Carnew rally to see off Pat’s

Visitors recovered from trailing by five points at half-time

CARNEW EMMETS produced a vastly improved second-half performance to propel themselves from a five-point half-time deficit to a five-point victory at the St. Patrick’s GAA grounds in Dunbur Road on Sunday morning last, May 19.

On a pleasant, sunny morning, the team playing away from the dressing rooms end had the help of a stiff enough breeze and this factor had a big influence on the game.

Centre-back Michael Connors got the home side off to a fine start when he pointed a long-range free in the opening minute. Owen Young responded with the equaliser from a free after four minutes.

Already at this stage in the game, St Pat’s were beginning to use the advantage of the breeze and were 0-4 to 0-1 ahead by 10 minutes with further points from frees by Bill ‘Dee’ O’Brien and John Connors again. The third point came from play by Luke Connors.

The Emmets were struggling to make any headway at this stage. Their half-back line of James McGing, Martin O’Brien and Adrian Myers was putting up strong resistance, but they were making little or no progress up front where John Connors at full-back and Michael Connors at centre-back were very much in control.

Martin O’Brien got the Emmets second point when he soloed forward to score off his left. Two further points from frees by Bill ‘Dee’ O’Brien and Michael Connors pushed Pat’s up to 0-6 by 20 minutes.

Owen Young responded with a pointed free for Carnew.

The home side continued to push on and had a further two points from play by James ‘Bonner’ O’Brien. A final pointed free from Bill ‘Dee’ O’Brien brought their half-time tally to 0-9.

The Emmets had the final say of the half when Owen Young got their fourth point from a free in added time.

The Carnew side had never really got going in that opening half, but they quickly went about changing that on the restart.

Eoin Kavanagh pointed from play in their opening attack but Bill ‘Dee’ O’Brien replied from a free for Pat’s to leave it 0-10 to 0-5 now (double scores) but there was a whole new urgency about the Emmets play and it hadn’t all to do with the assistance they had from the breeze.

Clearances from defence were being placed into open spaces and the Wicklow defence were pulled around conceding frees in the process.

Owen Young quickly scored three points from placed balls while two points from play by Dan Redmond and John Doyle Snr. left the comeback complete after 10 minutes with the score now standing at 0-10 apiece.

One minute later the visitors went ahead when a long ball delivered in from James McGing took a deflection from a defender in the goalmouth and ended in the net.

Carnew’s momentum stalled over the next 10 minutes or so. A good bit of niggle was getting into the game as referee Paul Gahan spent some time sorting out local disputes and flashing cards.

Bill ‘Dee’ O’Brien pointed two frees in that period to leave just a point between the sides after 20 minutes.

However, Carnew Emmets got back in the scoring groove for the final 10 minutes and further points from Owen Young frees (2) and points from play by Dan Redmond and Young left the visitors victorious at the end by 1-14 to 0-12.

In the final minute a stoppage occurred which took a couple of minutes to sort out. Pats midfielder Tom O’Brien was injured at this stage and was replaced by Robert Moffett. The game restarted and finished without further delay. CARNEW EMMETS: Robert Fitzgerald; John Young, Ruairi O’Brien, Cormac Redmond; James McGing, Martin O’Brien (0-1), Adrian Myers; John Doyle Jnr, Jack Doyle, Owen Young (0-9, 8f), Paudie McGing (1-0), Dan Redmond (0-2); Richard Greene, John Doyle Snr (0-1), Eoin Kavanagh (0-1). Subs: Fionn Darcy, Ken Cullen, Wayne Kinsella, John Walsh.

ST. PATRICK’S: George ‘Big’ O’Brien; Denis O’Brien, John Connors, Dale Quinn; George ‘Boo’ O’Brien, Michael Connors (0-3, 3f), Terry Healy; Tom O’Brien (0-1), Bill ‘Notty’ O’Brien; Bill Joe Connors, Paddy Murphy, Luke Connors (0-1); Bill ‘Dee’ O’Brien (0-6f), James ‘Bonner’ O’Brien (0-1), Johnno Moorehouse. Subs: Bill Connors, George O’Brien, John Red O’Brien, Robert Moffett.

REFEREE: Paul Gahan