Juniors Defeat Lorrha

Kilruane MacDonaghs 2-21 Lorrrha & Dorrha 1-6

After the reverse against Silvermines in the opening round MacDonaghs needed a win in this encounter to keep their championship hopes alive. Niall Madden and James Williams, who were unavailable for the Mines match, returned to action and Edmond ‘Energy’ Morkan was added to the squad. Colm Williams won the toss and elected to play with the aid of the slight breeze into the town goal. In the fourth minute Thomas Williams pointed a free to get MacDonaghs on their way. Declan Barrett added another from play and when Niall Madden was fouled Thomas Williams punished the indiscretion with his second white flag. James Williams kept the scoreboard ticking over with his first point of the evening and Sean Kelly got in on the act when he pointed from the right corner. It was all MacDonaghs at this stage. Ruan Casey and Michael Reddan were on top at midfield and centre back Colm Williams was mopping up everything. Niall Madden put further daylight between the sides when he latched on to a long delivery from Michael Reddan and finished the sliotar to the net.

In the fourteenth minute Lorrha finally opened their account when Sean Cleary pointed a free. The same player was on target again from a placed ball to reduce the deficit to six points. MacDonaghs suffered a blow when Ruan Casey was forced to retire injured and he was replaced by Edmond Morkan who went to centre forward, with Denis Cahill moving to midfield. MacDonaghs got moving again and hit five consecutive points. Declan Barrett was fouled and Thomas Williams duly obliged with a point. Niall Madden swung over a point and Michael Reddan stuck a delightful effort from midfield. Thomas Williams then added his first point from play and James Williams tacked on his second point after a clever pass from Denis Cahill. Lorrha responded with two pointed frees from Sean Cleary. MacDonaghs finished the half strongly with Edmond Morkan adding a point and Thomas Williams scoring his fourth free after Declan Barrett had been fouled to leave the scoreboard reading 1-12 to 0-4 in MacDonaghs favour.

MacDonaghs opened brightly in the second half. Thomas Williams was fouled and floated the resultant free over the bar. Declan Barrett then shipped a heavy tackle as he was bearing down on goal and marksman Thomas Williams was unerring once again. In the eight minute Lorrha registered their first point of the second half. James Williams replied with his third point. James then scored a goal. He rounded his man in the left corner and buried the ball in top right hand corner of the net. James was tackled hard on his way in. Referee John Stapleton issued a second yellow card to the Lorrha corner back who received his marching orders. James Williams chipped in with another point from an acute angle after a cross by Thomas Williams. James Sullivan was introduced in the twelfth minute as manager Joe Whelan began to empty the bench. Lorrha finally breached the MacDonaghs defence when they scored a goal from a twenty metre free and followed immediately with their sixth point. Thomas Williams cancelled that out with another pointed free. James Williams scored his sixth point before veteran Lorrha goalkeeper James O Meara made a magnificent save from a close range effort by substitute Eoin Williams. Eoin did get on the scoresheet when he slotted over a point. The prolific Thomas Williams hit his ninth point before Eoin Williams brought the scoring to a close with his second white flag to leave MacDonaghs emphatic winners.
This was a much improved team performance with the attack in particular stepping up a few gears. The defence, which was superbly marshalled by centre back Colm Williams, was rock solid all through. Martin Walsh and Freddie Williams are beginning to recapture their old form. Centre field ruled the roost from the off and the forwards combined well together to take some delightful scores. In the next round a much sterner test awaits them when Burgess will provide the opposition.

Scorers: Thomas Williams 0-9 (0-5 from frees & 0-4 from play), James Williams 1-5, Niall Madden 1-1, Eoin Williams 0-2, Michael Reddan 0-1, Declan Barrett 0-1, Edmond Morkan 0-1 and Sean Kelly 0-1.

Team: Shane Williams, Freddie Williams, Martin Walsh, Eanna Hogan, Timmy Walsh, Colm Williams Capt, David Slattery, Ruan Casey, Michael Reddan, James Williams, Denis Cahill, Thomas Williams, Sean Kelly, Niall Madden and Declan Barrett.
Subs: Edmond Morkan, James Sullivan, Eoin Williams, Martin Ryan and Sean Hayes
Subs not used: Niall Murphy, Eoin Burns, Cormac Williams and Jason Darcy
Man of the Match: Colm Williams

Manager: Joe Whelan
Selectors: Tom Killackey and Ger Williams

Referee: John Stapleton Borris-Ileigh