Co. League Div 4.
Churchill 2-7 Scartaglin 1-10
In a very exciting and well-contested game, Churchill were left to rue 13 wides as Scartaglin kicked a last minute free to earn a draw and keep their own promotion hopes alive. Churchill were short a number of regulars, due to injury and suspension, but came out of the blocks flying and were working well as a unit.
Churchill were first on the scoreboard with a brilliant goal from Ger McCarthy, which was worked all the way up the field from Eoin O’Brien in goals. A minute later, Churchill repeated the move and unlocked the Scartaglin defence, with this time Jack O’Connell at the end of the move, but he blasted wide with the goal at his mercy.
Churchill’s half-backs were on top by this stage and Scartaglin found it very hard to create any scoring chances. After 14 minutes, Churchill found the net again, when Ger McCarthy punched to the net after another well worked move. It was to be 22 minutes before Scartaglin got on the scoreboard, with a point from their full-forward Pa Rahilly.
They scored the next two points with a free from Denis Lenihan and a good point from play from Flor McCarthy. Churchill completed the first half scoring with a point from play by Conor Daly, though they should have been out of sight by this stage, where wayward shooting let them down.
Half Time: Churchill 2-1 Scartaglin 0-3
Churchill started the second half as they had the first, with dominance around the half backs and midfield. Mike O’Brien scored a point from play, following a clever sideline ball from Ivan Parker.
Parker got on the scoresheet himself after 34m with a point from play. In between, Churchill had Jack O’Connell black-carded for more of a clumsy than cynical tackle, with Keith Rolls replacing him. Pa Rahilly got Scartaglin’s first point of the half, which Chris Hurley cancelled out with a great left-footed point.
Scartaglin’s midfielder Daniel Murphy got his first point from a free after 38 minutes, which he followed up with a point from play after 45 minutes. Churchill broke out of defense and corner back JJ Prior was on the end of a great move to point for the home side.
Churchill were having to defend tigerishly as Scartaglin hit a purple patch between the 48th and 50th minutes, scoring 3 unanswered points, a ‘45’ from Lenihan and points from Tom Forde and Flor McCarthy.
Chris Hurley hit his second point and Ger McCarthy landed a free as Churchill extended their lead to 4 points with 5 minutes to go. However, in the 57th minute, Rahilly, who was causing problems to the Churchill defence all day, went on a solo run and finished beautifully to the corner of the Churchill net to leave the minimum between the teams.
What followed was a frantic closing five minutes, including injury time. Churchill had a chance to make the game safe but the ball dropped short. Scartaglin worked the ball up the field and the inevitable free materialised, from which Murphy made no mistake.
This was a good battling performance from Churchill, but they will count this as a point lost, even though it moves us a step closer to securing Division 4 status for another year.
However, it was a case of what might have been had we converted more of our chances, particularly in the first half, when they could have put the game beyond reach. Other results over the weekend mean promotion is not a forlorn hope either, though the results of back games over the next few weeks will give a much clearer picture before we play our last two games, away to St. Senans in September and our last game at home to Firies.
Full Time: Churchill 2-7 Scartaglin 1-10
Churchill: Eoin O’Brien, Mitchell Holland, Peadar Stack, JJ Prior (0-1), Ivan Parker (0-1), Garett Walsh, Matt Finnerty, Mikey Brennan, Jack O’Connell, Chris Hurley (0-2), Ciaran Crowley, Brian Hill, Conor Daly (0-1), Ger McCarthy (2-1, 1 free), Mike O’Brien (0-1)
Subs used: PJ O’Mahony, Keith Rolls, Des McCarthy
B team
Our B team are in Championship action in the Barrett Cup next Friday 21st August at 6:30pm in Beaufort.
U-21s
A combined Churchill/Ballymac team will enter the U-21 club championship this year. This combination performed very well at minor level a few years ago, so we wish them luck in this campaign. They were due to play their first match away to Moyvane/Tarbert on Tuesday 19th August at 6:30pm.
Kerry Minors
Good luck to Eoin O’Brien and the Kerry Minors in their All-Ireland Semi-Final next weekend vs Derry.
