Two wins from two for Plunketts in Go Ahead AFL after victory over St Annes

GO AHEAD ADULT FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION TWO SOUTH 

ST OLIVER PLUNKETT’S/EOGHAN RUADH 2-17 

ST ANNE’S 1-10 

By Daire Walsh 

St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh made it two wins from two in Go Ahead Adult Football League Division Two South following a commanding performance against St Anne’s at Martin Savage Park last night.

Having recorded a convincing triumph at the expense of Naomh Olaf in the same venue last Saturday week, the Navan Road men were eager to lay down another marker. With Niall Walsh and Irinel Popa registering opening period goals, they managed to do just that.

Former Cavan senior footballer Gareth ‘Nesty’ Smith (who also starred for Dublin in the underage ranks) was scorer-in-chief for the hosts, coming away with an impressive tally of 0-7. Wing-forward Jack Carroll also impressed with his four-point haul ensuring their Bohernabreena counterparts were kept at bay.

Despite a difficult start to the contest, Anne’s initially got themselves back into contention during the third-quarter. Thanks in no small part to the scoring prowess of Scott Fulham and Jamie O’Neill - who amassed a combined total of 1-9 over the course of the action - they were just four adrift with 41 minutes gone on the clock.

However, a determined Plunkett’s fired back with eight unanswered points to put the seal on a second consecutive victory.

Playing amidst torrential conditions on their home patch, Plunkett’s opened the scoring through a close-range Smith free. This score arrived after centre-forward Walsh had turned over possession off a miscued Anne’s kick-out.

This was a feature of the Plunkett’s play in the first half, with their attackers pressing up on Lorcan Molloy for each of his restarts. When an Anne’s defender let the greasy ball slip through his fingers in the fifth-minute, the ball was transferred to Walsh for a clinical finish to the opposition net.

Building further on this excellent opening, wing-back Darragh Brogan, Smith and midfielder Sean O’Connor all found the target to give Plunkett’s an early seven point cushion. While Anne’s had looked bright in the early exchanges, they were now struggling to make inroads within the opposing half of the field.

Nonetheless, Jamie O’Neill converted a free from a left-hand angle to get them up and running on 13 minutes. Plunkett’s attacker Carroll subsequently knocked over his sole free of the game, before netminder Gavin Broughan came to the rescue of his side at the far end.

When Dublin reached the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship decider in 2011, Fulham was a pivotal figure for the Metropolitans. Over the stretch of a six-game campaign, he contributed an outstanding haul of 5-5.

A pin-point delivery over the top in the 17th-minute of this encounter put him through on goal, but Broughan pulled off an exceptional save to divert the ball out for a ’45’. Fulham did manage to get off the mark with a right-footed effort just shy of the first water break and another Jamie O’Neill place-ball strike boosted their spirits.

Carroll and Fulham went on to trade points, prior to Plunkett’s creating significant daylight in first half stoppage-time. At the end of a fast-paced move, inside forward Popa rattled the net with considerable aplomb.

Smith also added another routine pointed free to offer Plunkett’s a convincing 2-7 to 0-4 interval buffer.

Anne’s had pushed Kilmacud Crokes ‘B’ all the way in their opening game of the term, however, and were hell-bent on doing the same here. Either side of another Carroll point, Jamie O’Neill and Jack O’Neill were on hand to raise white flags.

The latter O’Neill then turned provider on 35 minutes as he capitalised on a short kick-out from Plunkett’s to release Fulham for a composed finish. This goal offered Anne’s a new lease of life and even though Smith settled Plunkett’s with a score off a swift counter-attack, a Jamie O’Neill brace meant the Tallaght-based outfit were back within touching distance.

Yet, there was no reason for Plunkett’s to panic - especially with the likes of Smith in their ranks. The evergreen forward was utilised in a roving role for much of the tie, but was playing closer to goal inside the final-quarter.

He followed up Carroll and Sean Clerkin singles with a two-point salvo to help his side reinforce their authority. This left Plunkett’s 2-13 to 1-8 in front heading into the second water break of the game and within sight of another win.

The intensity of their play didn’t drop as a result of this short stoppage and substitute Tommy Haynes made an immediate impact with a fine point. Carroll, Popa and Smith also enhanced their own individual tallies to place the outcome beyond all doubt.

To their credit, Anne’s persevered with their challenge in an extended period of injury-time. Fulham superbly split the posts on the turn and O’Neill rounded off the score by claiming his sixth point of the proceedings.

Anne’s will now hope to bounce back against Naomh Olaf at Páirc Uí Bhriain on July 7. Plunkett’s, on the other hand, will look to preserve their 100% start to the term when they face Na Fianna at St Mobhi Road on the same night.

Scorers - St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh:Gareth Smith 0-7 (3f), Irinel Popa 1-1, Jack Carroll 0-4 (1f), Niall Walsh 1-0, Sean Clerkin 0-2, Darragh Brogan, Sean O’Connor, Tommy Hynes 0-1 each.St Anne’s:Scott Fulham 1-3, Jamie O’Neill 0-6 (4f), Jack O’Neill 0-1.

ST OLIVER PLUNKETT’S/EOGHAN RUADH:Gavin Broughan; Mick McManus, James O’Donoghue, Adam Mulligan; Darragh Brogan, Declan Lally, Tye Adamson; Craig Dunleavy, Sean O’Connor; Sean Clerkin, Niall Walsh, Jack Carroll; Ger Ryan, Gareth Smith, Irinel Popa.Subs:Tommy Hynes, Conal Regan, Conor Downey.

ST ANNE’S:Lorcan Molloy; Craig Conroy, Ciaran Murphy, Gearoid Lynch; Stephen O’Toole, Sean O’Brien, Matthew Wilson; Kealan Dowling, Daniel Culligan; Jamie O’Neill, Cian O’Byrne, Dylan Nevins; Jack O’Neill, Scott Fulham, Barry King.Subs:Sean Og Boyce, Jack Cannon, James Cannon, Darragh Fulham, Daniel Galvin, Eoin Kennedy, Craig McKeown, Niall O’Brien, Sean Stewart.

Referee: Andrew Cummins (Trinity Gaels).