Early goals set up St Kevins win over Suncroft
St Kevins 3-16
Suncroft 1-18
Two goals inside the opening ninety seconds paved the way for an excellent St Kevin's win in The Preliminary Round of the Auld Shebeen Athy Intermediate football championship at Manguard Park on Thursday evening.
St Kevin's eventually overcoming Suncroft by four points in an entertaining opening game of the 2023 competition. That early burst from the winners was the platform for a brilliant opening half and by the 30 minute they had moved ten ahead. You imagined it was always going to be too much for Suncroft to turn around but they did come close.
On a decent evening for football after all the recent rain, these two promoted teams St Kevin's to Division 2 and Suncroft to Division 3,served up a quality affair.
Kevin's were into the game from the throw-in and a flowing movement started with Brian Fogarty and was finished to the net by Jamie O'Brien.
No sooner had Dave Sutton picked the ball from the net he was beaten again this time Conor Murray getting on the end of a John Fitzharris pass and the Stapelstown men had the dream start.
Barry Noone converted from play and a shell shocked Suncroft were seven down with only three minutes on the clock.
The Croft did settle and former county player Fionn Dowling hit three in a row two from frees, to reduce the gap.
The Kevin's full forward line were causing serious problems as Conor Murray with two and John Fitzharris pushed them six ahead.
Eoghan Lawless and Fionn Dowling added points to reduce the lead to four but Suncroft were struggling to close that gap.
The closing seven minutes of the half saw Kevin's go ten clear as they outscored Suncroft 1-5 to 0-2.
Conor Murray had a dream opening half and he added three points to bring his tally to 1-6. He was then involved in a three man move involving John Fitzharris and Jamie O'Brien was left with a simple tap in.
Sam Murphy and Conn Kehoe replied for Suncroft but influential midfielder Brian Fogarty had the last say with two excellent points to leave it 3-9 to 0-8 at the break.
Suncroft are a spirited championship side annually belying their league status and they have to commended for closing the gap to four before the end.
An Eoghan Lawless penalty on 41 reduced the gap to five after Fionn Dowling, with three frees, and Sam Murphy replying to Jamie O Brien and Barry Noone points for Kevin's.
Dowling pointed again on 45 and Suncroft were back in the contest.They did shoot four bad wides in a row when in the ascendancy and this ultimately was their undoing.
Second half substitute Declan Flaherty settled the Kevin's nerves with two late points before Jack Setright and Ciaran Troy rounded off the Suncroft effort but they were still four behind, at 3-16 to 1-18, when referee Lee Moore brought proceedings to a close.
Kevin's are into the winners' group and based on their yea r to date they will be a handful for any team.
Suncroft showed enough to have no fear of relegation and with players to return from injury and overseas they will have an eye on at least a preliminary quarter final.
ST KEVIN'S: Aaron Fox; Conor Gordon, Mark Grace, Martin Egan; Alan Bennett, Tom Barron, Aenas Murphy; Brian Fogarty 0-2, Diarmuid Smyth; Cormac Noone, Barry Noone 0-3, Jamie Kenna; Conor Murray 1-6 (1 free), John Fitzharris 0-1, Jamie O Brien 2-1. Subs: Declan Flaherty 0-2 for John Fitzharris 34; Ross Carew for Jamie Smyth 45; Enda Keane 0-1 for Cormac Noone 48; James Ralph for Jamie Kenna 59; Ryan Casey for Conor Gordon 60.
SUNCROFT: Dave Sutton; Mikey Troy, Conor Smyth, Ethan Duignan; Harry Dillon, Jack Setright, Sam Murphy 0-2; Conn Kehoe 0-1, Sam McGuirk; Chris Phillips, Sean Browne, Diarmuid Enright; Thomas Cleary, Fionn Dowling 0-11 (7 frees), Eoghan Lawless 1-2 (penalty). Subs: Ciaran Troy 0-1 for Harry Dillon 17; Mossy Harnett 0-1 for Diarmuid Enright 47.
REFEREE: Lee Moore.