Moran's goal key as Palatine continue stunning start to Senior Championship
Ciaran Moran scored a goal for Palatine as they beat Éire Óg Photo: ©INPHO/Ben Brady
A first half goal from Ciaran Moran proved vital as Palatine claimed a narrow victory over the reigning champions in this Group 1 round 2 game at Netwatch Cullen Park on Friday. Having need a win in the relegation final last year to avoid dropping into the Intermediate, this was Palatine's second excellent win of the Championship after opening up with victory over Rathvilly and they look to be a team to watch in the knockout out stages.
In a tight first half Palatine took an early lead but Éire Óg went in front 0-5 to 0-4 with only five minutes left to the interval. The champions of two years ago enjoyed a purple patch with Moran finding the net from close range and Conor Crowley pouncing on a ball which Finbarr Kavanagh did well to keep in play. The intercounty player settled for a point to give his side a 1-7 to 0-6 interval lead.
Ross Dunphy was Éire Óg’s biggest threat in the half scoring four points (two marks, one from play and a free).
An Andrew Kehoe point on the resumption should have given Palatine the will to go forward but they found themselves on the back foot and ended up defending for long spells.
The Teach Asca side missed a succession of chances culminating with a difficult mark for Darragh O’Brien out on the left and about 40 metres out. His effort looked set to find the posts but the left-hand upright intervened and with it, Palatine took the confidence boosting one-point win.
S O’Neill 0-4 (2fs), C Moran 1-0, A Kehoe, C Crowley, J Kane, T Kenny, B McMahon 0-1 each
R Dunphy 0-5 (2marks f), L Moore 0-2, A Delaney, M Ware, M Furey, C Hulton, 0-1 each PALATINE: Craig Kearney; Conor O’Doherty, Cian Cashman, Jack Deacy; Ciaran Moran, Jamie Kenny, Cillian Duff; Jason Kane, Finbarr Kavanagh; Bryan McMahon, Shane O’Neill, Tomas Kenny; Andrew Kehoe, Conor Crowley, Josh Egan. Subs: Brandon Cassidy for Kehoe (47), Gavin Healy for J Kenny (58), James Cranny for Crowley (62).
Johnny Furey; Cathal Kelly, Shane Buggy, Benny Kavanagh; Alex Delaney, Mark Furey, Paul McElligott; Sean Gannon, Kyle O’Byrne; Lee Moore, Darragh O’Brien, Diarmuid Ruth; Ross Dunphy, Murtough Ware, Colm Hulton. Subs: Kyle Nolan for O’Byrne (2), Kieran Nolan for Moore (45), Cormac Mullins for Ruth (47), Niall Quinlan for Ware (50), E Byrne for Kavanagh (54)
Jonathan Murphy (St Mullins).
