Naomh Eoin enjoy opening round stroll in the park against lacklustre Bagenalstown
Paddy Doyle carries the ball forward for Naomh Eoin during their win over Bagenalstown Gaels in the first round of the JJ Kavanagh & Sons Senior Hurling Championship Photo: Pat Ahern
Naomh Eoin enjoyed a remarkably easy Senior Hurling Championship round one victory at Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday.
The winners dominated the first half with Ciaran Abbey deadly accurate from placed balls. He landed a 65 and two frees while he also raised two white flags from play. In addition, John Michael Nolan produced a superb thirty minutes where he scored five points. This was all supplemented by a Cian Quirke goal at the end of the first quarter.
Bagenalstown struggled relying on two frees from Jake Doyle and JP Treacy who underlined his class with two points from play. At the break, Naomh Eoin led 1-12 to 0-6.
The anticipated fight-back never happened for the Gaels but Naomh Eoin struggled to put their rivals away. While Naomh Eoin were the better side, it wasn’t until late in the game when James Smithers swooped for a second goal that the game was well and truly put to bed.
C Abbey 0-9 (65 5fs), JM Nolan 0-6, C Quirke 1-2, J Smithers 1-1, D Kavanagh (65), M Nolan 0-1 each
TJ Darcy (1f), JP Treacy, J Doyle (fs), D Nolan (fs) 0-2 each, S Wall, M McDonald 0-1 each.
Brian Tracey; Diarmaid Deacon, Michael Kavanagh, Donal Jordan; Michael Nolan, Dwain Kavanagh, Jamie Behan; Paddy Doyle, Diego Dunne; Ger Kavanagh, Eoin Hosey, Ciaran Abbey; Cian Quirke, John Michael Nolan, Cathal Tracey. Subs: James Smithers for G Kavanagh (h/t), Peter Abbey for C Tracey (38), Tadgh Daly for Behan (54), Tommy Nolan for JM Nolan (59), G Kavanagh for Hosey (61).
Andrew Townsend; Ross O’Neill, Darragh Nolan, Andrew Casey; Cian Doyle, Alan Corcoran, Alan Wall; Sean Wall, Jamie Clarke; Jake Doyle, Jason Wall, Danny Doyle; TJ Darcy, JP Treacy, Kealan Guidera. Subs: Mark McDonald for Guidera (35).
Patrick Murphy (Ballinkillen)
