The Tullow side had to fight hard for the win.
2024 Talbot Hotel Carlow IFC Quarter Final
St Patrick’s 1-12, Naomh Eoin 0-9
By Stephen Bambrick
A workmanlike performance saw St Patrick’s earn their place in the IFC semi final with victory over Naomh Eoin sealed by Jack O’ Neill’s 3rd quarter goal with the battle of the last 2 losing finalists at this grade going the Slaney siders way .
It was the Myshall men who started the brighter, James Smithers proving a handful from the word go, fouled for a free converted by namesake Donal to open the scoring with Jacko Kennedy replying likewise in the 3rd minute. A booming Kyle Foley kickout sent JM Nolan clear to point in the 4th minute, a lead strengthened by James Smithers point from play, Brian Byrne with a pair of placed balls levelling in the 13th minute.
Naomh Eoin regained the lead once more through another Donal Smithers free on 15 minutes this soon cancelled out by Craig Staunton. Scott Tracey would take back the lead for Naomh Eoin soon after with James Smithers turn seeing him clear to double their advantage to 0-6 to 0-4 on 22 minutes.
The remaining minutes of the half belonged to St Patrick’s, Kennedy with his first from play and points 2 and 3 from serial scorer Staunton had them 0-7 to 0-6 up at the interval.
Naomh Eoin almost had a dream start to the 2nd half, Eoin Hosey’s direct run almost resulting in a goal, this let off saw the next scores come through a pair of Kennedy frees with 39 mins gone. It took 4 more minutes before Donal Smithers eventually got the eventual losers reduce the deficit back to 0-9 to 0-7.
The clinching score came in the 46th minute, Gerry McGill’s kickout finding Cian Doran, Doran’s pass then finding Jack O’ Neill, with O’ Neill giving Kyle Foley no chance. It was a score worthy of winning any game.
Scott Tracey did get his 2nd of the day soon after but Kennedy cancelled this immediately, Cathal Healy the next to add his name to the Tullow tally with Foley keeping Naomh Eoin’s faint hopes alive saving from Eoghan Cunnane, before the final minutes saw Smithers and Kennedy trade frees (Smithers’ goal attempt deflected over) and St Patrick’s emerging winners on a 1-12 to 0-9 score line.
Next is up is a Semi Final clash with Kildavin/Clonegal on Sunday.
St Patrick’s – Gerry McGill, Lee Kavanagh, Niall Sherry , Cian Doran, Ronan Byrne, Dylan Gorman Comerford, Cathal Healy (0-1) Craig Staunton (0-3) Eoghan Cleary, Niall Gahan , Jack Kennedy (0-6, 0-4f), Jack O’ Neill (1-0) ,Cian Gorman Comerford, Brian Byrne (0-2f) Padraig Murphy.
Subs – Will Doran for Dylan Gorman Comerford ( 23 mins ), Stephen Metcalfe for Ronan Byrne (36 mins ) , Eoghan Cunnane for Cian Gorman Comerford ( 39 mins ), Tadhg Foley for Jack O’ Neill ( 54 mins )
Naomh Eoin – Kyle Foley, Tadhg Daly, Tommy Nolan, Diarmaid Deacon, Patrick Doyle, Diego Dunne, Eoin Hosey , Michael Kavanagh, JM Nolan (0-1) Scott Tracey (0-2f), Jamie Behan , Cian Quirke, James Smithers (0-2) Martin Clowry , Donal Smithers (0-4, 0-3f)
Subs – Ciaran Abbey for Cian Quirke (41 mins) ,Keith Hogan for Martin Clowry (44 mins) Shane Cranny for Jamie Behan (54 mins )
Adam Kenny for Tadhg Daly (58 mins )
Referee – Paud O’Dwyer (Palatine)
