Strong second half key for St Patrick's
Brian Byrne celebrates scoring a crucial goal for St Patrick's. Photos: Pat Ahern.
This fourth round Intermediate Football Championship tie at Netwatch Cullen Park was probably one of the best games of the competition so far.
Kildavin-Clonegal have had a disappointing season but they gave it their all here. Only for the intervention of marquee players for St Patrick's over the last few years, the result could very well have been quite the opposite. The pair scored 2-13 between them and at the end they were the difference.
Kildavin-Clonegal found themselves 0-5 to 0-2 behind in the early stages with Eoghan Cunnane, Jack O’Neill, Craig Staunton and Jack Kennedy (two frees) on the mark for St Patrick's. Niall Hickey scored a fabulous two-pointer into the scoreboard end from the right for the Wexford border side.
Despite those early concessions, the Kildavin-Clonegal defence was solid and they fought for everything with an intense energy. They were rewarded with a 17th minute goal when Hickey threaded the pass through the centre for Liam Roberts to run on to and bury in the back of the net.
That goal was the difference in the half with Kildavin-Clonegal leading 1-9 to 0-9 at the break.
A minute into the second the sides were level when a St Patrick’s attack down the right ended up with Byrne finding the net from what would have been an impossible angle for most players.
They almost added another when Jack O’Neill saw his effort turned around the post for a 45 which Byrne converted.
The respective free-takers for the sides, Joe Roberts and Kennedy, had their own little personal battle going with both proving to be deadly accurate from placed balls and play. On 42 minutes, Roberts levelled at 1-12 each.
In a five minute spell, St Patrick's took a grip on the game when Craig Staunton landed a two-point free and Kennedy off-loaded to Byrne who raised another green flag. The provider added a point from a free and Kildavin-Clonegal were in trouble.
They were unlucky when Niall Hickey punched effort was stopped on the line by a St Patrick’s defender. The same player and Roberts did add further points but the second goal they needed never came.
Gerry McGill may be around a long time but the experienced St Patrick’s net-minder was brilliant when stopping an effort from Liam McGuill.
That intervention from the keeper typified the respective efforts of both sides on the day. Eventually everything that St Patrick’s did towards the end of the first half and for most of the second turned to gold.
In golfing terms, Kildavin-Clonegal couldn’t buy a putt after the change of ends.
J Kennedy 0-10 (6f), B Byrne 2-3 (0-1'45), C Staunton 0-3 (1tpf), Jack O’Neill 0-2, E Cunnane 0-1.
Kildavin Clonegal: Joe Roberts 0-9 (1tpf, 5f), L Roberts 1-0, N Hickey 0-3 (1tp), A Callaghan 0-1, L McGuill, Daniel Murphy 0-1.
Gerry McGill; Conor Murphy, Lee Kavanagh, Jamie Ansbro; Eoghan Cleary, Dylan Gorman Comerford, Cian Doran; Dylan Hanley, Ronan Healy; Brian Byrne, Craig Staunton, Cathal Healy; Jack O’Neill, Jack Kennedy, Eoghan Cunnane.
Stephen Metcalfe for C Healy (7 temp), Rob Gahan for Murphy (HT), Adam Johnson for Doran (45), Will Doran for D Hanley (47), David Orbinski for Metcalfe (57).
Conor Hendrick; Philip Byrne, Darragh Roberts, Gavin Byrne; Liam Roberts, Lorcan Kinsella, Liam McGuill; John Kirwan, Fionn Doyle; Alex Callaghan, Niall Hickey, Daniel Cronin; Joe Roberts, Daniel Murphy, Conor Doyle.
Cillian Murphy for Kirwan (HT), Pauric Hickey for Murphy (57).
Jonathan Murphy (St Mullins).
