Old Leighlin produce their best to set up repeat SFC final
Daniel Brennan from Old Leighlin squeeses through Éire Óg pair, Lee Moore and Shane Buggy
After an indifferent group stages campaign, the holders sent out a warning loud and clear that they are hell-bent on retaining the title they won last year. At Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday, they produced a superb second half performance to run out convincing winners over the Teach Asca club.
Éire Óg hit the front from the throw-in with a goal straight from the training ground. When the ball was delivered long Eoghan Ruth who had migrated in around the small square got the touch to find the net at the O’Hanrahan end of the ground.
Old Leighlin hit back with a pointed free from Seamus Kinsella and James Dowling also raised a white flag. Two Adam McCarron points cancelled the Old Leighlin effort out and from there to half-time, it was a war of attrition with little asked or given. At the break, the game was finely balanced with Éire Óg leading 1-4 to 0-5.
An early second half point from McCarron proved to be the high-point of his side’s challenge. James Dowling scored two Old Leighlin points and they followed up with an excellent goal when Aaron Amond worked a 1-2 with Cathal Coughlan to find the net.
The Éire Óg challenge collapsed under the reigning champions challenge. Dowling was superb and ended the game with six points. Tadhg Roche also scored two in the second half and long before the end, the result was already decided.
J Dowling 0-6, A Amond 1-0,T Roche, S Kinsella (1f) 0-2 each, C Coughlan (f) S Bambrick, M Bambrick, D Fitzgerald, A Fitzgerald (f) 0-1 each.
A McCarron 0-7 (3fs 1-2pf), E Ruth 1-0.
Steven Scallan; Jordan Kelly, Tadhg O’Neill, Daniel Brennan; Tadhg Roche, Sean Bambrick, Jamie Doyle; Ian Atkinson, David Bambrick; James Dowling, Mikey Bambrick, Aaron Amond; Cathal Coughlan, Seamus Kinsella, Darragh Fitzgerald.
Subs: Alan Fitzgerald for Kinsella (58).
Johnny Furey; Lee Moore, Shane Buggy; Fiach O’Toole; Alex Delaney, Adam Nolan, Kyle Nolan; Kyle O’Byrne, Eoghan Ruth; Diarmuid Ruth, Darragh O’Brien, Mark Furey; Colm Hulton, Chris Blake, Adam McCarron.
Subs: Ross Dunphy for Hulton (h/t), Jordan Morrissey for Delaney (temp h/t), Eoin Myers for A Nolan (37), Sean Gannon for D Ruth (41), Benny Kavanagh for O’Byrne (53), Ryan Donnelly Finn for M Furey (58).
Referee: David Hickey (Fenagh).
