Edenderry seniors played their last home game of the 2011 league campaign and suffered a setback as they were defeated by a deserving Shamrocks team on a scoreline of 4-14 to 3-8.
Edenderry made a blistering start to the game and after just sixteen seconds Dean Cummins had the ball in the net after some great work from Derek Kelly and Basil Malone. Three minutes later Edenderry stretched their lead when Martin Keogh kicked over a point after great link up with Mark Young.
Shamrocks responded with three points in two minutes but the reds hit back with points from Basil Malone and Keith McGuinness. Edenderry appeared to be cruising after ten minutes when a great solo run from Basil Malone who then kicked the ball into the on-rushing Dean Cummins who went highest, out-jumped the goalkeeper and palmed the ball into the Shamrocks net to leave the scores 2-3 0-3.
A strong six minute spell for Shamrocks saw them claw back Edenderry’s lead when they scored 1-3 without reply. Edenderry introduced Paddy Lynch for Pat Moloney and it was Paddy who scored Edenderry’s next score to point them back in a one point lead with twenty two minutes gone in the first half.
Two minutes later both sides exchanged a point each, Edenderry’s coming from Keith McGuinness. There was thirty minutes on the clock when Edenderry got a 21yd free on their own line but kicked it away straight to a shamrocks player and it allowed them to put the ball in the back of the net. From the resulting kickout Shamrocks pointed to leave the half time score 2-5 to 2-8.
Half Time:
Edenderry 2-5
Shamrocks 2-8
The second half started similar to how it finished with Shamrocks punishing Edenderry for silly mistakes and with just seven minutes gone in the second half the Mucklagh men had scored 2-2 without reply. Edenderry responded with a point from Derek Kelly and just one minute later they appeared to be right back in the game when Dean Cummins rounded the goalkeeper and scored his third goal of the night.
Three minutes later Shamrocks pointed to extend their lead to seven points and then all Edenderry’s hard work was undone with another Shamrocks goal. Keith McGuinness was working hard to find a score and another great ball in the square for Dean Cummins was cut out by the Shamrocks defender but in bizarre fashion was actually kicked over the bar for a point. There was just ten minutes remaining and Shamrocks were well on top now adding another two points but with five minutes to go Keith McGuinness pointed for the reds to reduce the deficit to singular figures.
Full time:
Edenderry 3-8
Shamrocks 4-14
Overall this was a very poor result for Edenderry in a game that would have secured a semi final spot. Not to take away from a very impressive Shamrocks performance as they were worthy winners but the mistake Edenderry made were almost criminal and they were duly punished. They will need to improve dramatically and cut out the mistakes if they are to defeat Raheens in their final game Tuesday night.
Man of the Match: Dean Cummins
Referee: Martin Carthy
Brian Quinlan, Diarmaid Meleady, Johnny Hurst, Wayne Mooney, Colm Byrne, Mark Young, Gary Blong, Derek Kelly(0-1), Basil Malone(0-1), Pat Moloney, Martin Keogh(0-1), Aaron O’Connell Keith McGuinness(0-3), Dean Cummins(3-0), Stuart Cullen.
Subs:
Paddy Lynch(0-1) for Pat Moloney
Stephen Abbott for Gary Blong
John Gorman for Aaron O’Connell
Pat Moloney for Keith McGuinness(inj)
