Boardsmill ran out convincing winners against Carnaross in the refixed first round of the Junior Football Championship played in perfect conditions in Kildalkey.
Junior Championship (Round 1)
Played in Kildalkey – 24/8/2021
The game was refixed due to the untimely death of club stalwart and local legend, Gene O’Reilly, 10 days ago. Gene’s son Cormac, lined out full back and gave every ounce of energy to the cause that ultimately fell just short.
The first half was very evenly contested. Boardsmill deployed a 2 man full forward line that paid dividends throughout. Paddy McDermott was Carnaross’ leading light on the day and he opened the North Meath men’s account after 5 minutes. Niall McDonnell scored from play and was a constant torn in the Mill’s defence earning numerous frees that Cormac Yore converted.
Boardsmill had goals on their mind and were thwarted on numerous occasions by a combination of James O’Connor, Cormac O’Reilly, Tomas Plunkett and Shane McNiffe in goals. With 3 minutes until the half time whistle, Paddy McDermott edged the Ross in front. However Boardsmill hit a quickfire 1-1 in the dying seconds to take a 3 point lead into the half tie interval.
Boardsmill’s purple catch continued in the 3rd quarter where they tagged on 5 points without response. Matters worsened for the Hoops when Niall McDonnell received his marching orders for an off the ball incident. Carnaross refused to give up however and kicked the next 3 points in a row. Cillian Comaskey responded quickest to a ball ricocheting off the post to blast over the bar from short range.
Cian O’Reilly curled one over with the outside of the right and Paddy McDermott launched over a huge free from distance. Unfortunately Carnaross missed their next 3 opportunities that would have levelled the game, two from placed balls and one from open play. Boardsmill regrouped in the 4th quarter and tagged on 3 frees to keep Carnaross at bay. Paddy McDermott kept the scoreboard ticking over with 2 converted frees and one from play before Boardsmill killed the game as a contest with a palmed effort into the net.
Boardsmill were deserving winners but Carnaross must now pick themselves up for a critical Round 2 encounter with Kilmainhamwood. One positive note on the night was the fact that James O’Connor, Cormac Yore, Sean Carpenter and Paddy Farnan played their first game for Carnaross in first team championship and equipped themselves admirably.
Carnaross: Shane McNiffe, Tomas Plunkett, Cormac O’Reilly, Jack Roche, Cian O’Reilly (0-1), James O’Connor, Ian Donoghue, Pierce Fleming, Cian McGlynn, Odhran Farrelly, Paddy McDermott(0-6), Darragh O’Reilly, Cormac Yore (0-2), Niall McDonnell (0-1), Dillon Fox. Subs: Cillian Comaskey (0-1), Shane O’Reilly, Sean Carpenter and Paddy Farnan.
