The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Annascaul impress
IT wasn’t quite the match we expected beforehand. In hindsight, though, the way things transpired was no great surprise.
Annascaul are, after all, a Division 2 side. There’s a reason so many people have them installed as favourites for this championship and in an overcast, and occasionally sunny, Knocknagoshel on Sunday afternoon they showed just why that is.
This was a meaner, more determined and decisive Annascaul side to the one of last year. They had all the look of men on a mission and, indeed, it was a very businessman-like performance against a Knocknagoshel side which caused them a few problems in last year’s championship in Annascaul.
Truth be told Annascaul look to have pushed on to another level since then – going on this – and Knocknagohsel have dropped back a touch in the meantime.
Knock, to be fair, were missing a couple of players, but even so it’s hard to see how they would have been able to turnover this formidable looking Annascaul side.
The Mall could have been a touch closer and took far too long to open their account, but there was never any real sense of danger from an Annascaul point of view in the match. Yes, Knock punched back pretty hard in the second half with a couple of goals of their own, even then Annscaul always had the capacity to respond.
With the Hickson brothers – Éamonn and Jason – directing matters from midfield the royal blues were always on control. They fired the opening four scores of the match inside the opening seven minutes and, while it took them another thirteen to register their fifth, they were more than comfortable, especially with their hosts squandering a large number of early chances.
When Cathal Ferriter took off and buried to the back of Mike Casey’s net on twenty minutes to make it a seven point game – 0-1 to 1-5 – it felt fairly ominous for Knock, even though Edmond Walsh struck back straight away with a trademark finish.
Annascaul then went on to hit a further four points unanswered before Edmond Walsh struck back again just on the stroke of half-time to leave nine in it at the break – 0-3 to 1-9.
Effectively the tie was over at that juncture and if it wasn’t it sure as hell was after James Crean struck for Annascaul’s second less than a minute into the second half. Éamonn Hickson set him up for a shot at goal, blocked well by Casey in the Knock goal, but ever vigilant Crean was on hand to finish the rebound to the back of the net.
Knock soon had a goal back through Michael Keane – assist Edmond Walsh – and a second through John O’Keeffe – assist Dan Roche – but Annascaul remained well on top and well in control of proceedings.
Indeed as the game opened up a little both teams began to show some great skill. For the home side Edmond Walsh shot over some outrageous scores into the dressing room end, while down the other guys like Cathal Ferriter, Jack Farrell and Killian Falvey showed just what they’re all about.
Indeed Falvey struck a really sweet finish for Annascaul’s third goal, which really rammed home just how far ahead Annascaul were in the game. Still Knock showed admirable resilience and determination to keep pushing to the very last.
They’ve got to know that the group is still very much alive from their point of view. They’ve got to know that Annascaul were likely that touch ahead of everybody else in their group. Win their final two games – starting this weekend against Kilgarvan on the road (admittedly no easy task) – and they can still come out of the group.
As for Annascaul they should be in a position to wrap up their place in the quarter-finals with a win on home soil against Sneem / Derrynane.
KNOCKNAGOSHEL: Mike Casey, John Brosnan, Pádraig Reidy (0-1), Darragh O’Connell, Michael Keane (1-0), Michael Walsh (0-1), Conor Sheehan, James Walsh (0-1), Kieran Downey, John Bell (1-1), Edmond Walsh (0-5, 2f), Dan Roche, Dylan Curtin, Shane O’Connell, Niall Barrett Subs: John O’Keeffe for D Curtin, 36, Cillian O’Connor for K Downey, 36, David Cahill for N Barrett, 48, Matthew O’Connor for J Bell, 53, Denis Collins for D O’Connell, 57
ANNASCAUL: Tommy Pierce, Joe Hoare, Andrew Finn, David Smith, James Scanlon, Colm Moriarty, Shane Foley (0-1), Éamonn Hickson (0-1), Jason Hickson (0-1f), Fintan Herlihy, Killian Falvey (1-2, 1 mark), Jack Farrell (0-1), Fionn Coakley, James Crean (1-5, 2f, 1 mark), Cathal Ferriter (1-3) Subs: Gearóid O’Shea for J Hoare, 46, Aidan Crean (0-1f) for F Coakley, 46, Dara Hickson for J Scanlon, 51, Seán O’Hara for F Herlihy, 52, Diarmuid O’Hara for D Smith, 57
REFEREE: Gerdy Carroll (Asdee)