Jack shines bright
Kennedy bags 3-2 as Carnew topple gallant Éire Óg
CARNEW EMMETS 6-17 ÉIRE ÓG GREYSTONES 1-6
A very strong first-half performance aided by a blustery wind proved enough to guarantee Carnew Emmets victory over a brave Éire Óg side in this under-13 ‘B’ hurling semi-final in Ballinakill on Saturday.
A hugely impressive 3-2 from attacker Jack Kennedy laid the foundations for the victory which sees David Gregan’s side march into the county final where they will face Bray Emmets who overcame Michael Dwyers in the second semi-final.
Top showings from the Cosgrave twins, Bobby and Nicky, Jim O’Brien in the goals, a miserly defence featuring Conor Faulkner, Dylan Kenny and Dylan Austin and quality performances from Jack Gregan, Tom Brennan, MJ Hughes and James Gregan to name just a few were key to Carnew carving out this win against a somewhat depleted Greystones side who never once threw in the towel.
Against that wind in the first half proved a tough job for the Éire Óg men. Nicky Cosgrave opened the scoring with the fine point and this was added to by points from Callum Steadman and Bobby Cosgrave before Jack Kennedy nipped in for the first of his hat-trick of goals to put Carnew 1-3 to 0-0 up early on.
Éire Óg were trying hard to get out of their own defence and had good efforts in the form of Paddy Marrinan and Darragh Keogh but they met a Carnew team in good health.
Further points from Kennedy and Jack Gregan (free) were followed by Kennedy’s second
major of the morning after good work by Jack Gregan who won dirty ball before feeding the lethal attacker inside.
Gregan would raise a green flag of his own shortly afterwards and it would be 3-7 to 0-0 before Paddy Marrinan would get Éire Óg off the mark with a fine free.
Another Jack Gregan goal and Kennedy’s hat-trick after a decent ball from Colin Lawrence left the half-time score reading 5-9 to 0-1 with Éire Óg turning around with the wind at their backs but a major job of work to do on the scoreboard.
The great start they needed never materialised as Jack Gregan pointed a free and Colin Lawrence
drove in a long ball that seemed to cross the line before Brendan O’Brien got a touch.
Éire Óg had threatened before that 1-1 when Marrinan and Dean Barry had linked up well but Dylan Kenny proved strong at full-back and Jack Gregan emerged from the ruck like a bull to clear the danger.
Éire Óg enjoyed a very positive spell over the next 15 minutes and really showed their potential with points from Paddy Marrinan (2) and Sean Lehane (2) and a goal from Marrinan to make it 6-11 to 1-5 in favour of Carnew.
Points from Tom Brennan and Donal Rawson stopped the rot for the Carnew side before Darragh
Keogh finished the scoring with a fine point for Éire Óg to leave Carnew the winners on a score line of 6-17 to 1-6.
Jim O’Brien; Conor Faulkner, Dylan Kenny, James Gregan, MJ Hughes, Nicky Ryan; Jack Gregan (2-1 (1f), Tom Brennan (0-1); Nicky Cosgrave (0-2), Bobby Cosgrave (0-2), Rian Rooney Callum Steadman (0-2), Jack Kennedy (3-2). Subs: Colin Lawrence (1-0), Finnán Kinsella, Brendan O’Brien, Thomas Rawson, Donal Rawson (0-2).
CARNEW EMMETS:
Patrick O’Boyle; Sean Ryan, Ciaran Darcy, Cillian Goff; Jack Giles, Darragh Keogh (0-1), Paddy Marrinan (1-3, 1f); Miguel Ramirez McMahon, Seán Lehane (0-2); Dean Barry, Callum Clarke Twomey, Liam Booth; Fiachra Browne, Rian O’Gorman, Marco Lemass.
REFEREE: Ciaran Manley (Glenealy)