A strong second half showing earned St Eunans a hard fought victory with Cloughaneely to continue their perfect league record.
St Eunans 0-10 0-6 Cloughaneely
After two impressive victories last week St Eunans entered the clash with newly promoted Cloughaneely full of confidence.
A Second half performance in which St Eunans held Cloughaneely scoreless ensured the victory. After a good display in the first half the away side will feel they let the game slip away from themselves somewhat.
It took the home side six minutes to open the scoring with Conall Dunne gliding the ball over the bar off his left foot from thirty yards out. Conor O’Donnell added a second from a similar position after patient play from St Eunans.
Pouring rain in O’Donnell Park left for difficult handling conditions. St Eunan’s remained calm, opting to hold on to the ball until an opportunity opened up. Rory Kavanagh added a third but the home side would have been disappointed with a number of efforts dropping short.
John Fitzgerald didn’t see much ball in the first quarter of the game, but he did well to win his side two free-kicks on the twenty with Shaun McGarvey converting both.
A sublime curling effort from Shaun Maguire levelled the game and just after Cloughaneely took the lead for the first time with Martin Maguire knocking over.
The lead didn’t last long, Conor Parke attacked through the middle and split the posts. A smart give and go off a quick free quick set John Fitzgerald clear but his effort hit the side netting.
John McGarvey added another Cloughaneely point before Lee McMonagle hit a beautiful score for St Eunans. Winning the ball out in front he produced a dummy solo before knocking over off the right.
Another clever showing from John Fitzgerald earned his side a free-kick which Shaun McGarvey once again knocked over leaving it 0-6 0-5 in favour of Cloughaneely at the break.
Shaun McClafferty had to be at his very best to deny Conor O’Donnell at the start of the second half. The Cloughaneely stopper stayed big and got a knee at the ball to deny the defender.
Like the first half, Eunans were the first side on the team sheet. This time it was Conor Gibbons breaking forward and tapping over. A long ball inside broke to Conall Dunne who tried to prod it towards goal, but once again Shaun McClafferty did well to pull off the save.
St Eunans got another goal chance soon after. Michael Mulhern bravely put his body in front of the ball to deny the home side after Conall Dunne had squared to Jamie Doherty.
Darragh Mulgrew ghosted in to space and split the posts to give Eunans the lead just before the fifty-minute mark. Cloughaneely weren’t fit to gain possession in attacking areas and this was hurting them. Conor Gibbons knocked over a free-kick to give his side a two point lead with just seven minutes remaining.
Two more frees off the trusty right of Gibbons earned the home side a four point victory following a strong second-half performance.
St Eunans: Shaun Patton, Aaron Deeney, Conor Parke, Ciaran McCloskey, Conor Gibbons (0-4 3f), Conor O’Donnell (0-1), Darragh Mulgrew (0-1), Ross Wherity, Caolan Ward, Niall Hannigan, Rory Kavanagh (0-1), Conall Dunne (0-1), Conor O’Donnell (0-1), Lee McMonagle (0-1) (Brian McIntyre, 44), Jamie Doherty (Sean Halvey, 44).
Cloughaneely: Shaun McClafferty, Cian McFadden, Ciaran Scanlon, Micheal Mulhern, Mark Harley, Kevin Mulhern, Ciaran McGeady, Michael Fitzgerald, Marting Maguire (0-1), Aidan Doohan, Shaun McGarvey (0-3 3f) (Darren Ferry, 49), John McGarvey (0-1) (Eamon McHugh, 59), John Fitzgerald, Shaun Maguire (0-1) (Denis Boyle, 53), John Harley.
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