Carnaross began life in Division 2 with a resounding victory over Bective played on an impeccable surface in Cannistown.
Carnaross 5-7 Bective 0-11
A League (Division 2)
Played in Bective – 26/1/2019
Both teams were promoted last year from Division 3 and knew that an opening round victory was vital. Carnaross burst out of the blocks scoring 4 first half goals killing the game as a contest.
Carnaross set the tone from the throw in when the ball was worked into Paddy McDermott who rounded his man and was unduly hauled to the ground. Frank O’Reilly finished the penalty expertly and the hoops’ tails were well and truly up. Carnaross were reaping rewards from delivering direct ball into the full forward line. Dermot McGee led the line expertly and after he brought a save out of the Bective net minder, Decky Reilly was on hand to punch gleefully to the net. These majors were sandwiched by an O’Reilly free as the forwards from the Ross put the Bective rear guard under untoward pressure, both with and without the ball.
Bective could only muster a pointed free as Carnaross utilised the wind to their full advantage. Cian O’Reilly then gathered possession in the middle of the field and skipped by defenders before laying it off to Reilly who stuck it in the bottom left corner. Decky then converted a free on the right before Stephen Flattery unleashed a tantalising effort from distance that split the posts. Bective tried to kick-start their recovery but they could only respond with frees from the boot of Marty Mulhall. McGee continued to make hay despite the wet conditions and cleverly drew the boot on a loose ball that nestled in the back of the Bective net. (A finish that former Arsenal player, Alexis Sanchez, would be proud of).
Bective refused to give up with Cathal McConnell and Seán Keating taking the game to the Carnaross defence, but they were well marshalled and couldn’t create enough space to garner that goal opportunity that was desperately needed. Cian O’Reilly kicked the final point of the half for the maroon and saffron men, sporting their new Masita jerseys, establishing an unsurmountable half time lead of 4-4 to 0-6. Everything clicked for the North Meath men in the first 30 minutes with the dynamic duo of Comaskey and McDonnell dominating the midfield exchanges.
The second half began in a similar vein with Bective picking off points before Carnaross ended the contest with a Paddy McDermott goal after he punched the ball into the net. The level of physicality increased as the skill levels decreased with both teams falling victim to the deteriorating conditions. Bective searched in vain for a consolation goal but the Carnaross rear guard stood firm. Reilly kicked 2 more points, one from a free and one from play as Bective chipped away at the scoreboard, struggling to gain a real foothold in proceedings. Dermot McGee kicked the final point of the day as the game came to a gradual halt.
Carnaross introduced a host of subs, including a first appearance for Luke Gillic, who amongst other former minor players for Moynalty/Carnaross, has a promising future ahead of him in the maroon and saffron colours. On a day when you score 5 goals, it elates your entire team and deflates your opponent massively. The goals killed the competitiveness of the game instantly and this Bective team have a lot more to offer going forward. For Carnaross, it’s 2 points on the board and they move on to face a formidable opponent in the form of Duleek/Bellewstown in round 2.
Carnaross: Shane McNiffe, Jack Roche, Peter Farrelly, Ian Donoghue, Pierce Fleming, Tomás Plunkett, Stephen Flattery (0-1), Cillian Comaskey, Niall McDonnell, Killian Porter, Frank O’Reilly (1-1, 1-0 pen, 0-1f), Cian O’Reilly (0-1), Decky Reilly (2-3, 0-2fs), Dermot McGee (1-1), Paddy McDermott (1-0). Subs: Stephen Dawson for Comaskey, Liam Day for Reilly, Shane Casserly for McDermott, Luke Gillic for Porter.
