Eadestown chalk up expected win over Confey in Kildare SFC

Joe Mallon Motors SFC, Group C

Eadestown 0-15

Confey 0-12

A win for Eadestown in Conneff Park on Saturday saw them get their 2023 championship campaign back under way, however the fact that they failed to convert any of the goal chances they created will no doubt give them something to work on in advance of Round 2.

Having been relegated from Division 2 of the SFL, Confey, will need to start finding results fast as they face the prospect of losing their senior status in both football and hurling.

Ian Devane got Confey on the score board after two minutes with a point from play. Ben Fitzsimons responded with a point that could easily have been a goal for Eadestown after he was played in by Eoin Conneff.

Niall Carney nudged Confey ahead with a free before Cian Boran spurned a goal chance as his shot whistled wide of the post. The sides went point for point for the next quarter of an hour, but Eadestown continued to carve out goal chances and will be disappointed not to have converted any of them. As half time approached, it was the cross bar that denied Cian Bolton a goal, but his shot did manage to go over the bar for a point. A free from Bolton and a point from Harry Carroll saw Eadestown leading at the break by three points.

Niall Carney got Confey off the mark in the second half from a free before Ben Fitsimons responded with a point for Eadestown which was touched over the bar by Colin Heeney in the Confey net.

Niall Carney kept the scoreboard ticking over from a free for Confey after a foul by Conan Boran for which he received a yellow card. Eadestown continued to hunt for goal but Conor McCarthy’s shot went wide of the post. Scores from Paul Divilly and Brian Grimes reduced the gap to 2 for Confey with 6 minutes to go.

Conor McCarthy pointed for Eadestown to restore their 3-point cushion, but Confey continued to press for an equaliser. Fergal McGeogh played in Aiden Crean who had made a run from the half back line.

Confey looked like they were in for a goal, but Crean’s shot was blasted over the bar with 2 minutes left on the clock. Before they could take the resulting kick-out the game had to be temporarily paused as an Eadestown player was treated for cramp.

Eadestown went on the attack and looked to have finally gotten in for goal, but as the Confey rear guard looked to have crowded them out, Cian Bolton cleverly fisted the ball over the bar.

Confey got another score from Brian Grimes on 60 minutes before Eoin Conneff responded for Eadestown.

One minute of injury time was deemed sufficient by the referee, and sufficient for Eadestown to get the win.

CONFEY: Colin Heeney, Andrew Breslin, Colm Chan, Conor Dennehy, Colm Noctor, Aiden Crean (0-1), Paul Divilly (0-1), Ciaran Lyons, Brian Grimes (0-3), Niall Carney (0-4, 4 frees), Brian Johnson, Ian Devane (0-1), Fergal McGeogh (0-2, 1 free), Ben O’ Boyle. SUBS: Andrew Moore for Andrew Breslin (6 mins), Eoin Dennehy for Brian Johnson (41 mins).

EADESTOWN: Shane Sargent, Rian Monaghan, Daire Dillon, Darragh Jemeson, Harry Carroll (0-1), Jack Sargent, Sean Hynes, Niall Cummins, Rian Boran, Conan Boran, Cian Boran (0-1), Ben Fitzsimons (0-3), Cian Bolton (0-5, 2 frees) Conor McCarthy (0-3), Eoin Conneff (0-2). SUBS: Tom Mernagh for Daire Dillon (44 mins).

REFEREE: Niall Colgan.