Pal make sure of top spot in Group 2
Conor Crowley was among the goals for Palatine during the win over Fenagh
Palatine secured their place in the semi-finals of the Senior Football Championship thanks to this win which was not as comprehensive as the score-line suggests.
In a desperately difficult night for football, both sides produced excellent performances. That was everywhere except on the scoreboard. In the first half and particularly in the opening quarter, Fenagh created a plethora of chances while the Palatine attack also had their moments.
Padraig Hynes converted a free but Palatine hit back with a Jack Deacy third minute goal as his close range shot found its way to the net through a sea of legs.
Both sides threw caution to the wind and attacked at will. It had to be the difficult conditions which saw players miss chances which they would normally take with Fenagh’s Cormac Lomax, Colin Byrne and Hynes all failing to find the inside of the two uprights when goal and point chances beckoned.
Palatine may not have has had as many chances but they also struggled to beat Jack Rowan who made some great saves particularly in the final minutes of the half when he spectacularly flicked a goal-bound shot from Josh Egan over the bar.
At the interval, Palatine led 1-3 to 0-3. Minutes into the second half, Fenagh lost the ball in the middle of the field and Palatine broke clear. Conor Crowley was eventually on hand as his shot flew left, hit the upright and lodged in the back of the net.
That was the killer for Fenagh. James Cranny added a third goal and Rowan saved his side’s blushes with another super save from Jamie Kenny. Even he could not have done anything as Palatine struck for a fourth goal through Brandon Cassidy.
While Palatine's semi-final place is now assured, Fenagh's fate for the remainder of the season rests on the outcome of Sunday's game between Tinryland and Bagenalstown Gaels
J Cranny 1-1, B Cassidy, C Crowley (0-1f) 1-1 each, J Deacy 1-0, S O’Neill (1-2pf), C Kearney (1-2pf), A Kehoe 0-2 each, J Egan, K Kenny, B McMahon 0-1 each.
P Hynes (3fs) 0-4, J McCabe, C Byrne, S Murphy 0-1 each.
Craig Kearney; Stephen Reilly, Cian Cashman, Sean Walsh; Jack Deacy, Ciaran Moran, Padraic Kelly; Finbarr Kavanagh, Shane O’Neill; Josh Egan, Brandon Cassidy, Bryan McMahon; Conor Crowley, Jamie Kenny, James Cranny. Subs: Andrew Kehoe for Crowley (43), Tomas Kenny for Kelly (51), Darragh Fitzpatrick for Moran (51).
Jack Rowan; James Cummins, Darragh Byrne, Mark Dermody; Eric English, Dion Wall, Cormac Nolan; Jamie McCabe, Keegan Bradley; Sean Murphy, Cormac Lomax, Colin Byrne; Ian Craddock, Padraig Hynes, Jack Treacy. Subs: Adam Smyth for Murphy (52), Josh Kearney for Treacy (55).
Eoghan Evesson (Asca)
