Carnew Emmets earn deserved five-point Senior hurling league win over Kiltegan

Kiltegan 1-14

On a sunny, bright Sunday morning in Carnew, the home side had a deserved five points to spare over visitors Kiltegan following a well contested Senior hurling league encounter.

Eamon Scallan’s charges trailed for three quarters of the game but once they got their noses in front in the final quarter, they slowly extended their lead to run out deserving winners at the end.

The side playing downhill from the dressing rooms end appeared to have a slight wind advantage and this seemed to be the reason why the Emmets were making the early running.

Owen Young had them ahead from a free early on. Kiltegan responded with scores from play by Arun Daly Danne and full-forward Sean Murphy to leave the visitors one point to the good with seven minutes gone.

Martin O’Brien was marshalling the Carnew defence from centre back and their momentum seemed to be increasing.

An Eoin Kavanagh pointed free levelled matters again and an exchange of points from an Eoin Byrne free and a point from play by the lively Fionn Darcy left the sides all square at 0-3 apiece with 10 minutes gone.

Kiltegan got a shot in the arm when wing forward Arun Daly Danne broke through and shot past Bob Fitzgerald for the only goal of the game after 12 minutes.

Danne was making a valuable contribution to the Kiltegan cause and continued to give an impressive display for the remainder of the game.

The Emmets made a swift response to the Kiltegan goal and points from Eoin Kavanagh and Owen Young left Carnew just a point adrift at 1-3 to 0-5 at the quarter-hour mark.

The game was being played at a lively pace with both sides spreading the play well. Points from Eoin Byrne, Arun Daly Danne and another from an Eoin Byrne free stretched the Kiltegan lead.

However, a great contribution from Owen Young in the final 10 minutes of the first half brought the Emmets right back into the game by half-time.

Young pointed three frees and a 65 on the trot while Kiltegan had points from Sean Murphy and a great score from nearly eighty had points from Sean Murphy and a great score from nearly eighty metres from the stick of goalkeeper Eoghan Byrne. Kiltegan led by 1-8 to 0-9 at the half time.

The visitors got off to a good second half start when Eoin Byrne pointed two quick frees. Carnew countered with two scores from play, one from centre-forward John Doyle (Snr.) had the sides level at 1-10 to 13 points.

Eoin Byrne restored Kiltegan to the front again. However, Carnew were beginning to get the upper hand in the middle third. Points from frees by Eoin Kavanagh and Owen Young had Carnew ahead again.

Kiltegan were still hanging in and Arun Daly Fanne brought the game back to parity again. But, the home side began to gain momentum and points from John Doyle (Snr), Owen Young (free) and John Doyle (Jun) opened up a three-point gap between the sides as the game entered the final straight.

Owen Byrne from a free and Arun Daly Danne kept Kiltegan’s hopes alive, but the Emmets finished with a flourish and points from Owen Young frees plus another from play by substitute Kenneth Cullen left the home side running out winners by 0-22 to 1-14.

Carnew Emmets: Bob Fitzgerald; Ruairi O’Brien, Conal McCrea, Cormac Redmond; Aaron Kinsella, Martin O’Brien, John Doyle (Jun); Justin House, Larry Kinsella; Owen Young (0-11, 9f, 1 65), John Doyle (Snr) (0-3), Richard Green; Eoin Kavanagh (0-3), Paudie McGing, Fionn Darcy (0-2). Subs: Adrien Myers (0-1), John Young, Kenneth Cullen (0-1), Rory Stokes, Dan Nolan.

Kiltegan: Eoghan Byrne (0-1, 1f); Colm O’Connor, Matt Jackson, Matt Doyle; Aaron Byrne, Padraig Byrne, Colm Keogh; Ciaran Harmon, Liam Keogh; Adam Wynne, Eoin Byrne (0-7, 6f), Arun Daly Danne (1-4; Daniel Byrne, Sean Murphy (0-2), JJ Phelan. Sub: Fergal Farrell.

Referee: Paul Gahan (ARP).