Speedy Gorey in command
DESPITE A quartet of excellent points from 'Mitch' Jordan, Naomh Éanna proved too fast and skilful for Marshalstown-Castledockrell in this Jack O'Leary Intermediate football championship Group D round two clash in Monageer on Saturday last.
Unfortunately for his team, Jordan didn't see near enough of the ball as a determined Gorey outfit defended doggedly throughout, while David O'Brien and Dara McDonald did the damage up front. The winners raced into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead after 17 minutes, with impressive full-forward McDonald scoring a fine brace in the space of a minute.
Marshalstown-Castledockrell deployed number 15 Michael Kinsella between their own full-and half-back lines throughout, and while it worked well at times, Naomh Éanna quickly realised that they needed to direct their deliveries away from Kinsella's patch and it paid dividends. They led by 06 to 0-3 at the turnaround, but two early second-half scores from 'Mitch' Jordan momentarily raised Marshalstown-Castledockrell's hopes.
However, Mark Langan-Murphy was then dragged down for a penalty in the 40th minute which was easily converted by David O'Brien. Naomh Éanna midfielder Dara Cullen then brilliantly rode two hefty tackles before laying off to Dara McDonald whose searing 35-metre run ended with the ball nestling in the far corner of the net in the 45th minute (2-7 to 0-5).
The Enniscorthy District team looked to have accepted their fate by now and, after the impressive Lee Kinsella and John O'Brien tagged on further Gorey points, Marshalstown-Castledockrell captain, Declan Byrne, allowed his frustrations to get the better of him and he saw red for lashing out at Dara Cullen.
Both teams added a brace of points each as the game petered out to an inevitable conclusion, with Gorey now facing a vital clash with St. Fintan's for a place in the quarter-finals, while Marshalstown-Castledockrell cannot now progress.
- LIAM DORAN in Monageer
