Carnaross got the better of near neighbours Drumbaragh with a two point victory in round 5 of the A League.

Carnaross 0-10 Drumbaragh 1-5

A League (Division 3)

Played in Carnaross – 9/3/2018

The last signs of the ‘Beast from the East’ were still visible at the Carnaross venue as snow clung to the fringes of the pitch and the match was played out in wintry conditions with low temperatures and driving rain.

Despite the difficult conditions, the home side got off to a flying start and registered 3 points without reply in the opening minutes. Patrick McDermott opened the scoring with a fine point to finish off a flowing team move started by a surging run from wing back Paul Donoghue. Carnaross ensured that Drumbaragh remained pegged back in their own half and forced several turnovers through a combination of high pressing and tenacious tackling. Further points from Declan Reilly and Dillon Fox gave the home side a 3 point lead after 10 minutes.

Drumbaragh found a way back into the game with a goal coming against the run of play despite the best efforts of keeper Conor Kenny who did well to get a hand on the shot but couldn’t keep the ball from crossing the line. The goal sparked the visitors into life as they took the lead with two subsequent points. Carnaross stuttered slightly during this period as several attacks were repelled by the Drumbaragh full back line. They did, however, manage to regroup as Frank O’Reilly added two points to leave the scores all square going into half time at 5 points to 1-2.

The two sides traded points for the first period of the second half as the rain got heavier. Another point from O’Reilly and an excellent long range effort from centre back Cian O’Reilly after an industrious run were countered by two points from Drumbaragh. Carnaross began to take control of proceedings from there on despite the twin setbacks of substitute Stephen Flattery getting his marching orders for a second yellow card and a black card for midfielder Pierce Fleming.

The Carnaross defence restricted the visitors to just one point in the last quarter and the team pressed high on the Drumbaragh kick outs ensuring that the ball rarely left the Drumbaragh half of the field for the remainder of the game. Frank O’Reilly rounded off a fine individual display with a pair of pointed frees including a monstrous effort from over 40 yards out to compensate for a 14 yard free he had missed just moments beforehand.

Carnaross were deserving winners as they held a 2 point lead at the final whistle on a scoreline of 10 points to 1-05. The defence remained tight throughout and the forwards managed to produce scores at key stages of the game despite the difficult conditions.

Carnaross: Conor Kenny; Peter Carpenter, Ian Donoghue, Jack Roche; Paul Donoghue, Cian O’Reilly (0-01), Cormac O’Reilly; Pierce Fleming, Charles Brogan; Niall McDonnell, Frank O’Reilly (0-05, 3f), Michael Brogan; Patrick McDermott (0-01), Dillon Fox (0-01), Declan Reilly (0-02) Subs: Thomas Nugent for Charles Brogan, Stephen Flattery for Dillon Fox, Liam Brogan for Pierce Fleming;