JFC Group B Rundown - Robertstown and Rheban play out a cracker as Athgarvan dominate Cappagh
Tom Cross Junior Fooball Championship got under way last week. Here is the full reports from each of the Group B, round one games as Rheban faced Roberstown, Athgarvan played Cappagh and Kill were idle.
Roberstown 3-11
Rheban 2-10
It was the return of the Junior Championship and Rheban and Robertstown decided to give every fan in Manguard Park a glimpse of what they had been missing. It was a tough-tackling, mistake-forcing, melee and chiefly, it was 60 minutes of gripping entertainment.
Robertstown were the fancied side heading into this game but there was very little to separate these sides throughout. The difference for the eventual winners came from corner-forward Brion Kennedy, who hit 2-6 on the evening.
Rheban held a three-point lead after 12 minutes following a run of as many scores without reply. Two superb Tadgh Foley frees were followed by a fine Conor Germaine score from play to extend the lead to three.
That lead would be flipped in an instant as Roberstown hit the back of the net at the other end.
The right man in the right place Brion Kennedy had a clear sight at Cian Ryan’s goal but put his effort straight down the middle. The Rheban stopper tried to predict Kennedy’s finish but saw the ball fly past him after diving to his left.
After further points from Robertstown had extended their lead, it was time for Rheban to hit back with a green flag. Dean Carthy found space and got his head up to expertly find John Morrisey making a run from deep. Morrisey rounded the goalkeeper and smashed his effort into the back of the net.
The opening half madness was far from over as we approached just three minutes from the end. With just a one-point advantage, Roberstown came forward through Joe Kavanagh who dropped an effort at the posts short which could have found the net but struck the base of the upright.
Wing-back Dara Cosgrave was the man arriving and he wasted no time in side-footing his effort off the ground and into the top corner. It was Lampard-esque as Cosgrave arrived late to finish off the attack emphatically.
After a half where they had shown so much promise, it looked like Rheban would go in trailing by four points, but there was one last twist in this half of stellar Championship action. Short kick-out failings are a hot topic at every level and this game was no different as Roberstown got it all wrong from the restart.
Rheban’s Denis McEvoy failed to lob the retreating Roberstown’s stopper as ‘keeper Richard Price got a hand to the effort. However, Tadgh Foley was on hand to slap home the rebound and send the sides in at the break at 2-6 to 2-7 in Robertstown favour.
Robertstown would command the early parts of the second half and after a point for either side, Brion Kennedy struck again to restore his side’s healthy lead. The goal would take the wind out of the sails of Rheban who failed to get back within touching distance.
Despite a Roberstown dismissal with 20 minutes remaining, the leading side would close out this game for victory after an enthralling tie to kick off the Junior Championship.
Scorers: Robertstown, Brion Kennedy 2-6 (0-2 frees), Dara Cosgrave 1-0, Joe Kavanagh 0-2, Jason Butler 0-2 (0-1 frees), Shane Ward 0-1.
Rheban, Tadgh Foley 1-6 (0-4 frees), John Morrisey 1-0, Conor Germaine 0-3, Seamus Hickey 0-1.
ROBERTSTOWN: Richard Price; James Keely, Kenneth Ennis, PJ Ewing; Dara Cosgrave, Anthony Moran, Diarmuid Healy; Shane Ward, Niall Kane; Peter Hogarty, Conor Moran, David Percival; Jason Butler, Joe Kavanagh, Brion Kennedy. Subs: Dean Bagnall for David Percival (34 minutes), DJ Percival for Dara Cosgrave (46 minutes), James Carthy for Jason Butler (57 minutes).
RHEBAN: Cian Ryan; Chris Wilson, Jason Shaw, Darren Foley; Seamus Hickey, Darren Byrne, Luke Kelly; Conor Germaine, Chris Casey; John Morrisey, Denis McEvoy, Kevin O'Shaughnessy; Dean Carthy, Tadgh Foley, Niall Flood. Subs: Sean Foley for Jason Shaw (25 minutes), Tom McEvoy for Dean Carthy (46 minutes), Cian Dempsey for Niall Flood (57 minutes), Jack Owens for Darren Foley (57 minutes).
