Naomh Eoin 2-7
Railyard 0-11
By Kieran Murphy
RAILYARD must feel they left this SFL Division 2 semi-final behind them on Sunday in Netwatch Cullen Park. On the other hand, the eventual winners scored a goal in each half, defended well and ground out a win which didn’t look likely when they trailed by five points just after the resumption.
Naomh Eoin got off to a perfect start when Martin Clowry got inside the defence but as he gathered himself to shoot a certain goal, a mistimed tackle from behind felled him. Referee David Hughes awarded the penalty and Philip Smithers made no mistake.
Despite this setback, the Kilkenny side dominated for the remainder of the half. Caleb Roche drew the fouls and converted the frees. The Myshall side were lucky to hold onto their players and on another day, repeated fouling could have been interpreted as cynical. They got away with it but Railyard led 0-8 to 1-2 at the interval.
When Roche added another point after the Naomh Eoin defence coughed up easy ball, it should have been the signal for Railyard to go on and take control. They didn’t and paid the penalty. Donal Smithers knocked over two frees and were denied a goal when Railyard keeper John Mansfield saved well from John Michael Nolan.
Declan Kavanagh of Naomh Eoin heads for goal as David Rock and Conor McDonald of Railyard give chase during Sunday’s SFL Division 2 semi-final at Netwatch Cullen Park Photo: Thomas Nolan
That should have served as a warning for the Kilkenny visitors. When Martin Clowry got on the ball inside his own half, little looked on. He made ground, off-loaded, ran in support and after the ball went through several pairs of hands, up popped Clowry again. He still had a lot to do but he held his head and beat the keeper from close range.
That handed Naomh Eoin a narrow lead. Roche did level but the Carlow side finished strongly. An Anthony Hogan point nudged them back in front. Another Smithers free stretched their advantage and they held on to book their place in the final.
Naomh Eoin: Ronan Nolan; Daniel Slye, Shane Cranny, James O’Hara; Martin Doyle, Philip Smithers (1-0 pen), Tommy Nolan; Shane Kavanagh, Tadgh O’Connor; Martin Clowry (1-0), John Michael Nolan, Keith Hogan (0-1); Donal Smithers (0-4fs), Dwain Kavanagh (0-1), Eoin Redmond. Sub: Anthony Hogan (0-1) for Redmond (46 mins).
Railyard: John Mansfield; Eoin Boran, Eddie Roche, Ossie Roche; Noel Roche, Paul Roche, Paul Kelly; Conor McDonald, Cormac McDonald; Noel Rafferty, Paul Donnelly (0-3), Philip Roche (0-1); Ronan Walsh, Caleb Roche (0-7,4fs), Sean Dowd. Sub: Brian McDonald for Dowd (h/t).
Referee: David Hughes (Erins Own).
