Fighting Cocks await Meath champions after Cats are conquered

Clann na nGael get Leinster campaign up and running with expected win over Kilkenny opponents

LEINSTER CLUB JFC

Clann na nGael...3-20

Glenmore...2-8

There was only a smattering of supporters in the soon-to-be-demolished Pairc Tailteann stand when the two teams ran out for this Leinster Club JFC encounter on Saturday lunchtime.

The timing of the game may have had something to do with the small attendance or "paltry" as one observer described it - people can be fussy about having their lunch in the middle of the day - or it may have something to do with the fact that Kilkenny teams have a dismal record in this competition and were always likely to be vanquished.

This opening round tie didn't turn out to be as much of a trouncing dished out by the 'home' side as some might have been expected - nor did it turn out to be walk in the Pairc either, which was probably a good thing from Clann na nGael's perspective.

After winning the JFC in fine style a few weeks ago, they, no doubt, could have done with stern enough workout ahead of their next assignment away to Carlow side, the Fighting Cocks - and this was a stern enough workout. Nothing more.

This game was also a curious mixture of the good and the not-so-good from the Clann na nGael who raced into a 1-3 to 0-0 lead after 10 minutes with Diarmaid O'Donoghue powering up from the back to fire the ball to the net after just three minutes.

It was a perfect platform for the Meath side to push on and dominate but they stepped off the gas, perhaps believing, understandably enough, that this was going to be easy. Glenmore came back into it and at the break 'only' trailed 0-5 to 1-8.

Clann na nGael, obviously encouraged to do so by their management team, exerted a strong press after the break. Without the space they had in the opening half the Kilkenny side struggled and Niall McLoughin's men made hay with further goals from Sean Og Tiernan and Tomas Doyle.

Among the positives from a Clann na nGael perspective was the way they created and took their three goals. The most curious of them all was the goal scored by Tiernan, his team's second, soon after the break.

Liam Kelleher, Diarmaid O'Donoghue worked the ball to Dylan Doherty. He centred into the crowded Glenmore goalmouth. Tiernan, who had a fine game, caught it, fell to the ground yet still managed to get boot to ball and score a goal. Referee Paddy McDermott consulted his umpires before signalling for the green flag to be raised.

The third and final Clann na nGael goal was fashioned in the 48th minute. This time two of Clann na nGael's most impressive performers, Daragh Griffin and O'Donoghue, combined to set up Doyle for a sweet finish.

It was a fine goal to cap a very productive afternoon for the enterprising Doyle who finished with 1-8 including a two-pointer from a second-half free. He also had a shot go narrowly wide in the second-half when a goal was on.

Another of Clann na nGael's marquee players was Gerry O'Sullivan. He proved to be a very effective target man. He held the ball up well for others and also found the time and space to clip over four points from play.

Liam Kelleher, Ben Corkery and Darren Kelly were others to surge forward and land scores over the hour. Both are hard-working players in a team that doesn't shy away from hard graft - either in training or in the white heat of games.

One aspect of Saturday's victory that may concern the Clann na nGael management of McLoughlin and his selectors Robbie Woods and Tony Kearney is the way the team allowed Glenmore to get back into the game in the closing stages and score two goals through two of their top performers Ian Byrne and Dean Croke.

Glenmore, the home of hurling legends such as Christy Heffernan and Willie O'Connor, have a long tradition in football.

However, this time they had no answer to Clann na nGael's verve and second-half press. Now the Fighting Cocks await for the Meath champions.

Clann na nGael - Eoin Griffin; Philip Garry, Jack Doherty, Daragh O'Reilly; Diarmaid O'Donoghue (1-0), Cormac Smith, Liam Kelleher (0-2); Daragh Griffin, Andrew Smith; Sean Og Tiernan (1-2), Paul Tuite, Dylan Doherty (0-2 two pointer); Ben Corkery (0-1), Gerry O'Sullivan (0-4), Tomas Doyle (1-8 five frees, one two-pointer free). Subs - Liam MacNamara for Corkery 37m, Shane McAnarney for D Doherty 49m, Darren Kelly (0-1) for Kelleher 52m, Ryan McNamee for Garry 56m.

Glenmore - PJ Roche; Ciaran Vareker, Richard Hennessy, Darragh Vereker; Ethan Phelan (0-1), Darragh Hartly, Padraig Cody; Tomas Mullally, Billy Reid; Paul Murphy, Ciaran Kirwan (0-2 one free), Ian Byrne (1-2 two pointer); Dean Croke (1-3), David Burke, Charlie Phelan. Subs - Shane Duhig for Murphy half-time, Jason Cody for Phelan 41m, James Hendrick for Burke 49m, Colm Roche for P Cody 56m.

Referee - Paddy McDermott (Kildare).

* See more from the game in next edition of the Meath Chronicle.