Goals galore as Naomh Eoin march on
Naomh Eoin goalscorer, James Smithers jinks around the Ballon defence. Photo: Aisling Hyland.
It is 10.30 pm on Friday night at Netwatch Cullen Park. The Kilbride team are disconsolate and disappointed. They troop down the tunnel. Hardly a word is spoken. Their season is over. They have just been knocked out of the Junior Football A Championship at the quarter-final stage. There are no excuses. Naomh Eoin were worthy winners.
But really the question has to be asked. Why are games being scheduled where the potential to end so late in the day is very much a possibility? It has been going on for some years now but last week there was a double header completed on a Wednesday. There were two more double headers on Thursday and Friday. Fixture congestion is obviously the reason but is this what the GAA is all about?
The current schedule is not player friendly. For younger children, it is certainly not family friendly. Most referees have young families and a day’s work the following day. Too many masters for what essentially is the work of volunteers.
Then there are the match stewards with some of them not leaving the ground until nearly 11.00pm. Most arrive as early as 6.15pm for a 7.00pm throw-in. None are paid in what is almost a full day’s work for them.
For the last few years the situation has been tolerated but when the first game here on Friday between Palatine and Askea had gone to extra-time the dye was cast. Even then the second game could have been delayed further if Askea had not missed a late, late chance to draw the game which would then have required penalties to determine a winner. One can only imagine the sighs of relief in certain quarters around the ground when that ball drifted wide.
As for the game itself, Naomh Eoin led 0-4 to 0-1 after 22 minutes. It was not inspiring stuff but the resolve of both teams had to be admired. Daniel Bolger nudged Kilbride in front on three minutes but the Myshall side were that bit better. Scott Tracey, Adam Kenny, John Michael Nolan and Ben Nolan all raised white flags.
Coming up to the interval, with Naomh Eoin leading by two points, Kilbride coughed up easy possession and Kenny off-loaded to James Smithers. The young man made no mistake when finding the net. That three-pointer put Naomh Eoin 1-5 to 0-3 ahead at the interval.
For the second half, Sean Treacy, for Naomh Eoin, replaced the experienced Kyle Foley, and the goalkeeper was quickly into the action making a point blank save. Stephen Carroll did score a Kilbride point but a good move put in Cian Quirke and Naomh Eoin had their second goal and a cushion.
Kilbride hit back and enjoyed a period in the ascendancy. By that stage, Adam Kenny had been moved back into a defensive role for Naomh Eoin as their opponents clawed their way back into the game with three points from Darragh Foley.
Just when it looked as if Naomh Eoin had lost control of their destiny, they hit back and a passing movement saw Scott Tracey touch in at the far post. At 3-7 to 1-7 in favour of the Myshall side the game was all but up for Kilbride. Naomh Eoin’s Declan Nolan punched over and Patrick Doyle netted. John Michael Nolan celebrated a solid display both for him and his colleagues as he notched two points from play to complete the scoring.
It was mission accomplished for Naomh Eoin and another fixture out of the way in a frantically busy club season.
S Tracey 1-2, J Smithers 1-1, C Quirke 1-0, P Doyle 1-0, J M Nolan 0-3, B Nolan, A Kenny, D Nolan, P Abbey 0-1 each.
D Bolger 1-2, D Foley 0-4 (3f), S Carroll 0-1.
Kyle Foley; Diarmaid Deacon, Michael Kavanagh, Ger Kavanagh; Michael Nolan, Eoin Hosey, Patrick Doyle; Diego Dunne, John Michael Nolan; Ben Nolan, Adam Kenny, Peter Abbey; Scott Treacy, James Smithers, Cian Quirke.
Sean Treacy for Foley (h/t), Ciaran Abbey for B Nolan (41), Declan Nolan for Hosey (temporary 51).
Michael Brown; John O’Neill, Tom Donald, James Foley; Pierce Deane, Kieran Donald, Matthew O’Brien; Darragh Foley, Rian Farrell; Davy Francis, Daniel Bolger, Chris Buckley; Nathan Doran, Joe Waters, Pauric Waters.
Stephen Carroll for Doran (35), Lochlann MacGagh for Buckley (55), Paul Kealy for Francis (60).
David Hickey (Fenagh)