RREFEREE: Owen Murphy
Athgarvan 2-11
Cappagh 1-6
An entertaining sixty minutes of football saw Athgarvan overcome Cappagh by eight points in Group B of the Tom Cross JFC on Saturday afternoon last.
It was the seventh minute before Cappagh got the first score of the game. Dean Brennan getting on the end of David Lovely's 40 metre run to tap over with the trusty left foot.
Jack Mulligan added a second and he jinked past two Athgarvan tackles to curl over with the aid of the breeze.
David Lee Parnell intercepted a Cappagh attack it set the men in blue on their way to an opening score. Paddy Mcareevy finding David Butler who fired over from 20m.It was the start of five in a row for Athgarvan Cian Doyle with two,one from a free, a point from Cillian Smith and a good effort from a tight angle for the lively Alan Sourke.
Athgarvan moved three ahead following Alan Sourke's point words were exchanged and following a call from his officials referee was left with no option but to issue a straight red to Dean Brennan.
Athgarvan went to the dressing room 0-5 to 0-2 to the good.
The numerical disadvantage didn't deter Cappagh after the break and again it was David Lovely who set up Thomas Jackman to reduce the gap.
On 37, after good Cappagh pressure, Brian McNally reduced the gap to the minimum but they could never regain parity.A Cian Doyle free for Athgarvan and a brilliant fourty metre effort from centre back Glen Carter kept the gap at one.
The extra workload began to tell on Cappagh and Athgarvan started to make better use of their possession and the extra man. Cian Doyle and Cillian Smith both pointed frees to open a three point gap.The crucial score for the men in blue arrived on 48 minutes.
An excellent move started in their half back line resulted in Cian Doyle crashing to the roof of the net.Almost immediately Alan Sourke added a second goal capitalising on a loose ball to again shoot high into the Cappagh net.
Nine points up, Cian Doyle quickly stretched it to ten as we entered the last five minutes.Brian McNally from play and and a
James Grogan goal were mere consolation for a gallant Cappagh.Alan Sourke hit over from play and a free as a very competent Jack O Connell brought proceedings to a close.
Athgarvan winning out on a 2-11 to 1-6 scoreline.
After a slow start Athgarvan will be happy with a good team performance that saw David Lee Parnell, Callum Sourke Alan Sourke and Cian Doyle shine brightest.
Cappagh will rue the sending off of Dean Brennan and the efforts of Glen Carter and David Lovely didn't go unnoticed.They can still get themselves back in contention.
ATHGARVAN: Evan Comerford, Conor Cummins, Jack Lee Parnell, Dylan Ryan, Eddie Vaicacauskis, Callum Sourke, Steve Moore, Niall Murphy, Derek Nolan, Finn O'Brien, Cillian Smith 0-2 (1 free), David Butler 0-1, Alan Sourke 1-2 (1 free), Paddy Mcareevy 0-1, Cian Doyle 1-5 (3 frees). Subs: Lorcan Brennan for Paddy Mcareevy 47; Frank Delaney for Cillian Smith 50; Rory O'Donnell for Steve Moore 57; Glen Doyle for Cian Doyle 57.
CAPPAGH: Dylan Whelan, Alan Duff, Oisin O Cuill, Peter Warren, Oisin Farrell, Glen Carter 0-1, Iarla Nolan, David Lovely, James Grogan 1-0, Patrick Jackman, Dean Brennan 0-1, Cameron Dowd, Brian McNally 0-2, Jack Mulligan 0-1,Thomas Jackman 0-1. Subs: Jack O Connor for Patrick Jackman 48.
Referee: Jack O'Connell.