Strong Windgap take Junior C League honours against Lisdowney

Windgap made home comforts count as they landed the Iverk Produce Junior C league spoils.

Having won the toss for venue they hit opponents Lisdowney with a fast start, fashioning a lead that helped them get the nod.

While the opening sores were evenly exchanged - Zak Kennedy and Rory Hickey traded minors inside the first two minutes - by the end of the first quarter the home side were 0-7 to 0-1 ahead thanks to points from Conor Doyle (0-4, 0-2 frees), Cillian Enright and Zak Kennedy.

That scoring flow was quickly neutralised after 18 minutes when a sweeping Lisdowney move saw Dean Brophy set up Jimmy Delaney to grab the goal that left a single score in it (0-7 to 1-1).

Three points in response by Conor Doyle (free), Darragh Doyle - the first of his three fine scores - and Killian Enright restored the difference before the games turning point arrived when Billy Power was fouled for a penalty.

Converted by Conor Doyle into the bottom corner, it saw Windgap go 1-10 to 1-1 ahead after 24 minutes. After the teams exchanged points through Rory Hickey and Darragh Doyle, Adam O'Shea’s long delivery saw Darragh Doyle finish to the net from the 20 metre line to bring his side’s total to 2-11.

With a never say die attitude, Lisdowney battled against the tide and the wind, chipping two points off the deficit through Rory Hickey. The sides would go on to share eight points before the break, Eoin O’Shea, Billy and Jim Power joining the Windgap scorers list while Darragh Mackey was on target for the visitors, leaving the game at 2-15 to 1-6.

With the strong breeze at their backs Lisdowney would have fancied their chances of eating into the deficit in the second half, but a Conor Doyle free pushed Windgap a little further in front. The visitors hit back and enjoyed their best spell with three unanswered points. The flow was interrupted by a Zak Kenny point before similar scores by Eoin Delaney and Brendan Brophy left the score at 2-17 to 1-11 after 42 minutes.

The visitors pushed on, but their hopes were hampered when they lost a player to a second yellow card offence. It would be the closest they came to turning the game their way, as the home side tacked on three points to a single reply by centre back Peter Bergin after a great run.

Windgap’s third goal, scored by Billy Power, was followed by an exchange of points with sub Ben Campion wrapping up the scoring as Windgap secured the title.

Lisdowney were well served by Ray Fitzpatrick at full-back and Niall Grogan in goal while Cian O’Rourke and Luke Ward were industrious for the home side.

Teams and scorers

Windgap - Conor Doyle (1-8, 0-4 frees, 1-0 pen); Billy Power (1-3); Darragh Doyle (1-2); Zak Kennedy (0-3); Cillian Enright, Eoin O’Shea, Ronan O’Brien (0-2 each); Jim Power snr (0-1).

Lisdowney - Rory Hickey (0-6, 0-5 frees); Jimmy Delaney (1-0); Darragh Mackey (0-2); Peter Bergin, Brandon Brophy, Brian Campion (0-1 each).

Windgap - Shane Walsh; Jim Power jnr, James Mackey, Luke Ward; Zak Kennedy, Adam O’Shea, Peter Landy; Cillian Enright, Cian O’Rourke; Darragh Doyle, Billy Power, Eoin O’Shea; Conor Doyle, Jim Power snr, Ronan O’Brien.

Subs: James Purcell, Josh Price, Blade O’Gorman, Paudie Bacon, Killian Doyle; Walter Landy, Tommy Lonergan, Eoin Freaney, Niall O’Brien, Eddie Cunningham, Noah O’Shea, Shane Lomax, Jack O’Shea, Michael Power, Mark McCoy, Tommy Fleming.

Lisdowney - Niall Grogan; Jayme Thornton, Ray Fitzpatrick, Jack O’Sullivan; Joe Bergin, Peter Bergin, Dean Brophy; Matthew Banville, Brandon Brophy; Rory Hickey, Eoin Delaney, Tadhg Blanchfield; Darragh Mackey, Niall Kenny, Jimmy Delaney.

Subs: Brian Campion, Niall Mackey, Patrick Kennedy; Ruadhan Downey, Peter O’Sullivan, Conor Tallis, Conor O’Gorman, Billy Grogan, Eddie Hickey.

Referee - Brandon Phelan (Galmoy)