First half goals settle controversial tie
Aaron Kiernan was among the goals for Straffan this evening Photo: Sean Brilly
Two Straffan goals just before the half time break proved to be decisive as they advanced to the winners group of the Auld Shebeen Athy IFC Championship. After the CCCC upheld the Nurney objection to the scoreline of the original fixture Straffan and Nurney had to do it all again tonight in Manguard Park Hawkfield.
Andy O'Neill and Ed Maher had Straffan two up inside four minutes before Nurney hit four in a row. Mikey Conway opened their account on seven minutes and with points from Cathal Hagney and two from Andrew Behan, one from a free Nurney were setting the early pace.
The sides swapped four points over the next five minutes John Tracey from a free and a long range effort from James Gannon kept Straffan in touch but Conway and Ciaran Callan kept Nurney two ahead with half time approaching. The game changed over the the last five minutes. Conway added his third and when Andrew Behan got his own third it looked like Nurney would hold the upper hand at the break. Straffan had other ideas and within a minute they were two ahead.Ruairi Power finished to the net after a good move involving Tom Donovan and Rory O'Neill. Straight from the kickout Straffan attacked and when wing back Aaron Kiernan found himself in space inside the Nurney 20 metre line he finished high to the Nurney net.
Straffan led 2-4 to 0-8 at the break Nurney needed a fast start to the second half but they found a stubborn Straffan rearguard hard to break and instead it was the men from north of the county who hit two two points through Brian Tracey and Ruairi Power to move four ahead.
Straffan continued to frustrate Nurney and they should have put the game to bed on 43 minutes.A turnover and a quick transfer saw Sam Friel through on goal but Niall Donnelly saved well.
The resultant 45 saw Straffan go short but they were able to extend the lead courtesy of an Andy O Neill free and with 14 left there was five between the sides. Andrew Behan hit Nurney's first point and only point of the second half with only 9 mins left but John Tracey quickly added a free as the game petered out. Neither side could ad to their tally as Straffan saw out a comfortable 2-9 to 0-9 win.
By virtue of the win, Straffan have set up a winners group encounter with Rathangan on Saturday evening while Nurney will face near neighbours Monasterevin in Group C of the losers group.
Liam Donovan, Niall Devane,Alan Byrne,Mike Tracey,Nathan O Brien, Rory Byrne, Aaron Kiernan 1-0, Sam Friel,John Tracey 0-3 (2 frees),Ruairi Power 1-1, Andy O Neill 0-2 (1 free), Brian Tracey 0-1,James Gannon 0-1,Tom Donovan, Ed Maher 0-1. Subs: Declan Riley for Power, 57; Austin Allen for Andy O'Neill, 62; Kevin McNee for Byrne, 62.
Niall Donnelly, Stephen Conway, John Merrins Eoghan Fitzpatrick, Owen Kealey, Hayden Weldon, Neil Kelly, Cathal Hagney 0-1,Kevin Conway, Tadhg Hagney, Ciaran Callan 0-1,Ewan Morris, Andrew Behan 0-4 (3 frees), Mikey Conway 0-3 (2 frees),Jessie Moore. Subs: Peter Sunderland for Morris, 38; Damien Berns for Weldon, 45; Darren Byrne for Moore, 52; Daniel Kealey for C Hagney, 56; Adam Talbot for Kealey 58.
Billy O'Connell
