2024 Carlow IFC Group 1, Round 2
Fenagh 1-14, Naomh Eoin 2-7
By Tommy Murphy
Dictating the game for most of the hour, Fenagh footballers assured themselves of a quarter-final place at the minimum in the Talbot Hotel Intermediate football championship when they defeated Naomh Eoin by four points at Netwatch Training Center on Saturday and depending on the result of the next big showdown game Fenagh v Kildavin-Clonegal a semi-final place beckons.
Fenagh started with urgency as full forward Cormac Lomax had the ball in the Naomh Eoin net after three minutes. Jack Tracey and Lomax added two points from play before Adam Kenny had Naomh Eoins first in the ninth minute.
Even though Naomh Eoin were doing their dead best to get in to the game it was the men in Black & White who were driving forward getting the scores with four unanswered points from Cormac Lomax, Pauric Hynes, Sean Murphy (2) and Murphy was instrumental in all of Fenagh’s moves when needed as Fenagh had notched up a 1-6 to 0-1 lead by the twenty first minute.
Six minutes from half time Naomh Eoin got a lifeline when Adam Kenny was brought down in the large parrellogram and made no mistake from the resulting penalty. Colin Byrne and John Michael Nolan traded points as Fenagh led by 1-7 to 1-2 when referee Brian Deering called half time.
On the restart three points in ten minutes from Pauric Hynes (2) and Jack Tracey stood Fenagh in good stead as they were now eight clear 1-10 to 1-2. Fenagh were controlling and playing the better football at this stage.
Seven points separated the sides 1-12 to 1-5 coming in to the last nine minutes as Naomh Eoin stepped up the pace they narrowed the gap to six, Jamie Behan who had only come on as a sub in less than a minute had the ball in the Fenagh net and now it was a grand stand finish.
Cormac Lomax from play pushed out the lead to four points, equally as quick at the other side Adam Kenny flashed over a point to bring it back to a one score game as Naomh Eoin did all in their power to get the equaliser.
Fenagh with one last raid won a penalty which Kyle Foley saved as Naomh Eoin cleared quickly moving up field however it was Sean Murphy who rose high to catch go on a solo run and send over games last score from way out as time ran out for Naomh Eoin.
From the throw in Fenagh laid the foundation for success with sustained pressure playing from the front and their ability to keep moving forward take early scores to have 1-6 to 0-1 on the board after twenty minutes or so.
For Naomh Eoin, letting the opposition go too far ahead left a mountain to climb and after a mighty effort and almost on the summit on the way back, something either happens or time runs out.
Fenagh: Jack Rowan, Darragh Byrne, Padraig O’Brien, Mark Dermody, Eoin McDonagh, Adam Smith, Paraig Hynes (0-4), Jamie McCabe, Ciaran Whelan, Cormac Nolan, Colin Byrne (0-1), Eric English, Jack Tracey (0-3), Cormac Lomax (1-3), Sean Murphy (0-3). Sub Josh Kearney for Adam Smyth
Naomh Eoin: Kyle Foley, Diarmuid Deacon, Michael Nolan, Tommy Nolan, Ciaran Abbey, Diego Dunne, Paddy Doyle, John Michael Nolan (0-1), Peter Abbey, Scott Treacy, Donal Smithers (0-2), Cian Quirke, Cathal Tracey, Martin Clowry, Adam Kenny (1-3). Subs James Smithers (0-1), for Cathal Tracey, Eoin Hosey for Ciaran Abbey, Shane Cranny for Tommy Nolan, Keith Hogan for Martin Clowry, Jamie Behan (1-0) for Scott Tracey,
Referee: Brian Deering – Rathvilly.
