Gaels display their potential with a strong display against Curry
SHAMROCK Gaels appreciably improved their chances of reaching the knockout stages of the Homeland
Senior Football Championship thanks to their imposing nine-point defeat of Curry, 2-17 to 1-11, at Bunninadden Community Park last Saturday. Despite only being four points up at half-time, 1-9 to 1-5, this was a coherent performance throughout from Glen McDermott’s
side who clearly learned the lessons of their previous game, a two-point defeat to St Mary’s – a fixture in which Shamrock Gaels were ineffectual after going three points up.
For their joust with a Curry outfit revived after their narrow victory over Tubbercurry, Shamrock Gaels displayed a cutting-edge, typified by midfielder David Quinn’s excellent contribution of eight points. A three-pointer within 18 seconds of the restart put Shamrock Gaels on course for this decisive result – the aforementioned David Quinn won possession from the throw-in and sent a direct ball on top of the inside forwards.
Lee Deignan broke it and the ball came to his brother, Shane, who buried his shot with aplomb past Sean Marren.
This goal put Shamrock Gaels seven points clear, 2-9 to 1-5, and later in the second-half they would extend this advantage to 10 points, 2-13 to 1-6, following another accurate free conversion by David Quinn.
Shane Deignan’s first goal – which came after 12 minutes – helped settle Shamrock Gaels after an opening 10 minutes that saw Curry take the
GROUP ONE, ROUND THREE – Calry-St Joseph’s 1-9, Tubbercurry 0-9; Curry 1-11, Shamrock Gaels 2-17. GROUP TWO, ROUND THREE – Coolaney-Mullinabreena 4-9, St Farnan’s 1-16; Coolera-Strandhill 0-11, Drumcliffe-Rosses Point 0-11.
SATURDAY – Drumcliffe-Rosses Point v St Farnan’s (Kent Park, 4pm), CooleraStrandhill v Tourlestrane (Markievicz Park, 6pm). SUNDAY – Tubbercurry v Shamrock Gaels (Markievicz Park, 2pm), Calry-St Joseph’s v St Mary’s (Connolly Park, Collooney, 4pm).
lead in the rain through Alan Reilly’s pointed free.
Shamrock Gaels responded with three unanswered points, with Evan Lyons central to the good score from Liam O’Connell, and the winners almost goaled from an early
attack – but Curry’s Craig Gallagher scrambled the ball off the goal-line after Lee Deignan appeared to have scored from his brother’s assist. A very good point from Alan Reilly, following a pass by Jason Marren, who was back after injury, hinted at Curry’s expertise. But Reilly didn’t seem to be at full tilt and so Shamrock Gaels just had to hope to minimise the impact of the Marren siblings, Jason and Marren. They were doing a reasonably good job at this, given that Adrian Marren didn’t score from play in the first-half and, indeed, his sole firsthalf score was a pointed free in the second minute of stoppage time. Shamrock Gaels, who consistently made inroads into Curry territory with strong ball-carrying, with Evan Lyons’ drive crucial, were six points up, 1-7 to 0-4, by the 25th minute. A superb pointed free from David Quinn resulted in point number seven.
Things were going swimmingly but then Curry found a way back when Alan Reilly’s point attempt from an angle dropped short and deceived Shamrock Gaels goalkeeper Daniel Lyons, who watched in horror as the ball skidded under him.
Given the underfoot conditions and the rain (which later ceased, thankfully), Curry’s goal came at a good time and the sides swapped points in stoppage time – Adrian Marren pointed a free and Lee Deignan popped a score from play – to suggest the second period could be an even contest.
But Curry, who were boosted in energy by the introduction of several substitutes, never looked like making a game of it in the second-half – Shane Deignan’s goal saw to that.
The attacking craft of the Deignans helped give Shamrock Gaels the upper hand here but equally vital was the selfless work of Dillon McDermott, who operated as a target man, and the midfield toil of Conor Sheridan.
McDermott showed deft soccer skills to set up Shane Deignan’s first goal – with the ball kept on the ground it was almost like watching Arrow Harps – and he was also the supplier of assists for points by David
Quinn and Darragh Hailstones.
Adrian Marren, who scored four points in the second-half, kept the flag flying for a flagging Curry.
His 43rd minute point was a wonder score from a long-range free. In second-half stoppage time, with Curry almost beyond saving, Adrian Marren almost conjured a goal.
His free dropped dangerously in around the house, the ball slipped through David Quinn’s grasp and Daniel Lyons was forced into a smart save. This was probably David Quinn’s only error all evening. Curry really needed goals during the third quarter in order to potentially recover. Jack Duffy blazed wide from a tight angle – Jason Marren gave him the ball – and Adrian Marren’s only point from play was from a move that hinted at a goal after Jason Marren and substitute Tommy Henry did the prep.