The Nire saunter to success over depleted Clashmore/Kinsalebeg
Fourmilewaters Sean Walsh rises up out of a group of players to gain possession during the J.J. Kavanagh & Sons Senior Football Championship against Clashmore/Kinsalebeg at Cappoquin Logistic Fraher Field.
Rarely have a side so stretched as Clashmore-Kinsalebeg even played a senior game be it hurling or football in the Déise County in the second game of a double header at Fraher Field on Sunday afternoon last.
The Still-men had 30 players listed on the team sheet for this game, but when centre back Ed O’Halloran picked up an injury on the hour mark which forced him off the field of play for the few minutes that remained, they were unable to replace him, not because they had already used up their quota of subs but because they had none on the day.
In the press box during the first half with the Still-men set to sit to the left of the presentation area it was noted that there was nobody in the reserved seating. And at half time while The Nire subs went out to kick about the ball during their break at one end of the field, at the other end, there was a large number of children with hurleys and footballs pucking about free of any danger of a stray ball from an adult going astray and hitting them.
The Nire who are chasing a 12 title since winning their first back in 1993 always looked like winning this game and collecting a first win having lost out to Ballinacourty in the first round of games.
Their first score on five minutes proved to be a major one as Aaron Ryan who impressed throughout finished to the net after he was played in by Conor Gleeson. Bryan Lynch followed up with a point at the other end three minutes later, but once Aaron Ryan put over a brace of scores three minutes apart, you had the feeling that there was only going to be one outcome to this game.
Jonathan Walsh pulled a point back for the Still-men midway through the first half, but points from Ciaran Walsh, Aaron Ryan and Michael Morrissey had Richard O’Keeffe’s side 1-6 to 0-2 in front with five minutes of the half remaining.
Jonathan Walsh pulled a point back for Clashmore Kinsalebeg, but a brace of scores from Michael O’Sullivan both from frees gave The Nire a commanding lead with 30 minutes played.
Brian Lynch pointed for Clashmore-Kinsalebeg in added time to reduce the lead, but any hope that his side had going into the second half, knowing what had happened in the first game were rather slim, as they went to the dressing rooms 1-8 to 0-5 behind.
With no fresh legs to call upon as the half progressed, Clashmore Kinsalebeg found the second half going very tough, against a side which is showing a number of changes to which we have become accustomed to seeing in recent years.
Tholom Guiry and Michael O’Sullivan hit early second half scores to extended their sides advantage. Jonathan Walsh pulled one back when he put over a free, but it was followed with scores from Michael O’Sullivan and Conor Gleeson to give The Nire a 1-12 to 0-6 advantage at the end of the third quarter.
The side from against the Boundary with County Tipperary ensured that victory would be theirs on 46 minutes. Dylan Guiry had a shot blocked in front of goal, but when the rebound fell to Conor Gleeson he made no mistake.
Jonathan Walsh put over a brace of scores from frees to edge his side a little closer, but they would not score again after this, while at the other end, Aaron and Dermot Ryan, Tholom Guiry and Kyle Cuddy all fired over scores before the sixty minutes was up and in stoppage time, Dermot Ryan having come on as a sub gave himself an excellent chance of securing a starting place next weekend when he pointed.
Aaron Ryan 1-4, Michael Sullinvan 0-4 (4f), Conor Gleeson 1-1, Tholom Guiry, Dermot Ryan 0-2 each, Sean Walsh, Ciaran Walsh, Michael Morrissey, Kyle Cuddy 0-1 each.
Jonathan Walsh 0-6 (1 tpf, 4f), Brian Lynch 0-2
Stephen Ryan; James McGrath, Tadhg Walsh, Michael McMaugh; Jake Mulcahy, Tholom Guiry, Conor Gleeson; Pat Walsh, Ciaran Walsh; Aaron Ryan, Michael O’Sullivan, Evan Spellman; Dylan Guiry, Sean Walsh, Michael Morrissey.
Sean Boyce for Pat Walsh (HT), Dermot Ryan for Conor Gleeson (48), Kyle Cuddy for Michael O’Sullivan (48), Ger Long for Ciaran Walsh (54), Thomas O’Gorman for James McGrath (54).
: Ed Donovan; Adam O’Sullivan, Ciaran Bourke, Kieran Connery; Ryan O’Sullivan, Ed O’Halloran, Ben Lombard; Declan Allen, Brian Lynch; Kyle Moloney, Ronan Fitzgerald, Cillian O’Keeffe; Jason Seaward, Josh Fitzgerald, Jonathan Walsh.
Gavin Whelan (Colligan).
