Carnaross made the trip to Meath Hill on a scorching Sunday evening to take on the hosts in the final round of the A League but a three point defeat ended their hopes of a spot in the final.

Carnaross 2-7 Meath Hill 1-13

A League (Division 3)

Played in Meath Hill – 8/7/2018

The two teams entered the game level on points and the stakes were high with a final spot and automatic promotion on offer for the winners. 

The home side got off to the best possible start as they worked the ball forward from the throw in and created a one-on-one which was dispatched to the back of the Carnaross net. Despite the setback, Carnaross responded with points from Dermot McGee and a pair of frees from Frank O’Reilly while Meath Hill also kept the scoreboard ticking over. 

Carnaross then burst into life when an incisive run from Sam Reynolds and some neat interplay set Killian Porter through on goals. The wing forward made no mistake with an emphatic finish. Carnaross enjoyed a decent spell of possession for the remainder of the half but were guilty of some poor finishing. 

A Charles Brogan effort left the sides level at the break at 1-4 apiece after an intense first half. 

The two sides traded points after the break with O’Reilly, McGee and Porter adding a point each for Carnaross, while Meath Hill opened up a two point lead with 5 points. Carnaross then responded as they had done in the first half with Dermot McGee sparking a move from midfield which was finished to the back of the net by his brother John L after some sharp passing. 

The goal gave Carnaross a one point lead, however, this proved to be as good as it got for the visitors. Meath Hill added 4 straight points and held on for a three point win on a score line of 1-13 to 2-7. 

It was a disappointing result for Carnaross who were coming off a seven game winning streak. They can, however, console themselves with a playoff game providing a chance at promotion to Division 2 against senior outfit Blackhall Gaels, as well as their on-going championship campaign.

Prior to throw-in a minute silence was observed in memory of Eamon Gibney who passed away over the weekend. Eamon lined out at wing back when Carnaross won the Junior Championship in 1955 and the Intermediate Championship in 1957. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Carnaross: Conor Kenny, Ian Donoghue, Peter Farrelly, Peter Carpenter, Sam Reynolds, Cian O’Reilly, Liam Brogan, Dermot McGee (0-2), Tomás Plunkett, Killian Porter (1-1), Frank O’Reilly (0-3, 2f), Niall McDonnell, Charles Brogan (0-1), Thomas Nugent, Patrick McDermott. Subs: Cormac O’Reilly for Plunkett, John L McGee (1-0) for McDermott, Declan Reilly for Nugent, John Brogan for Liam Brogan.