Erins Own impress to keep up unbeaten start
Erins Own's David Byrne scores a great point under pressure from Butlerstown's Oliver McAlister. Photos: Maurice Hennebry.
Erins Own maintained their winning start to the Intermediate championship in Ballybeg on Sunday morning last with this five point win over Butlerstown. It was a hard earned win for the Poleberry side over opponents who will feel they should have got something out of this game given the scoring opportunities missed from frees and general play.
Playing in perfect conditions on the well-appointed St. Saviours pitch Erins Own got off to the perfect start with a point from James Kennedy seconds after the throw in followed quickly by a point from midfielder Peter Hogan. It looked ominous for Butlerstown when Cian Corbett shot wide from a 25 metre free directly in front of the Erins Own posts and in the 6th minute John Paul McDonagh raced through for Erins Own’s first goal.
The normally reliable Corbett was wide again from a close in free but David Byrne had no such problem for Erins Own as he sent over from play and a free in the ninth and tenth minutes to give his side a 1-4 to 0-0 lead.
The breakthrough came for Butlerstown in the 12th minute with Jack Widger fastening on a breaking ball and shooting to the net from close range. With Jim Power following up with a point from a long range free the Holy Cross based side were back in the game. They continued to pile on the pressure and by the 20th minute had drawn level with a point from Luke O’Brien followed by two from Cian Corbett frees.
Erins Own hit back in the 21st minute with a point from a David Byrne free and went two points clear with Barry Flynn sending over from play. Butlerstown replied with a point from the busy Jack Widger but missed a couple of clear chances from a free and play before Corbett sent over a free to level the tie at 1-6 each on halftime.
Butlerstown took the lead for the only time in the game with Corbett sending over a free following a foul on Widger at the start of the second half but by the 40th minute David Byrne had Erins Own back in control as he sent over points from a free and a sideline cut before shooting to the net from a 20 metre free.
First half sub Jack Kearney’s goal bound effort was well saved by Reece Dunphy for a ‘65’ which Cian Corbett pointed but after Jim Power shot wide from a free Eoin Daly scored Erins Own’s third goal in the 45th minute. Corbett and James Kennedy traded points but in the 50th minute the deficit was cut back to a goal with Brendan Kelly shooting to the net for Butlerstown.
The closing minutes saw Butlerstown applying strong pressure but the Erins Own defence held fast as late points from David Byrne and Barry Flynn clinched the victory.
Once again David Byrne was the big player for Erins Own while others to impress were Kenny Furlong, Ross Kennedy, Peter Hogan, Barry Flynn and J. P. McDonagh. For Butlerstown Jack Widger featured strongly with support from Mossie Quaide, Ollie McAllister, Brendan Kelly and Cian Corbett.
David Byrne 1-6 (1-4Fs, 0-1 S/L), J. P. McDonagh and Eoin Daly 1-0 each, Barry Flynn and James Kennedy 0-2 each, Peter Hogan 0-1.
Cian Corbett 0-6 (Fs), Jack Widger 1-1, Brendan Kelly 1-0, Jim Power (F) and Luke O’Brien 0-1 each.
Reece Dunphy, Brian Power, Kenny Furlong, Luke Fanning, Mark Hogan, John Frampton, Ross Kennedy, Jamie Knox, Peter Hogan, Barry Flynn, David Byrne, Tommy Waring, J. P. McDonagh, James Kennedy, Eoin Daly. Stephen Cowman.
John Power, Brian Browne, Mossie Quaide, Jack O’Keeffe, David Cheasty, Ollie McAllister, Paul Power, Jim Power, Brendan Kelly, Chris Kavanagh, Jack Widger, John Kinsella, Alex Cronin, Cian Corbett, Luke O’Brien. Jack Kearney, David Jordan.
Nicky Barry (Passage).
