Naomh Eanna drive on

NAOMH EANNA 0-14 REALT NA MARA 0-10

NAOMH EANNA kept on winning when they comfortably saw off the challenge of Realt na Mara in this Joyces Expert Intermediate ‘A’ Group A football championship game played in Monamolin on Saturday evening last.

While their quarter-final spot may have already been secure there was still no denying the appetite shown by the town side as they played some composed attacking football, and but for several missed goal chances, their final efforts just flying the wrong side of the posts, their winning margin would have been far greater.

The Ballygarrett side to their credit kept on battling, but they lacked the forward power to seriously threaten their opponents.

While they brought plenty of endeavour to their game, the majority of their attacks broke down with mis-directed final passes, while they failed to create a single goal chance during the course of the sixty minutes.

The game opened with Adam Fleming and Lee Kinsella exchanging points, before a Pat Naughter effort put the seasiders in front, 0-2 to 0-1 after six minutes.

But following this opening exchange of scores, Naomh Eanna went on to kick six unanswered points through Willie Cullen, three, one free, David O’Brien, Kinsella and Conor McDonald to lead 0-7 to 0-2 after eighteen minutes.

While Pat Naughter points managed to keep his side in the game, it was still Naomh Eanna who looked comfortable leading 0-9 to 0-5 at the interval.

At times the second half was all one-way traffic as Naomh Eanna took control of the outfield possession, and with McDonald and Cullen, free, adding quickfire points they gradually extended their lead to lead 0-12 to 0-7 at the end of the third quarter, while Willie Cullen and Lee Kinsella pulled goal chances just outside the post following some delightful approach play.

However, Realt na Mara were unable to break down the opposing defence, and in the end it was Naomh Eanna who worked their way through the closing minutes to run out comfortable winners.

Naomh Eanna: Barry Kinsella; Joseph O’Conor, Daniel Sunderland, Seamus O’Donnell; Jack Cullen, Padraig Doyle, Eoin Molloy (0-1); Jack Cushe, John O’Brien; Sean Doyle, Conor McDonald (0-3), Charlie McGuckin (0-1); Willie Cullen (0-4, 0-2 frees), Lee Kinsella (0-2), David O’Brien (0-2). Subs: Evan O’Dwyer for Cushe (48), Eoin Conroy (0-1) for Jack Cullen (50), Aodhan Doyle for Molloy (52).

Realt na Mara: Shane Quinn; Eddie Redmond, Stephen Redmond, Aidan Murphy; John Doyle, Darren Morris, Patrick Fleming (0-1); Colm Kennedy, David Doran; Johnny Sinnott, James Kavanagh, Adm Fleming (0-2, 0-1 free); Jack Hobbs, Patrick Naughter (0-6, 0-2 frees), Colm Cosgrave. Subs: Jimmy Murphy for Cosgrave (ht), Brendan Corcoran (0-1) for Sinnott (50), Seamus Doyle for Adam Fleming (55).

Referee: James Flood (St. Mary’s, Maudlintown)