Gaels have the firepower to secure second win

Lough Lene Gaels 3-19, Fr Dalton's 0-19

Paul Doolin

On Friday night in TEG Cusack Park, last year’s beaten finalists Lough Lene Gaels kept their quest for the Examiner Cup on track with their second win in two games against a very stern challenge from Fr Dalton's.

Nine points might suggest a comfortable win for the Gaels, but they were made to work hard and indeed with 10 minutes left, only two points divided the sides. Fr Dalton's had the slight momentum at that stage, but a late spurt which included a marvellous Derek McNicholas goal and five points from the outstanding David Williams, punished the Ballymore side for their wastefulness in front of goal. Fr Dalton's could have and possibly should have gotten something from this game, but defensive blunders and lack of clinical finishing proved their downfall. A determined Gaels' side used their strength and experience every time the result seemed to be slipping; they are evidently hell bent on bringing the senior title back to Collinstown after so many near misses in recent years.

They will know better than anyone that displays like this will not suffice, but manager Joey Williams will certainly learn hugely from this game where his charges showed huge desire and resilience, which will surely please him and Gaels' supporters most.

The game ebbed and flowed for most of the opening half with the fortunes fluctuating from end to end, but the Collinstown side had a five-point lead at the interval. Lough Lene Gaels seemed fortunate to get a goal from David Williams after Marcus Kennedy's effort came off the post. The same player hit 0-4, three frees and one opportunist strike from play. Fr Dalton's had levelled by the 19th minute through points from Eoin Nally, John Gilligan, Colm O’Roarke, a superb solo effort, and frees from Jack Kearney and two from Owen McCabe. The contest was turning into a slugfest at that stage.

Phillip Reilly and Eoin Daly, from a huge distance, had the Gaels back to the fore, but Brian McCabe and O’Roarke, from inside his own half, saw the Ballymore-based side back on level terms as we headed for the break. With five minutes to go to half-time, though, the Gaels upped their game. Jason Malone and Ryan Williams both pointed, followed by a second goal from Jordan Williams. Again it was a slightly fortuitous score, after a dropped ball in the square. An absolute cracker from David Williams put six between the sides.

Owen McCabe pulled two back from placed balls, but Williams added a free for the Gaels and they led by 2-10 to 0-11 at the short whistle.

Owen McCabe pointed three frees for Dalton's on the restart, but two David Williams frees and a superb Derek McNicholas strike negated those for the Gaels as the game again became an end-to-end battle. Then three points in-a-row from Dalton's through Gilligan, O’Roarke and wing back Patrick Kiernan, all of the top drawer variety, saw the game back in the melting pot.

It looked as if we may have an upset on the cards, but a quite brilliant goal from the Gaels' Derek McNicholas halted the Ballymore charge. And when Aaron Kennedy pointed from play, and Williams added two frees, it increased the lead to eight as we headed for the final whistle.

Fr Dalton's rallied and O’Roarke was very unlucky to see his effort go over rather than under the bar, and Gilligan pointed at the third attempt to set up a late, late rally. However, it was the Gaels who finished with a wet sail and three absolute pearlers from David Williams, one as good as the other, settled the affair once and for all. Ultimately, the Purple and Golds made it two out of two in 2026 after a very entertaining hour of hurling.

Scorers - Lough Lene Gaels: David Williams 1-12 (6 frees), Derek McNicholas 1-2, Jordan Williams 1-0, Jason Malone, Phillip Reilly, Eoin Daly, Ryan Williams and Aaron Kennedy 0-1 each.

Fr Dalton’s: Owen McCabe 0-7 (5 frees; 2 65’s), Colm O’Roarke 0-4, John Gilligan 0-3, Brian McCabe, Patrick Kiernan, Jack Kearney (free), Padraig Nestor and Eoin Nally 0-1 each.

Lough Lene Gaels: Noel Conaty; Daire Daly, Jordan Williams, Daragh Qamar; Michael Daly, John Egan, Tommy Doyle; Jason Malone, Brendan Doyle; Eoin Daly, Derek McNicholas, Phillip Reilly; Ryan Williams, David Williams, Marcus Kennedy. Subs: Conor McCrossan for Eoin Daly (36 mins), Aaron Kennedy for Jordan Williams (43 mins), Alex Little for Ryan Williams (49 mins), Daniel Reilly for Daire Daly (57 mins), Evan Murray for McNicholas (61 mins).

Fr Dalton's: Eoin Moran; Eoin Ryan, Kenneth Kincaid, Eoghan Bannon; Ronan Hanley, Brian McCabe, Patrick Kiernan; Jack Kearney, Ciaran Clear; Ronan McLoughlin, Colm O’Roarke, Padraig Nestor; Eoin Nally, Owen McCabe, John Gilligan. Subs: Ivan Smyth for McLoughlin (39 mins), Liam O’Neill for Ryan (60 mins).

Referee: Caymon Flynn (St Brigid's).