Graham Tarmac Junior Football Championship – Group 2
Pearse’s 3-11 Wolfe Tones 0-9
Pearse’s came into the game having defeated their North Belfast neighbours by significant margins in both league encounters, but championship football always brings that added spice that the league can’t quite replicate.
Both sides were fired up from the outset, and what followed was an intense hour of football, with little quarter asked for or given.
Pearse’s opened the scoring through Liam Deegan, who clipped over a tidy point from play. Wolfe Tones threatened a quick reply, but Martin Connor’s effort was comfortably dealt with by Eamonn McKenna. Pearse’s had the early momentum, and Aidan Bannon did well to block down Gerard McDonnell as Wolfe Tones tried to build from deep.
Stephen Fitzsimons added a free to stretch Pearse’s lead before Connor responded in kind to get Wolfe Tones on the board but Pearse’s continued to press, and after Fion Grew struck the crossbar, they picked off a fisted point to go further ahead.
Kieran Moloney kept Wolfe Tones in touch with a point from play, while Tomás Austin’s tame shot at the other end was easily gathered by Danny McIvor. Wolfe Tones then took the lead for the first time when Connor converted a two-point free after drawing a foul in a central position.
Deegan remained Pearse’s most dangerous forward, forcing a brilliant double save from McIvor with two goal attempts in quick succession. Grew then shot wide, but Deegan made no mistake with his next effort, lofting over a fine score from the right.
McDonnell replied with a 45 to edge Wolfe Tones back in front but Fitzsimons restored Pearse’s lead again with two well-struck frees, but the game was then halted for a lengthy period following a serious injury. The stoppage took the pace out of the match, and when play resumed, Wolfe Tones finished the half stronger.
McDonnell pointed from play just before the whistle, giving Wolfe Tones a slender one-point advantage at the break in a tense and physical first half.
Half Time: Pearse’s 0-6 Wolfe Tones 0-7
Pearse’s came out strongly after the break, with Liam Deegan levelling the game from a free. They took the lead for good moments later when James Smyth split the posts with a confident strike from play, and it was Smyth again who delivered the turning point, punching the ball to the net past Danny McIvor to open a clear gap between the sides.
Matthew McAllister added a free as Pearse’s kept the scoreboard ticking. Wolfe Tones struggled to make inroads against a disciplined defence, while Pearse’s grew in confidence. A fisted point followed before Vincent Lismore got on the end of a dropping ball from a 45 and directed it into the net to stretch their lead further.
Martin Connor managed a reply with a pointed free, but Pearse’s were relentless. Another score from play pushed them further ahead before Thomas McFarlane added a third goal, finding the net with a composed finish after breaking through the Wolfe Tones cover.
Pearse’s controlled the closing stages, but the game was much tighter than the scoreline suggested, with the home side having the clinical edge in front of the posts.
Goals, in the end, were the main difference. Wolfe Tones, though rueing their missed chances, will be buoyed by a good performance as they face Éire Óg in a fortnight. Pearse’s, by contrast, will be happier with the two points on the board.
Full Time: Pearse’s 3-11 Wolfe Tones 0-9
Pearse’s:
Eamonn McKenna, Darren O’Neill, Cormac O’Neill, Peter Johnston, Piaras Donaghy, Aidan Bannon, Thomas McFarlane, Vincent Lismore, Sean Moreland, Matthew McAllister, Fion Grew, Stephen Fitzsimons, Ciaran McCavana, James Smyth, Liam Deegan, Piaras Toolan, Philip Murray, Daniel Magee, Tomás Austin, Aodhan McCavana, Lorcan Grew
Wolfe Tones:
Danny McIvor, Dylan McAlorum, Jamie Carberry, Chris Dawson, Declan Moloney, Kieran Moloney, David Corry, Ryan Farrell, Gerard McDonnell, Martin Connor, Aaron McAllister, Christopher Quinn, Joseph McKeating, Darren Milligan, Declan Madden, Edward Breslin, Eoin Given, Daniel Nugent, Matthew McCann, Connor Burrows
Referee: Chris Brown