February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
St. Barnabas 1-10
Kerry 0-7
By Frank Brady
St. Barnabas continued to improve their standings in Junior A football as they were relatively easy winners over Kerry Sunday at Gaelic Park. Whether it was the lazy, hazy, lethargic Sunday air, the anticipated fire and flair was absent from this game.
St. Barnabas got down to business quickly as points from Ronan Garvey and Dave Halloran had them two up after as many minutes. Kerry, on their first attack, saw a good ball from Barry Clifford outrun Kieran Cull when a goal looked to be in the making. Barry Clifford did get Kerry on the scoreboard in the fifth minute. Ian Galvin quickly followed with another to tie it up after some good approach work by midfielder Brendan Lynch. Both sides exchanged wides before Ronan Garvey threaded a precision perfect pass to corner forward J.P. Kirwin.
The Kerry keeper, J.J. O’Sullivan, produced a super save to deny St. Barnabas a goal. Then Jonathan Daly edged St. Barnabas ahead and then confidently added another from an acute angle and under tight pressure to extend their lead. However, two points from Brendan Lynch evened up the game. Then the wily Sean Carbin weaved his way through for a fine point after some industrious work by substitute Terence Flynn. Two minutes later, Carbin repeated. Then a good passing movement with Carbin and Flynn ended with O’Halloran firing over a point to push them three points ahead. Just before halftime, Ciaran Cull cut the lead to two, leaving it 7 points to 5 in favor of St. Barnabas at the break.
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Kerry started more aggressively in the second half with Brendan Lynch and Adrian Finn launching raids on the St. Barnabas goal. However, resolute defending by Pat Lyons, Brian Montgomery and Eddie Grennan shut down the approach routes. Then on a counterattack, Ray Gough released Tom Kelly to fire home the definitive score of the game. The same player should have repeated a few minutes later as he was sent straight through again, only to fluff his goal chance.
The goal was the only score during the first 15 minutes after the break before Jonathan Daly pointed. Then Brendan Lynch responded with one for Kerry to leave the score at 1-8 to 0-6 as the last quarter began. Kerry were a spent force at this stage, while St. Barnabas used their overall field superiority to stay far enough ahead and out of danger.
Dave O’Halloran added another point, after good work by Rowan Garvey. Barry Clifford tagged one on for Kerry before Tony Sheridan pulled on a loose ball to send it rocket-like over the bar for St. Barnabas. It was one of the few high points of a rather dull second half.
St. Barnabas thoroughly deserved the win as they were fitter, faster and more creative. Only Barry Clifford, Brendan Lynch and Adrian Finn played with any real passion for the Kingdom.
Man of the Match: Eddie Grennan.
St. Barnabas: Eamonn Deane, Brian Montgomery, Pat Lyons, Joe Fitzgerald, Ray Gough, Eddie Greenan, Pat Flynn, Dave Garvey, Tony Sheridan (0-1), Jonathon Daly (0-3), Rowan Garvey (0-1), Sean Carbin (0-2), J.P. Kirwin, Tom Kelly (1-0), Dave O’Halloran (0-3). Subs: Brendan O’Sullivan, Douglas Brady.
Kerry: J.J. O’Sullivan, Paudie Hanley, Adrian Riney, Pat O’Driscoll, Adrian Finn, Peter Riney, Tom Noonan, Brendan Lynch (0-3), Emett Kelly, Ger Stapelton, Ian Galvin (0-1), Dean Doherty, Cormac O’Connor, Kieran Cull (0-1), Barry Clifford (0-2). Subs: Timmy Foley, Kevin O’Connor, Michael O’Sullivan.