Carnaross 3-7 Clann na nGael 1-8

Carnaross came away with two valuable points from the opening league match of 2017. On a night when hopping the ball was a mortal sin, this was always going to be a dogfight. The game was tied on 4 occasions but Carnaross' ability to score goals at crucial times was the crucial difference.

The visitors opened the scoring with a free flowing attack which ended up in the Carnaross net after a succession of sharp intricate hand passes. They quickly added a point but the on-form Dillon Fox settled Carnaross' nerves with a well taken point.

Clann na nGael continued to dominate early proceedings and scored the next two points to stretch their lead to 5 points. They had made a number of positional changes before the throw in which were paying dividends with full back-turned-midfielder Darren Kelly knocking over 2 points in a bullish performance. They also installed the evergreen Graham Geraghty as sweeper and Carnaross were struggling to find a way past the All Ireland winning captain of 1999.

With the aid of his new Adidas boots and protective gumshield, Dermot McGee kicked some outlandish frees from distance with the outside of the boot which kept Carnaross alive when they were struggling to find their rhythm. Shortly before half time, a long ball was delivered into the Clann na nGael square and Frank O'Reilly rose highest to fist the ball into the net with Charlie Brogan clearing out the ruck for good measure. Clann na nGael responded with another point but Dermot McGee levelled matters again to leave the half time score Carnaross 1-4, Clann na nGael 1-4.

Carnaross took the lead momentarily through Dillon Fox early in the second half but this was short-lived as the Athboy/Rathcairn men restored parity. The match ebbed and flowed with both teams failing to convert their chances. Dermot McGee was deadly accurate with his frees and finished with 5 points to his name. With the game in the balance, Carnaross got a minor stroke of luck when a goalbound effort from Charles Brogan ricocheted off two Clann na nGael players before finding the net. Clann na nGael refused to lie down though and cut the lead back to a single point but up stepped Cillian Comaskey who killed the game as a contest when he was quickest to a loose ball at the edge of the square calmly finishing with his weaker foot.

Carnaross will be delighted to register a win in the league at their first asking in 2017 after losing their first 8 league games last year. In an evenly contested encounter Carnaross' ability to score goals combined with a dogged determination saw them over the line in the end.

Carnaross: Connor Kenny; Peter Carpenter, Tomás Plunkett, Liam Brogan; Niall McDonnell, Ian Donoghue, Cian Gillic; Cormac O'Reilly, Michael Brogan; Cillian Comaskey (1-0), Dermot McGee (0-5), Stephen Flattery; Frank O'Reilly (1-0), Charles Brogan (1-0), Dillon Fox (0-2); Subs: Thomas Nugent for Stephen Flattery; Shane Casserly for Niall McDonnell; Peter S Farrelly for Tomás Plunkett; Dean Connell for Dillon Fox;

 

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