Comfortable win for Crusheen

Crusheen 3-17   St Joseph’s 0-12

CRUSHEEN were always in control in their first-round game played at Cusack Park on Saturday evening.
While the underdogs had the opening score through Brian Guilfoyle in the second minute, Crusheen had 1-5 on the scoreboard by the 10th minute, at which stage, they were seven points clear (1-5 to 0-1).

For the remainder of the half, there was little between the teams and three unanswered points from St Joseph’s in the closing minutes of the half left just a goal between them (1-7 to 0-7) at the midpoint.

There was some concern among the Crusheen followers at this stage as they had managed just two points in the last 20 minutes.

Any fears were quickly banished when play resumed. A goal from Conor O’Donnell, his second of the game, in the first minute of the new half set the tone and by the 10th minute they were 10 points clear and from here on there was never a doubt as to the outcome.

The game’s opening goal came in the fifth minute when Conor O’Donnell gave Paul Madden in the St Joseph’s goal no chance with a powerful strike. Jamie Fitzgibbon (3), Gearóid O’Donnell and Alan Tuohy were the point scorers for the winners in this period.

The move of Alan O’Neill to the half-forward line improved matters somewhat for the Doora-Barefield outfit and he scored four of their first-half points.

Once Crusheen stepped up the pressure in the second half, St Joseph’s were struggling but, to their credit, they battled to the very end. Indeed, it took a superb save from Donal Tuohy, three minutes from time, to deny the Doora-Barefield side a goal. Tuohy showed great reflexes to turn Ivor White’s powerful strike over the bar for what was the final score of the game.

Ten minutes from the end, St Joseph’s goalie Paul Madden was adjudged to have stepped over the goal line when he gathered the ball from Donal Tuohy’s 90m free.

The St Joseph’s forwards were always playing second fiddle to a strong Crusheen defence, which included four Dillon brothers, Cronan, Shaun, Cian and Cathal, together with John Brigdale and Ciarán O’Doherty in front of goalkeeper Donal Tuohy.

Up front, Gerry O’Grady, although not getting on the scoresheet, helped to  create a lot of scoring opportunities on a day when Conor O’Donnell scored 2-2, while Jamie Fitzgibbon hit five points from play.

Newcomer Brian Clancy worked hard throughout at full-back for St Joseph’s for whom Ivor White, Alan O’Neill and Eamonn Clohessy also did well

Crusheen: Donal Tuohy; John Brigdale, Cronan Dillon, Shaun Dillon; Ciarán O’Doherty, Cian Dillon, Cathal Dillon; Alan Tuohy, Alan Brigdale (captain); Gearóid O’Donnell, Jamie Fitzgibbon, Joseph Meaney; Conor O’Donnell, Gerry O’Grady, Darragh O’Doherty.
Subs: None used.
Scorers: Conor O’Donnell (2-2), Jamie Fitzgibbon (0-5), Darragh O’Doherty (2f), Alan Brigdale (0-3 each), Donal Tuohy (1-0f), Gearóid O’Donnell (0-2); Ciarán O’Doherty (free) and Alan Tuohy (0-1 each).
Frees for: 16, wides: 9.
Bookings: None.
St Joseph’s: Paul Madden; Cathal O’Sullivan, Brian Clancy, Sean Flynn; Jarlath Colleran, Kevin Dilleen, Eamonn Clohessy; Mark Hallinan, David Conroy; Leo Duggan, Ivor White, Niall DeLoughrey; Alan Duggan, Alan O’Neill, Brian Guilfoyle.
Subs: Aaron Landy for L Duggan (40 minutes) and Mark Hanrahan for De Loughrey (52 minutes).
Scorers: Alan O’Neill (0-6, 4f), Ivor White (0-4), Leo Duggan and Brian Guilfoyle (0-1 each).
Frees for: 11, wides: 6, 65s: 1.
Bookings: Cathal O’Sullivan (9 minutes), Ivor White (26 minutes); Jarlath Colleran (32 minutes) and Kevin Dilleen (55 minutes).
Referee: Ger Lyons, Ruan.