Leinster JFC- Barca’s continental flair too much for Conahy

Conahy Shamrocks fell at the first hurdle in the Leinster Club Football Championship after they went down to a well-drilled Barcelona Gaels outfit in UPMC Nowlan Park last weekend.

The overseas visitors to Noreside were much the better side over the course of the game which was maybe no surprise seen as they were playing the game on a much regular basis while in contrast this was Conahy’s first competitive outing since winning the county title last May.

That aside, Barcelona had the more natural footballers and they controlled the clash from the outset with Aaron Hayes and Eoin O’Connor getting the goals for the winners. Conahy’s misfortune was summed up by the fact that their only point from play arrived in second half stoppage time while frustration also got the better of the Kilkenny side with James Bergin and Darragh Hennessy both being dismissed on second bookable offences before the end.

The visitors hit the ground running and within 10 minutes of action, they had racked up 1-3 without reply. A well taken goal from Aaron Hayes as well as further points from Eoin O’Connor and Tomas Sheehy gave the Gaels a perfect platform to build on.

James Bergin then got Conahy’s first score from a free in the 14th minute but it wasn’t long until Hayes bagged Barca’s second goal.

Bergin and goalkeeper Karl Downey did convert placed balls for Conahy before the change of ends but they were very much chasing the game as they trailed 2-6 to 0-3.

The second half continued in a similar fashion despite Barcelona being without Calum Miskelly for 10 minutes after getting a black card and while a James Bergin penalty after Harry O’Mahony was fouled did raise hope of a Conahy comeback, it never really materialised.

Eoin O’Connor got a third goal for Barca before the end and with Conahy also losing two players to red cards, the Iberian champions were able to coast to victory on a 3-11 to 1-5 scoreline.

Teams and Scorers

Barcelona Gaels - Aaron Hayes (2-1); Eoin O’Connor (1-4, 0-2 frees); Tomas Sheehy (0-3, 0-3 frees); Conor Murphy (0-2); Sam Victory (0-1).

Conahy Shamrocks - James Bergin (1-3, 0-3 frees); Karl Downey (0-1, 0-1 free); Stephen McNamee (0-1).

Barcelona Gaels - Jack Carey; Ciaran Cusack, Fionn Keady, Calum Miskelly; Alex O’Brien, Trevor Horgan, Shane Moran; Conor Murphy, Gavin Sherlock; Darragh Curran, Aaron Hayes, Eoin O’Connor; John O’Keefe, Tomas Sheehy, Sean Fagan.

Subs: Sam Victory for O’Keefe, h-t; Anthony Waters for Curran, 43 mins; Colm Casey for Sherlock, 43 mins; Conor Leonard for Sheehy, 51 mins; Cormac Lynch for O’Brien, 56 mins.

Conahy Shamrocks - Karl Downey; Padraig Gunner, Michael Bergin, Conor Hennessy; Thomas Nolan, Darragh Hennesy, Eoin Carroll; Eoin Cahill, Donal Brennan; Harry O’Mahony, James Bergin, Darragh Dooley; Billy Mulhall, Brian Rossitor, Rob Ring.

Subs: Thomas Rice for Rossitor, 36 mins; Ciaran Rice for Gunner, 37 mins; Stephen McNamee for Ring, 40 mins; Geoff O’Shea for Mulhall, 41 mins; Jake Dooley for M.Bergin, 49 mins.

Referee - Cathal Boland (Westmeath).