A youthful Carnaross outfit lost out to superior Meath Hill in the opening encounter of B League Division 2.
Carnaross 3-1 Meath Hill 2-15
B League Division 2 (Round 1)
Played in Carnaross – 4/3/2020
It was an open and engaging encounter that entertained throughout but Meath Hill ran out deserving winners in the end.
Meath Hill raced into an early lead scoring the first 3 points. Carnaross responded when Paul Donoghue, rifled the ball into the net after some tidy build up play. The game ebbed and flowed with Carnaross’ rear-guard standing firm ensuring Meath Hill only scored one more point before the half time break. Just before half time, Paul Donoghue was again to the fore. After collecting possession in the middle third, he patiently held onto possession before guiding the ball over the full back’s head in the direction of centre forward, Shane Casserly. Casserly’s electrifying pace ensured he met the bouncing ball first and cleverly fisting the ball by the onrushing goalkeeper. Carnaross were ahead by 2 points at the turn of ends, 2-0 to 0-4.
Meath Hill emerged from the dugouts for the second half, rejuvenated and energetic, and really took the game to the hosts. They kicked 1-6 without reply before Carnaross established a foothold. Amazingly Carnaross continued their goal streak with a 3rd goal, added by Shane Yore, after a fine free-flowing move that was moved with pace and precision before being buried into the roof of the net. Unfortunately for Carnaross, the pace and precision that was so evident in the third goal, evaded them in the final 15 minutes. Meath Hill sensed blood and went for the jugular kicking another 1-6 with Carnaross managing a mere consolation point through the boot of Shane Yore.
The scoreline doesn’t accurately reflect the closeness of the game as in truth Carnaross were in contention with 10minutes to go. Unfortunately, possession was coughed up too easily when goals were on, leading to easy Meath Hill scores on the counter attack.
Carnaross: Stephen Dawson, Tom Carpenter, Matt O’Reilly, Seán Carpenter, Daniel Roche, Patrick Farnan Cormac Yore, Cormac O’Reilly, Cian McGlynn, Dillon Fox, Shane Casserly (1-0), Dean Connell, Paul Donoghue (1-0), Ryan McGlynn, Shane Yore (1-1). Subs: Richard Mulvey for Ryan McGlynn, John Plunkett for Matt O’Reilly, Matt O’Reilly for Tom Carpenter, Ryan McGlynn for Dean Connell.
