Reserve League! Carrickmacross Emmets 2.14. Killanny Geraldines 1.08.
The Emmets Reserve team made the short journey to Killanny on Sunday morning to play the Geraldines in the second round of the League. After much confusion in relation to the number of players the home side had available; it was eventually decided to play thirteen a side which was not to the liking of the Emmets who had twenty players togged out! Finally when proceedings commenced it was John McMenamin who opened the scoring with a point for the Emmets. He then had another effort just wide of the post as the Emmets extended early pressure on the Killanny goals. The home goalkeeper was soon in action; taking off a triple save under some strainbefore Declan Finnegan scored the Emmets second point from play. The wandering Padraig Marron popped up in no man’s land and added another point from play. John McMenamin missed his own free-kick and Sean Downey had a bad wide but he soon rectified the matter with a point. The same player missed a free-kick after he was fouled but once again he resolved the issue when he struck low to the Killanny net midway through the first half. Adrian McCloskey got in on the act with a point from play to leave the Emmets 1.05 to 0.00 in front. John McMenamin secured his second point with his trusted left foot before Killanny curled over a point from a free-kick for their first score. However the Emmets were soon in the driving seat once again and Ronan Gollogly was on hand to slot home goal number two with ten minutes remaining. Ferdia Holland was the next Emmet to score with a point from play and Sean Downey added one from a free-kick. Padraig Marron ventured up the field and he scored his second point of the game with the right boot. Adrian McCloskey hit the post when going for goal and the ball was cleared from the rebound. With half time approaching the Geraldines got their first point from play and Sean Downey completed the scoring from a free-kick to give the Emmets a fourteen point lead on a scoreline of 2.10 to 0.02. Killanny now playing with the breeze after the restart collected two quick points; both from free-kicks but Eoin Sherry responded with a good point from play. After a brace of wides Killanny steadied with two more points from free kicks but once again Eoin Sherry showed how it was done with another superb point. Sean Downey pointed from played before Killanny found some comfort after they found the Emmets net to rouse the home crowd. The Emmets rang the changes and introduced some substitutes to see out the game. Killanny did control the last ten minutes and they had three more wides and a point from play. However Eoin Sherry crowned a solid performance with another terrific point. The game filtered out without further excitement and the Emmets secured the two points with a comfortable victory! After the draw in Blackhill and with five changes to the team it was an assured performance especially in the first half when they dominated the exchanges and could have had another two goals. Mark Kiernan dealt well; when called upon in goals; the defence was ambitious with four of the backs getting on the scoreboard; the midfield of Aaron Murray and Declan Finnegan did their best work early on when it mattered; the forwards were busy and moved the ball well on occasions.
Emmets: Mark Kieran; Padraig Marron (0.02) Peter Lindon; Ferdia Holland (0.01) Adrian McCloskey (0.01) Eoin Sherry (0.03) David Eakins; Declan Finnegan (0.01) Aaron Murray; Ronan Gollogly(1.00) John McMenamin (0.02) Sean Downey (1.04) Liam Capaldi.
By Mary McEneaney Sat 21st Mar
