Intermediate Football Championship – Group 1 – Round 1
Wednesday 30th July
Report by Niall Kelly from Pairc Éanna
Naomh Éanna 0-13 Naomh Padraig 0-11
A trio of points in the dying embers of this engrossing encounter from Sean Murray, Conor Eastwood and the talismanic Stephen O’Connor helped salvage an opening win for St Enda’s at Hightown on Wednesday evening. With the visitors six to the good at half time after a dominating first half performance, the forecast wasn’t looking overly promising for the hosts. However, they emerged from the changing rooms for the second half a totally rejuvenated and hungrier side and produced a commanding display of football in the second half to seal the win. Three consecutive two-point efforts in the opening exchanges of the second period provided the fulcrum for their comeback, aided further by the fact they limited their opponents to a solitary score. There can be little doubt that the influence of Stephen O’Connor had a huge sway in proceedings as the Naomh Éanna centre forward contributed a total of 0-09 to his side’s 0-13 and was composure personified in front of the uprights.
In yet another tale of two halves, it was Naomh Padraig who maintained a stranglehold of proceedings for the first thirty minutes. Indeed, they made their intentions known straight from Seamus Shannon’s throw in as the towering Adam Patterson commandeered possession of the size 5 and bustled his way forward before despatching well from close range.
St Enda’s responded well though through O’Connor and his cultured right foot had reversed arrears with two superbly taken frees. However, this would be pretty much all the hosts could muster in front of goal in the first period as they lacked the same potency and poise in front of the posts that their counterparts had in abundance.
St Patrick’s were winning the battle in the middle third and their physicality and guile was coming up trumps. A flowing move involving Colm Burns and Che Smyth was finished off superbly by Eoin Dixon to level matters with ten minutes on the clock. The Kirkwoods Road side were purring nicely now and an incisive high ball in from Brendan McGarr was latched on to by Dixon again who doubled his tally to give his side the lead.
McGarr was at the heart of everything positive from Lisburn and his distribution would prove pivotal once more as another pinpoint long-range pass paved Jude Rafferty in on goal and despite a goal looking the more likely, he had to settle for a point as there was just a little too much loft on his close-range effort.
The hosts desperately sought to assert themselves on the game but couldn’t quite get to grips with the intensity and purpose of the men in blue. The few opportunities they did manage to create seemed to drop short or go the wrong side of the sticks.
Lisburn were in no mood to relent though, and it was Ben McMullan who was next to get his name on the scoresheet thanks to a marauding run which he then added the gloss to. McGarr then demonstrated that his shooting could certainly match his range of passing as he converted a monster two-point effort from range.
St Enda’s managed a reply with their next attack though thanks to that man O’Connor again form the placed ball on the twenty second minute. They looked to capitalise on this and bridge the gap further as the whistle approached but were perhaps a little too patient in their probing approach as Lisburn gained yet another turnover to launch a sweeping counterattack which McGarr finished with a beautifully angled effort. Che Smyth then followed this up instantly to open his account for the evening to leave the score at half time 0-03 to 0-09 in favour of the visitors.
Whether it was the hairdryer treatment or calming words of wisdom that the St Enda’s players were in receipt of during the interval from management, it certainly had the desired effect as they transformed into a different team for the second half. There was a spring to their step and more purpose to their attacks right from the outset. It was of course Stephen O’Connor who got them stirring, steering an outrageous two point effort from the outside of his boot over the bar. Perhaps inspired by his team-mate, Conor Eastwood then took responsibility on to his shoulders as he fired over another two pointer from range. Buoyed by these crucial scores, the hosts began attacking with a greater pace and precision and suddenly it was Lisburn on the back foot.
O’Connor would pounce yet again as he converted his second two point effort, this time from the placed ball, and suddenly the sides were level with twenty minutes still to play. Shell-shocked by the blitz they were under, Lisburn frantically sought respite with a score of their own but lacked the same authority in front of the posts as they had in the first as their wide count began to grow.
St Enda’s then edged into the lead midway through the half and yet again it was their trusty number 11 who did the damage. Brushing off tackle after tackle, O’Connor negotiated himself just enough space to curl over to the delight of the home fans.
With the game now approaching the business end, it was anyone’s guess who would emerge the victor as both went hammer and tongs to gain the ascendancy. With only five minutes remaining, it looked as though the pendulum may have swung in Lisburn’s favour as goalkeeper Ruadhan McKenna converted a long range free off the deck from outside the arc as they edged ahead once again.
However, an inspired finish from St Enda’s would prove the difference. Substitute Sean Murray angled his effort to perfection to level matters with only two minutes of normal time remaining before the hosts seized possession of the resulting kick-out. Conor Eastwood was then on hand to double his tally and regain a slender lead in the process.
With the game into time added on, Naomh Padraig pushed bodies forward in a last gasp attempt at salvaging something. As is usually the case, such an approach leaves you vulnerable to the counter and that is exactly what materialised and it seemed appropriate that Stephen O’Connor would rubber stamp the win with the final score of the game.
All in all, both teams deserve credit for a thoroughly entertaining display. This one had the feel and heart of a Championship game. Blood and thunder, heavy hits and above all the passion for victory. Despite the loss, St Patrick’s should be proud of their performance. Admittedly, the second half perhaps got away from them a little, but they proved in the first half exactly what they are capable of and will look to maintain this level of performance over the sixty when they meet Rasharkin on Saturday. For the hosts, their level of resilience will give them a springboard for their next game. The first half may certainly have fallen short of their expectations but the grit and determination displayed to get over the line in the second, will surely stand them in good stead.
Teams:
Naomh Éanna:
O Kennedy; J Lewis, D McNulty, C Browne; S McBride, K Jennings, E O’Hare; P O’Hare, F O’Connor; Z Kyle, S O’Connor (0-09) – (0-05 & 2 t.p,) O McKenna; P Doran, M Morgan, C Eastwood (0-03) – (0-01 & 1 t.p)
Substitute Scorer:
S Murray (0-01)
Naomh Padraig:
R McKenna (0-02) (1 t.p;) J McMullan, T Burns, L McCutcheon; J McMullan, B McMullan (0-01,) S Burns; B McGarr (0-03) (0-01 & 1 t.p,) A Patterson (0-01;) C Burns, C Ewing, J Morgan; J Rafferty (0-01,) C Smyth (0-01,) E Dixon (0-02)
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