Sean McDermotts 2-8
St Barnabas 0-6
AS the half-way stage of the league campaign approaches both John Mitchels and Sean McDermotts remain unbeaten at the top of Division One.
Sunday’s clash at Pairc na hÉireann saw Macs take on St Barnabas where a first-half Conal Dowling penalty set up a six-point lead at the interval.
That remained largely intact until Macauley Felgate rattled home a late goal to complete the victory. At the same time over in Leicester, Mitchels struck five goals in a comprehensive victory over Naomh Padraig to remain just ahead of their rivals on points difference.
An early Ted Duffy free started the scoring for Macs, although they were immediately pegged back by a sumptuous strike from Dan O’Hara which curled back in the wind to sail over the bar. Seamus Mills was almost caught out by the bounce of the ball when a long shot came back off his inside post, however there was little he could do moments later when Declan Staunton was brought down for a penalty which was tucked away by Dowling.
Darren McCann replied with a free for Barnabas, but McDermotts continued to press forward and they landed four further points before the break. Niall McCooey and Duffy (free) nudged them four in front before John Dowling and Staunton took turns to set up the other for a further two points from play.
At the other end, Barnabas should have grabbed a goal of their own only to miss out on two occasions. A surging run from Mike Casey saw a powerful strike saved by Pronsius McComiskey, before a second penalty was awarded in the following attack; up stepped Chris McDonald to send McComiskey the wrong way but only to see his low shot shave the wrong side of the upright.
McDermotts started the second-half brightly adding two more points to their tally thanks to an excellent score by Dowling and a Padraig Quaid free. A sweeping counter down the right eventually saw play switch into the middle where Duffy struck his third point of the afternoon, yet Barnabas were not done yet as they finished the game strongly.
McCann scored a 45 before a leaping O’Hara collected a kick-out to return with interest as his booming strike rose high over the bar to reduce the margin to seven. Attentions turned to hunting goals and they almost grabbed one when Darren O’Reilly burst through only to have his shot well saved by McComiskey. Despite that miss, they continued to press and were rewarded with two additional points scored by Aaron McKenna and O’Reilly.
However, with time fast running out McDermotts were able to see out the game and land their second goal as substitute Felgate cut inside the Nottingham defence to fire a low shot beyond Mills and into the far corner of the net.
Man of the match:
Andy Willis (Sean McDermotts) Towered at midfield where the action was at its fiercest.
Score of the match:
Dan O’Hara’s opening point in the first-half was an excellent score, judging the wind perfectly as his 40 metre strike curled back over the bar.
Turning point:
Where Conal Dowling succeeded from the penalty spot, Chris McDonald could not respond as he pushed his penalty wide of target.
Wides: Sean McDermotts (4) 4, St Barnabas (2) 4.
Frees: Sean McDermotts (7) 10, St Barnabas (7) 12.
Yellow Cards: Sean McDermotts 1 (Conal Dowling), St Barnabas 0.
Scorers:
Sean McDermotts: C Dowling (1-0, pen), M Felgate (1-0), T Duffy (0-3, 3fs), J Dowling (0-2), N McCooey (0-1), D Staunton (0-1), P Quaid (0-1, f).
St Barnabas: D O’Hara (0-2), D McCann (0-2, 1f, 1 ’45), A McKenna (0-1). D O’Reilly (0-1).
Sean McDermotts: P McComiskey; M McMahon, N Gilbride; R Bennett, N McCooey, P Quaid; A Willis, C Dowling; J Dowling, T Duffy, J McDowell; M Quinn, D Staunton. Subs: M Felgate for Staunton (51).
St Barnabas: S Mills; M Cattermole, L Greaney; J Duffy, D O’Hara, C McDonald; A McKenna, S Friel; M Casey, D O’Reilly, J McHugh; F O’Callaghan, D McCann.
Referee: M McLoughlin.
