Plenty of goals and plenty to look forward to for Fenagh.
2024 Talbot Hotel Carlow IFC Quarter final
Fenagh 3-16, Ballinabranna 3-8
By Stephen Bambrick
A strong 2nd quarter where a 2 point deficit became a 6 point half time lead gave Fenagh the foundation to build a winning formula for a place in next Sunday’s IFC semi final with Grange.
Ben Kavanagh’s run saw Mark Fitzgerald’s first goal for Ballinabranna goal on 15 minutes immediately cancelled out by Adam Smyth’s at the other end after Keagan Bradley had his shot blocked, a lead that once regained, Fenagh held til the final whistle.
The opening quarter saw the impressive Jack Tracey get the opener soon negated by Bobby Daly Jnr, a Mark Fitzgerald mark also cancelled by Sean Murphy’s first of the day.
With Cormac Lomax regaining the lead for Fenagh, the evergreen Pat Butler then brought off a brilliant save from Robert Sansom at the expense of a 45 which saw Ben Kavanagh’s cooly taken effort level it at 0-3 to 0-3 on 14 mins.
Murphy then grabbed his 2nd to restore the Fenagh lead before the swapping of the previously mentioned goals. Then 5 unanswered scores through a a sweetly struck pair from Josh Kearney, one each from Murphy, Tracey and Cormac Lomax had 1-9 to 1-3 as the interval score .
The introduction of Padraig Hynes at half time would ultimately be the securing of victory for Fenagh with his carbon copy palmed goals on the end of good moves in the 42nd (2-11 to 1-4) and 56th (3-15 to 2-8) minutes strengthening their hand even more though Ballinabranna stayed fighting to the end with the lively Mark Fitzgerald grabbing his 2nd goal on 49 minutes (2-13 to 2-6) and a bullet of a strike from Sansom likewise getting their 3rd in added time.
The sides were swapping points throughout the half through Tracey (3), Kearney (2), Lomax and Murphy one each for the winners with Sansom (2), Fitzgerald (1) ,Lunney and Kavanagh (another sweetly hit 45) in response from Ballinabranna.
Final score 3-16 to 3-8 and a big clash with Grange to come for Fenagh on Saturday.
Fenagh – Pat Butler, Daragh Byrne, Jamie McCabe, Mark Dermody, Eric English, Eoin McDonagh , Padraig O’Brien, Keagan Bradley, Sean Murphy (0-4) , Cormac Nolan, Colin Byrne, Josh Kearney (0-4,0-1f), Jack Tracey (0-5), Adam Smyth (1-0), Cormac Lomax (0-3)
Subs – Padraig Hynes (2-0) for Adam Smyth (half time), Ben Collier for Josh Kearney (60 mins)
Ballinabranna – David Byrne, Evan Tunstead , Bobby Daly Snr, Brian Cox, Andy Mulleney, Jamie Lunney (0-1), Cormac O’ Hara, Paddy Meaney, Ben Kavanagh (0-2, 45s), Cathal Owens, Gary Dunne, Bobby Daly Jnr (0-1) , Mark Fitzgerald (2-2, 0-2m) , Robert Sansom (1-2 , 0-1f ), Liam Ryan .
Subs- Colin Byrne for Cathal Owens ( half time), Celium Darcy for Bobby Daly Jnr (40 mins ), Jack Dunne for Brian Cox (42 mins ), Kealan Brennan for Liam Ryan (49 mins ), James Kehoe for Jamie Lunney ( 60 mins)
Referee – Marion Hayden (Eire Og)
