Clonkill claim bragging rights in entertaining contest

In what was a well crusted Dovida Park St Lomans on Sunday afternoon last the blend of experience and young talent of Clonkill dealt the rising star that is Turin a reminder of the standard they need to achieve with this rather flattering nine point win. Clonkill were the better side here but they were aided in that victory by five goals that were in truth very defendable and after conceding three in a 20 minute spell in the first half Turin persisted with their game plan and conceded two more after the break in what proved to be the telling statistic of this game.

A late rally by the reds was simply that, a rally, as they were outplayed for the vast majority of the game by the cuteness, slickness and more clinical team on the day. It will be interesting to see, as the championship goes on, who learned more from this game and there is a sneaking suspicion that if these teams meet later in the competition the outcome might be different. However on Sunday Clonkill proved the masters in what was a local derby.

The game started at a ferocious pace. Turin scoring points from two Conor Heffernan frees and one each from play from Sean Leech and Ray Aughey while Clonkill replied with points from Christopher Austin and Ciaran Egerton and an opportunist goal from Luke Kenny after Daire McLaughlin was denied by a fine Eoin Aughey save.

Egerton with a 65’ and a long range free, Austin with another beauty from play were divided by two excellent Sean Leech strikes to leave the minimum between the sides after 22 minutes. Clonkill then struck with another Egerton 65' and in the space of five minutes Phillip Dowdall rolled back the years with two net busters that put clear daylight between the sides. Although Heffernan pulled one back just before the break, it was the Loughegar men that led 3-6 to 0-8 at the short whistle.

If Turin weren’t in deep enough trouble they then conceded a 65', Egerton converting with aplomb, while Phillip Dowdall completed his hatrick of goals when the Reds again failed to clear their lines. Scores from Conor Leech, Declan McGrath, Ciaran Kiernan, a Darragh Smith monster free and two Heffernan frees saw Turin narrow the gap to manageable portions but Clonkill kept ticking over nicely.

Ciaran Egerton scored two enormous points and Alex Smyth opened his account from play. Heffernan converted another placed ball but a McLaughlin long range point and a magnificently flicked goal from another Egerton free by Luke Kenny was added. Kenny pointed from the resultant puck out and the game was as good as decided.

Heffernan did pull back a late goal from a 21 yard free and Kiernan added a wonderful solo second major but it was mere window dressing as frees from Luke Kenny and the industrious Ciaran Egerton were added to by Austin grabbing the last score of the game in added time for the Green and Golds to run out handsome winners in the end and reignite their push for honours while dealing Turin’s hopes of three from three a fatal blow.

Scorers

Clonkill: Philip Dowdall 3-0, Luke Kenny 2-2 1 free, Ciaran Egerton 0-8 4 65s and a free, Christopher Austin 0-3, Daire McLaughlin and Alex Smyth 0-1 each

Turin: Conor Heffernan 1-7 4 frees and 65’, Ciaran Kiernan 1-1, Sean Leech 0-3, Declan McGrath, Darragh Smith (free), Conor Leech and Ray Aughey 0-1 each

Teams

Clonkill: Niall Dowdall, Finn Raeside, Paddy Dowdall, Michael McGrath, Mark Keegan, Ciaran Egerton, Scott Murtagh, Conor Daly, Daire McLaughlin, Alex Smyth, Carl McCormack, Eoghan Egerton, Christopher Austin, Luke Kenny and Phillip Dowdall

Turin: Eoin Aughey, Jack Dowling, Craig Neville, Peter Finch, Declan McGrath, Darragh Smith, Derek Hourihane, Sean Leech, Ciaran Kiernan, Conor Heffernan, Conor Leech, Brian Aughey, Ray Aughey, P.J.O’Neill and Jack Penrose subs: Chris Sleator for Jack Penrose H/T, Sean Scally for Dowling and Jack Geoghegan for Brian Aughey 38 mins

Referee Rob Cornally St Oliver Plunketts