Carnaross maintained their winning start to the championship with a hard fought victory over Clann na nGael in Dunganny on Friday evening. The match was played in perfect conditions with clear skies and barely a puff of wind.

Carnaross 2-9 Clann na nGael 0-7

Junior Championship (Round 2)

Played in Dunganny – 20/4/2018

The two sides had met in the same venue only four weeks previously in an A league fixture and, just as they had done in that game, Clann na nGael came flying out of the traps at the beginning of the first half. The Athboy/Rathcairn side had men dropping deep from the start to create overlaps which they used effectively to generate scoring opportunities. They raced into a 4 points to 1 lead midway through the half and could have been further ahead had they converted more of their chances which were kicked wide after last-ditch defending by Carnaross. 

Carnaross, by contrast, looked nervy and made a series of sloppy errors, some of which led directly to Clann na nGael scores. Although they did have a goal disallowed for a free out to Clann na nGael, the north Meath men found it difficult to break down the opposition defence. As the half wore on, Carnaross gradually found their feet and managed to stay within touching distance. A couple of positional switches allowed them to get to grips with the attacking threat posed by Clann na nGael. They closed out the half with a pointed free from Frank O’Reilly and a long range effort from Cormac O’Reilly either side of a Clann na nGael point to trail by 5 points to 3 at the break. 

Carnaross were expected to come out firing after the half time break to atone for their mediocre display in the first half. However, it was Clann na nGael that set the pace early on by chipping over two points. This was as good as it would get for the Athboy men as Carnaross began to dominate and held the opposition scoreless for the remainder of the game. They rattled off three points in quick succession from Dermot McGee, Liam Brogan and Niall McDonnell to close the gap to one point. 

Carnaross then made a substitution which would have a significant impact on the outcome of this fixture, bringing on the experienced forward John L McGee. The corner forward was as potent as ever, notching 2 goals shortly after his introduction including a low finish from close range and a fisted goal after a cross field pass from his brother Dermot. Carnaross maintained control down the final stretch, robust defence denied Clann na nGael the opportunity to get back into the game and points from McGee, O’Reilly and Niall McDonnell left the full time score at 2-09 to 0-07. 

The young Clann na nGael side posed some serious problems for the opposition with their pace and direct running but will be left to rue some missed chances which would have given them a greater lead early in the second half. In the end Carnaross’ greater firepower and miserly defence in the second half proved to be the difference as they face into an extended championship break with two victories in as many games. 

Carnaross: Conor Kenny, Peter Carpenter, Peter Farrelly, Jack Roche, Liam Brogan (0-1), Cian O’Reilly, Ian Donoghue, Dermot McGee(0-1), Tomás Plunkett, Sam Reynolds, Frank O’Reilly (0-3), Niall McDonnell (0-2), Patrick McDermott, Charles Brogan, Cormac O’Reilly (0-1) Subs; John L McGee (2-1) for McDermott, Killian Porter for Brogan