O'Neill sends St Patrick's into last four of IFC
An unorthodox way to try win the ball! Photo: Pat Ahern
A goal from Jack O’Neill midway through the second half was the cushion which helped ease St Patricks into the last four after they won this quarter-final at Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday.
In a tight first half, Naomh Eoin deservedly took a 0-3 to 0-1 fifth minute lead with Donal Smithers (f), John Michael Nolan and James Smithers all pointing.
St Patrick’s score came from a Jack Kennedy free. His side gradually got a grip over a sticky and defiant Myshall. Three points from Craig Staunton, two from Kennedy and a Brian Byrne free gave St Patricks a marginal advantage.
Trailing 0-7 to 0-6 at the interval, Naomh Eoin also had scores from Scott Tracey and Donal Smithers.
St Patricks kept a grip on proceedings in the second half and gradually moved clear. Two frees from Kennedy had them six up but Naomh Eoin hit back with Donal Smithers and Scott Tracey both pointing.
Crucially, sandwiched between those two scores came the only goal of the game as Cian Doran ran from inside his own half, drew the defence and O’Neill was on hand to take a perfect off-load. From the left at the O’Hanrahan end of the ground the left-half forward found the net with a low and hard shot.
The game played out to an inevitable end with Kennedy making the half-dozen with a superbly struck 30 metre free with the last action of the game.
J Kennedy 0-6 (4fs), C Staunton 0-3, J O’Neill 1-0, B Byrne 0-1 (f), C Healy 0-1 each.
D Smithers 0-4 (2fs), J Smithers 0-2, S Tracey 0-2 each J.M. Nolan 0-1
Gerry McGill; Lee Kavanagh, Niall Sherry, Cian Doran; Ronan Byrne, Dylan Gorman Comer, Cathal Healy; Craig Staunton, Eoghan Cleary; Niall Gahan, Jack Kennedy, Jack O’Neill; Cian Gorman Comerford, Brian Byrne, Padraig Murphy. Subs: Will Doran for Dylan Gorman Comerford (23), Stephen Metcalfe for R Byrne (35), Eoghan Cunnane for C Gorman Comerford (39), Tadgh Foley for O’Neill (53).
Kyle Foley; Tadhg Daly, Tommy Nolan, Diarmaid Deacon; Patrick Doyle, Diego Dunne, Eoin Hosey; Michael Kavanagh, John Michael Nolan; Scott Tracey, Jamie Behan, Cian Quirke; James Smithers, Martin Clowry, Donal Smithers. Subs: Ciaran Abbey for Quirke (41), Keith Hogan for Clowry (45), Shane Cranny for Behan (53), Adam Kenny for Daly (59).
Paud O’Dwyer (Palatine).
