John Mitchels 2-12
Sean McDermotts 1-4
Goals either side of half-time decorated a strong Warwickshire Football Championship Round One performance by John Mitchels as they laid down a marker on Sunday against holders Sean McDermotts at Pairc na hÉireann.
Derek Waldron’s goal shortly before the interval capped an impressive opening half hour for Mitchels after Antony Moriarty had fired into the net for Macs, while James Loney’s penalty further extended an advantage that was ramped up thanks to five points from Paul Garvey.
Given the closeness of the winning margins in their recent clashes, this result bucked the trend as Mitchels set about their task to stack up a healthy lead by the interval. Paddy Hickey almost gave Mitchels the perfect start only for a smart save by Macauley Felgate, while straight down the other end a peach of a pass from James McDowell released Moriarty, who brought a fine save out of Andrew Doyle.
From that point on Mitchels took control with scores from Loney (free), Sean Hennessy, and Hickey. Two points from Garvey looked to further that momentum, only for McDermotts to respond with the first goal of the game when Conal Dowling fetched a kick-out to launch an attack which culminated in Moriarty finding the net from 10 metres out.
Mitchels responded straight away, Molloy somehow finding the target from a narrow angle before Ciaran Clifford instigated a direct move which unleashed Waldron and the midfielder rounded Felgate to fire into the net.
Where they were hauled back by McDermotts a fortnight ago, this time around Mitchels were not about to relinquish their lead and with Garvey adding another free they started the second-half in the same mood. The Mitchels full-forward was pivotal in his side’s second goal collecting the ball on the right to play Molloy in on goal where he was fouled for a penalty; up stepped Loney to send Felgate the wrong way extending the lead to 10.
Garvey continued to impress and two excellent strikes from long range rubber stamped the victory for Mitchels. Sunday also saw winning starts away from home for both Erin go Bragh and St Brendans, with go Bragh emerging the winners against St Marys in Wolverhampton while Shane Kelly fired home a hat-trick for Brendans as they defeated Four Masters in Holbrooks.
Man of the match:
Paul Garvey (John Mitchels)
The Roscommon full-forward was on his game, notching five points as the Mitchels target man.
Score of the match:
Antony Moriarty’s superb effort over the shoulder at the end of the first-half was the pick of the scores.
Turning point:
Just when it looked like McDermotts were coming back into the game, Derek Waldron’s goal re-affirmed the Mitchels advantage.
Wides: John Mitchels (3) 4 Sean McDermotts (5) 6
Frees: John Mitchels (11) 18 Sean McDermotts (8) 17
Yellow Cards: John Mitchels 2 (Paddy Hickey 44, Paul Garvey 51), Sean McDermotts 4 (Ryan Bennett 30, Eamon Hanlon 41, Padraig Quaid 43, Conal Dowling 44).
Black Cards: John Mitchels 0, Sean McDermotts 2 (Niall Gilbride 34, Antony Moriarty 48).
Scorers for John Mitchels: J Loney (1-3, 1-0 pen, 3fs), P Garvey (0-5, 1f), D Waldron (1-0), E Molloy (0-2), S Hennessy (0-1), P Hickey (0-1).
Scorers for Sean McDermotts: A Moriarty (1-1), P Quaid (0-1, 1f), M Quinn (0-1), E Hanlon (0-1, 1f).
John Mitchels: A Doyle; C Clifford, P Donnelly, R Curley; J Loney, F Doyle, E Sheridan; D Waldron, L Hayes; S Hennessy, B Hickey, S Smith; P Hickey, P Garvey, E Molloy. Subs: C Flynn for B Hickey (53).
Sean McDermotts: M Felgate; M McMahon, N Gilbride, L Gilbride; P Quaid, R Bennett, C Folan; B Garrigan, N McCooey; M Quinn, T Duffy, J McDowell; C Dowling, A Moriarty, J Owens. Subs: E Hanlon for N Gilbridge (34), J Dowling for Moriarty (48).
Referee: C Heffernan.
