Valley men chopped down by the Wood

Crookedwood 0-16, Delvin 0-12

Paul Doolin

Crookedwood got their 2023 season moving in the right direction after an opening round defeat against St. Oliver Plunkett's with this well merited and gutsy four-point win against a now winless Delvin, on Saturday evening last in TEG Cusack Park.

Their sheer determination and guts got them over the line here when it looked as if Delvin had ridden the storm. But from the moment Daragh Clinton's goal attempt for the Valley men in the fourth minute of the second half went wide of the posts, Crookedwood completely took over, outscoring their opponents seven points to three; by the finish they were pulling away as a despondent Delvin fell to their second defeat of the campaign and are now in jeopardy of not even making the playoffs, after contesting the last two finals.

Crookedwood started as they meant to go on with a brilliant point from Brendan McCarthy after 28 seconds and he doubled his tally one minute later with an equally good score from long-range. But a free from Daragh Clinton and then a beauty from play saw Delvin level matters after seven minutes of hurling, played in horrendous weather conditions. Barry O’Mara from a free and John Ryan from play restored the Wood advantage, but Clinton regained parity on his almost one-man mission with two superb points from play. Crookedwood also lost county panellist Shane McGovern to injury at this stage.

It became a bit of a free fest then with O’Mara hitting three for the Wood and Clinton replying with one for Delvin, until Edward Nally hit a fine score from long-range for the Tricolours. And O’Mara added his first from play while Clinton replied with a free for Delvin before Killian Murphy became the second Valley man to score with an opportunist strike. That meant, at the break, Crookedwood led by nine points to seven, but they had played with a large wind advantage and Delvin manager Kevin Williams would have been the happier at half-time.

DETERMINED

Indeed with the wind on their backs, Delvin started like a train on the resumption with another Clinton placed ball and a well-constructed team move that saw Adam Ennis level three minutes in. When Ross Gaffney and Clinton (with a monster free) put Delvin ahead, this game looked to be heading just one way. But the Wood dug in and led by an inspirational display from Ian McGovern and defiant defence from Feichin Brennan, McCarthy and Adam Bate, they began to recover. They hit the next three scores from two O’Mara frees and a wonderful strike from Brennan. And with Brian McLoughlin causing havoc at the edge of the square, they now led.

Dean Ennis levelled the game again, but that was as good as it got for the Maroons as the Wood came home with a wet sail: three more placed balls from O’Mara, created by determined and committed hurling, saw them head off into the sunset. When Lorcan O’Mara added the final Wood score they were home and hosed and nothing Delvin did could stop the freight train that hit them. Indeed Delvin finished a dejected and, in truth, well beaten outfit, while the Wood looked as if they could play another half with no bother.

Scorers - Crookedwood: Barry O’Mara 0-10 (9 frees), Brendan McCarthy 0-2, Feichin Og Brennan, Edward Nally, John Ryan and Lorcan O’Mara 0-1 each.

Delvin: Daragh Clinton 0-8 (5 frees), Adam Ennis, Ross Gaffney, Killian Murphy and Dean Ennis 0-1 each.

Crookedwood: Alan O’Mara, Keelan Varley, Damien Grifferty, Jonathan Nally, Matthew Ryan, Feichin Og Brennan, Adam Bate, Shane McGovern, Oisin Boyle, Brian McLoughlin, Edward Nally, Brendan McCarthy, Barry O’Mara, Ian McGovern and John Ryan. Subs: Lorcan O’Mara for Shane McGovern (14 mins), Conor Savage for Oisin Boyle (24 mins), Gerard Brennan for Grifferty (39 mins), Noel Yourell for Conor Savage (61mins).

Delvin: Steven Reilly, Seb McPherson, Adam Ennis, Frank McGrath, Liam Carolan, Aaron Fenlon, Ross Gaffney, Paddy Farrington, Paddy Poynton, Alan Cox, Patrick Clune, Darragh Clinton, Killian Murphy, Dean Ennis and Ollie Cassidy. Subs: Eoin Carolan for Liam Carolan (54 mins), Steven Cassidy for Poynton (58 mins).

Referee: Ken Gunning,

St Brigid's.