Edenderry seniors stretched their run of unbeaten games to four with a great three point win over Erin Rovers on Thursday night. The reds made a great start to the game racing into a 1-4 to no score lead after nineteen minutes but for some slack defending, they could have had the game wrapped up by half time. Within the space of nine minutes Erin Rovers had not only clawed back the score but ended up leading at half time 2-4 to 1-5.
The game was played in severe weather conditions with neither side having the aid of the breeze as it blew cross field. Edenderry registered the first score of the game when Basil Malone sent in a good ball to the full forward line where Keith McGuinness and Stuart Cullen combined to lay the ball off to the oncoming Daniel Nolan who pointed after seven minutes of play.
Just a minute later Aaron O’Connell and Mark Young combined and quick ball into Stuart Cullen led to him running at the defence, beating two players before cooly slotting into the back of the net. Over the next ten minutes Edenderry tagged on a further three points from Keith McGuinness and two long range points from Stephen Guing and Derek Kelly.
Despite dominating at this stage a series of mistakes in defence allowed Erin Rovers a lifeline which they made full use of scoring 1-3 without reply. A Keith McGuinness point on twenty seven minutes put Edenderry back in a two point lead but just on the verge on half time another mistake in the backline allowed the Pollough men in for another 1-1 to leave the reds trailing at half time 1-5 to 2-4.
Edenderry made two substitutions at the half time break introducing John Blong and Sean Doyle and it was Sean who got the first score of the second half after just thirty seconds. Erin Rovers responded straight away and restored their two point margin. Points from Keith McGuinness and Stewy Cullen drew the game level with five minutes gone in the second half. Four minutes later Erin Rovers went one point ahead after they scored a close range free.
Seven minutes passed before the next score came but fortunately for Edenderry it came for them when Stephen Guing chipped in with his second long range point of the game. Another five minutes were to lapse before the next score and it came courtesy of David ‘Rodge’ Hanlon who pointed to put Edenderry back ahead and just two minutes later he managed to get in for a goal to extend Edenderry’s lead to four points. Erin Rovers finished off the scoring with a point with four minutes to go to reduce the gap to three points but the reds managed to hold out despite been reduced to fourteen men late on when Johnny Blong was shown his second yellow card.
This was a really tough game for Edenderry and it was great to see the team close out the game despite strong pressure from the Pollugh men. Brian Quinlan was called into action very late on and produced a great save. Johnny Hurst was solid at full back while Daniel Nolan produced a great second half display. Basil Malone operated well at centre back and had a fine game at midfield for the second half. Up front Stuart Cullen was once against a constant threat with his pace and managed to score 1-1 while Keith McGuinness chipped in with three crucial points.
Sean Doyle made his senior debut when he came on at half time and marked it with a point and a great display.
Man of the match: Daniel Nolan
Referee: Ciaran Groome
Team Sheet:
Brian Quinlan, Diarmaid Meleady, Johnny Hurst, Joe Murphy, Gary Blong, Basil Malone, Daniel Nolan(0-1), Stephen Guing(0-2), Derek Kelly(capt)(0-1), David Hanlon(1-1), Pat Moloney, Aaron O’Connell, Keith McGuinness(0-3), Stuart Cullen(1-1), Mark Young.
Subs:
Johnny Blong for Joe Murphy
Sean Doyle(0-1) for Pat Moloney
Dean Cummins for Aaron O’Connell
Stephen Abbott for Derek Kelly(inj)
Padraig Foy, Colin Dunne, Peter O’Neill, John Gorman, Adrian Bryan, Wayne Mooney(inj)
