victory for James Hickey’s men was the impact of Enda Donohue who continues to dominate the scoring charts. He bagged 1-10 in this game (nine frees) but Carnew were boosted hugely by 1-4 from veteran attacker Timmy Collins who looks in fine form, his goal coming at a key juncture at 22 minutes to make it 1-6 to 1-4.
The showing from Seanie Kinsella was also pivotal for Carnew. The midfielder took some hefty hits in the early stages of this game but the moving of Padraig Byrne off him by Kiltegan allowed Kinsella to come more and more into the game.
Conal McCrea had an outstanding game in the half backs and his colleagues Martin O’Brien and Robert Lambert were also impressive.
This was a stop-start kind of game in the opening half with little flow or poetry about it. Carnew captain Wayne Kinsella opened the scoring but Kiltegan went for the jugular early on and had a goal through full-forward Michael Mangan with Jack Collins collecting a yellow card for a foul in the lead up to the major.
A foul on Padraig O’Toole allowed Seanie Germaine his first opportunity from a free and the Kiltegan sharp-shooter duly obliged.
Away we went then on a sunny autumnal afternoon in Joule Park Aughrim. Donohue and Germaine swapped scores before the Carnew free-taker lashed over three more scores along with a single from Timmy Collins after superb work from Conal McCrea and Hickey’s men were taking over in all areas of the field at 0-6 to 1-2.
Then came Timmy Collins’ major. A wicked run from Enda Donohue saw Collins gather in the danger area and he rifled home past Luke Byrne to give Carnew a 1-6 to 1-2 lead after 22 minutes.
Runs from the middle were causing Kiltegan some bother at this stage and another one, this time from captain Wayne Kinsella, resulted in a fine point from Timmy Collins.
Back came Kiltegan with points from Germaine and the hard-working Rory Finn.
These were answered by Jack Doyle from play, but Germaine struck back from 55 yards before Finn plucked the ball from the sky and split the posts to make it 1-8 to 1-6 for Carnew.
The last say of the first half went to Enda Donohue who swung over a free after Padraig Doran caught superbly before being fouled to leave it a one-score game at the break, 1-9 to 1-6.
Majors were swapped early on in the second half has both sides upped the tempo. Enda Donohue beat Luke Byrne at one end before Germaine got the better of Ted Kennedy at the other and theer was still just the one score separating the sides at 2-9 to 2-6.
Seanie Germaine reduced the lead even further but from here on in Carnew took over. Four unanswered points put significant daylight between the sides while James Hickey unleashed the impressive Andrew Hughes on proceedings after 10 of the second half.
Carnew’s points came from Donohue (65), Timmy Collins, Wayne Kinsella and a Donohue free to leave it 2-13 to 2-7 after 17 minutes of the second half. Nigel Byrne sent in Jonathan Tallon at this stage to try and reverse the tide, but it would have little effect.
Two Germaine frees completed the scoring for Kiltegan but the Carnew men finished strongly with points from Donohue (three), Wayne Kinsella and a rousing Cormac Doyle score from out on the stand side to leave them 2-18 to 2-9 winners and secure a meeting with Bray Emmets in the semi-final.
Scorers – Carnew Emmets: Enda Donohue 1-10 (9f), Timmy Collins 1-3, Wayne Kinsella 0-3, Jack Doyle 0-1, Cormac Doyle 0-1.
Kiltegan: Seanie Germaine 1-7 (7f), Michael Mangan 1-0, Rory Finn 0-2.
Carnew Emmets: Ted Kennedy; Aaron Kinsella, John Walshe, Jack Collins; Conal McCrea, Martin O’Brien, Robert Lambert; Wayne Kinsella, Seanie Kinsella; Paudi McGing, Padraig Doran, Jack Doyle; Joe Hughes, Timmy Collins, Enda Donohue. Subs: Andrew Hughes for P McGing (40), Graham Keogh for S Kinsella (57), Nick Skelton for E Donohue (58), Cormac Doyle for T Collins (58).
Luke Byrne; Eoin O’Neill, Bryan Kearney, Colm Keogh; Seamus Coogan, Ronan Byrne, MJ Moran; Podge O’Toole, Padraig Byrne; Liam Keogh, Rory Finn, Aaron Byrne; Mark Murphy, Michael Mangan, Seanie Germaine. Subs: Jonathan Tallon for M Murphy (47), Steven Coogan for L Keogh (55).
John Keenan (Aughrim)