Late Kenny goal stuns Pearses and swings it for Clann

Clann na nGael 2-11 Padraig Pearses 2-10

By Eamon A. Donoghue

Padraig Pearses left Johnstown heartbroken after being seconds from an opening round win in the Roscommon SFC against Clann na nGael last Friday night.

Emmet Kenny’s fortuitous late goal levelled the game and then Clann’s Ciaran Lennon kicked over the winning free to the delight of the home fans.

Kenny’s goal was a fluke as his kick went all the way into the net from some 40 metres out. It was Kenny again that was fouled moments later, well into added time, and Lennon popped over the free. But how did Pearses manage to lose this game?

The Woodmount based side were in the ascendancy for most of the game and although kicking 10 wides in the first half alone, Adam McGreal’s goal helped them to go in level at half-time, 1-3 to 0-6.

There was a certain amount of luck attached to Pearses’ first goal. An attempt for a score from Conor Lohan, up marauding from defence, dropped short and McGreal was first to react, collecting the ball and beating Seán Kelly in the Clann goal. But they deserved a bit of luck; they kicked 10 first half wides to Clann’s one and if they had kicked half of them over the bar, they would have had a convincing lead at the interval.

Clann’s best player Dylan Sumner got the scoring up and running, the centre-back broke through the Pearses rearguard and his shot went off the post and over the crossbar. Sumner was Clann’s heartbeat and not only did he deal with his direct opponent and one of Pearses marquee players Ronan Daly, he probed and attacked the Pearses defence continuously for the 60 plus minutes.

The first quarter was close but scores were scarce. Clann depended on counter attacks, with Pearses having most of the possession. With Clann 0-2 to 0-1 in the ascendancy, McGreal struck for the first goal. By the 25th minute Pearses had added just another score from Emmet Kelly although they had an abundance of possession.

A brace of frees from Fearghus Lennon and a score from midfielder Alan McManus kept the contest on edge. No Clann forward had scored from play by that stage of the game.

Pearses could only muster one more score before the break, McGreal adding to his goal.

After 30 minutes of dominating possession, all Pearses had to show for it was a measly 1-3, with their shooting casual at times. Pat Fallon introduced Ciaran Lennon in the 26th minute and he immediately had the ball between the posts. The home side were level at the break even though they had looked second best.

After the turnaround the game became more cautious but the scoring more efficient. By the 38th minute, Pearses had their noses back in front 1-5 to 0-7. Wing-back Declan Kenny floated over a score with his left foot and Ronan Daly, playing in attack, kicked a free for Pearses. Clann’s reply was a score from Emmett Kenny.

Then Clann struck for a crucial score. Ciaran Lennon showed all his worth, getting in behind and from a tight angle beating Paul Whelan in goal.

Clann didn’t keep the lead long though; they kept carrying the ball into the tackle and Pearses kept forcing them to overplay possession. Pearses, rocked by that Lennon goal, grabbed back the initiative. Declan Kenny kicked his second, almost identical to his first. Emmett Kelly kicked a free and Lorcan Daly added another.

Then Pearses scored their second goal. Jack Tumulty found substitute Jack Nevin with a magnificent kick pass. Nevin was dispossessed but the ball became loose on the ground and Nevin used his soccer skills learned in Moore United and he dribbled the ball on the ground, before side footing to the net. Pearses led 2-8 1-7 in the 52nd minute.

The final minutes of the game became tense but Pearses looked like they had the game won. They were in control, leading 2-10 to 1-10 into added time, and Clann looked like a side that had accepted defeat.

More in hope than anything else, Emmett Kenny floated the ball into the Pearses square and somehow the ball was allowed to bounce into the goal. It got more shocking for Pearses as Clann won back possession and earned a free and Ciaran Lennon kicked the winner.

Clann will gain some confidence from this win and they could get another win against a depleted Boyle side in the next round. They will need to improve though. On another day this game could have been out of sight at the interval.

Pearses will be heartbroken but they will know they were missing half their team. They showed the strength of their squad in this game and they could emerge as the biggest challengers to St Brigid’s. Clann have the bragging rights for now but these two sides will possibly meet again in the knockout stages.

Player of the match: Dylan Sumner (Clann na nGael). Sumner was constant presence at centre-back. As well as attacking, he also kept tabs defensively on Ronan Daly and was crucial to Clann’s smash and grab win. Patrick Gavin was solid defensively. Oisin Lennon was the dominant midfielder on show, Ultan Harney was instrumental as usual and Ciaran Lennon’s introduction was key. For Pearses, Declan Kenny, although a defender, has an uncanny knack of getting free in attack. Niall Carty rolled back the years and Niall Daly worked hard as a defensive midfielder. Jack Tumulty made some excellent impacts none more so than that kick pass that led to Jack Nevin’s goal.

Scorers – Clann: E Kenny, C Lennon 1-1 each; F Lennon 0-4 (3f); D Sumner, A McManus, T Lennon, O O’Flaherty, D McManus (f) 0-1 each. Pearses: A McGreal 1-1; J Nevin 1-0; D Kenny 0-3; J Tumulty, E Kelly (1f) 0-2 each; L Daly, R Daly (f) 0-1 each.

Clann na nGael: Sean Kelly, Damien Duff, Shane Pettit, Patrick Gavin, Shane Pettit, Dylan Sumner, Cathal Duignan, Oisin Lennon, Alan McManus, Emmett Kenny, Paul McManus, Fearghus Lennon, David McManus, Ultan Harney, Ian Harney. Subs: Ciaran Lennon for I Harney (26), Tom Lennon for S Gavin (44), Oisin O’Flaherty for P McManus (46), Josh Lennon for F Lennon (50), Kieran Connaughton for A McManus (inj., 55).

Padraig Pearses: Paul Whelan, Gavin Downey, Niall Carty, Conor Harley, Declan Kenny, Caelim Keogh, Conor Lohan, Conor Ryan, Niall Daly, Lorcan Daly, Ronan Daly, Jack Tumulty, Emmett Kelly, Sean Canning, Adam McGreal. Sub: Jack Nevin for Canning (46).

Referee: Paddy Neilan.