Edenderry seniors started their year on a high with a fantastic six point win over Erin Rovers in Pollough on Tuesday night. This was a very tough physical game and but both sides played the game in the right spirit and despite trailing by four points at half time, the reds emerged victorious.
Edenderry opened the scoring after four minutes when Mark Young pointed a free after a foul on Paddy Lynch but Rovers responded four minutes later with a point of their own. Stuart Cullen restored the reds lead after some great play from John Gorman however this was Edenderry’s last score for ten minutes. The reds then lost Cian Lawton to injury and he was replaced by Peter O’Neill. In the thirteenth minute Rovers hit two points in two minutes and just one minute later after a quick sideline ball had the ball in the back of the Edenderry net to take a four point lead. Two minutes later they stretched their lead to five. In the twenty first minute Padraig Foy replaced the injured Pat Moloney and two minutes later Mark Young reduced the deficit to four points. Erin Rovers were still on top however and again took a five point lead in the twenty seventh minute but with just one minute remaining in the half John Gorman pointed after some great work from Dan Ryan and Mark Young.
Half time:
Erin Rovers 1-5 0-4 Edenderry
The half time break was just what the doctor ordered for Edenderry and with less than sixteen seconds on the clock in the second half Mark Young had the ball in the Pollough net. Having won the throw in Young took off towards goal playing a one-two with Peter O’Neill, Philip Farrell and Stuart Cullen before blasting the ball into the net from Cullen’s rebounded effort. Just forty seconds later Stuart Cullen leveled the game for the first time since the thirteenth minute. Erin Rovers regained the lead in the seventh minute but this was cancelled out three minutes later when Stuart Cullen pointed after a fine solo effort from full back Johnny Hurst. In the thirteenth minute Erin Rovers again took the lead but this would be the last time they would do so. Mark Young took control of the game at midfield and sent over three great points in the nineteenth, twenty fourth and twenty fifth minute to give the reds a two point lead. Substitute Stephen Abbot scored the point of the game in the twenty sixth minute and just one minute later Stuart Cullen pointed after brilliant play from the tireless Colm Byrne at half back. A pointed free from Erin Rovers in the twenty eight minute left three between the sides but in injury time a combination of Johnny Hurst, Philip Farrell and Paddy Lynch sent the ball through to Andrew Forde who ended up on the deck along with his marker, it was corner back Diarmaid Meleady who came onto the loose ball and lobbed the keeper to give Edenderry their second goal and a six point win.
With a host of players unavailable for the game the management team of Peter Brady and Kevin Guing will be delighted with this hard fought win. The team showed great character and fought hard right until the final whistle. On the night they were best served by Paddy Lynch and Philip Farrell, while Colm Byrne and Mark Young were both outstanding.
Man of the Match: Mark Young (1-5)
Team Sheet:
Brian Quinlan, Diarmaid Meleady, John Hurst, Aaron O’Connell, Colm Byrne, Colin McNamara, Stephen Murphy, Cian Lawton, Mark Young(1-5), Paddy Lynch, Pat Moloney, Philip Farrell, Dan Ryan, Stuart Cullen(0-4), John Gorman(0-1)
Subs:
Peter O’Neill for Cian Lawton (inj), Padraig Foy for Pat Moloney, Stephen Abbott(0-1) for John Gorman, Andrew Forde for Stephen Murphy. Ciaran Cummins.
