Junior C’s impress in PUM draw

Our Junior C footballers welcomed St. Finians to PUM on Sunday for our Div 11 clash. We had a tough encounter on our hands with Finians sitting 2nd in the table and battling for promotion. We came out of the blocks quickly with Peter Gannon and Conor Cullen lording it at midfield against a slightly older Finians pairing. We tagged on 3pts quickly through Sean Flaherty, Conor Cullen and Niall Bradley. Finians responded with a goal before Mikey Ryan netted with a bullet to put us in a commanding lead. Ryan was doing untold damage in the full forward line. We took a 2pt lead into half time.

A couple of changes were required with James Kinsella replaced by Kevin Kirwan after a bone crunching tackle. Conor Cullen switched to centre back with Kirwan into midfield. Kevin gave a masterclass in fielding and distribution. The marauding runs of Manus Coughlan, Mick Ryan, Cian Kelly, Fiachra Madden and Daniel Ryan had us on the front foot again but the scoreline didn’t reflect it. Our full back line were solid giving nothing away with Brooksy and 50 year old veteran Mick McDonald guiding the young lads through the match. The industrious Eoin Duffy covered every blade of grass along with Conor Dunne.

Tactics changed on Finians part with, shall we say, some robust tackling on our young lads, which bar a black card, largely went unpunished. It kept them in the game. The introduction of Luke Kelly was a bonus as he returned 3 fantastic points from play. Further points from the busy Eoin Cashman, Conor Cullen and Kevin Kirwan kept them at arms length. We dropped a few short coupled with a few wides but should have extended our lead. Ray Grourke had a great chance after being set up expertly by the genial Cathal Regan.

Deep into injury time Finians goaled to salvage a draw they scarcely deserved. It felt like a defeat considering how well we played.

Special thanks to Tony Duffy providing the minor B lads. They’re nicely set up for a tilt at the B championship in September. Thanks to Jack Nolan for doing the scoreboard and the lads who look after the pitch. It was in great nick after 3 matches on Saturday.

Panel: Alan Keane, Manus Coughlan, Shane Brooks, Cian Kelly, Fiachra Madden, Mick Ryan, Daniel Ryan, Peter Gannon, Conor Cullen, Sean Flaherty, Eoin Cashman, James Kinsella, Eoin Duffy, Mikey Ryan, Niall Bradley.

Subs: Mick McDonald, Liam McNamara, Kevin Kirwan, Luke Kelly, David Barron, Peter Byrne, Cathal Regan, Gearoíd O’Healaithe, Paul Maher, Ray Gruarke, Conor Dunne.