Goals win games, and Setanta got them to retain the County Championship title.
Setanta 4-13 v 0-14 St. Eunan’s
The opening quarter was closely contested and the game was level at 0-04 apiece, Danny Cullen two, Gerry Gilmore and Declan Coulter for Setanta , Daire O Maoileidigh two, Conor O Grady and Sean McVeigh for Eunans.
Barney Lafferty scored from long range and then a Eunans short puck out was intercepted and Setanta Gerry Gilmore blasted home a super goal to give Setanta a four point lead. But Eunans hit back with three points in a row from O Maoileidigh again and then two excellent points from play by Kevin Kealy left just a point between them , 1-05 to 0-07.
Setanta finished the half strongly with a Gilmore point and when they were awarded a penalty in injury-time Declan Coulter hammered it low to the bottom corner to leave the half-time score 2-06 to 0-07 and St.Eunans with it all to do. Oisín Marley sent over two super points from play but Matt Ahern and Russell Forde replied each time for Eunans. When O Maoileidigh and Conor O Grady both pointed from range it was back to a three point game but the next few minutes action decided this championship final.
A long ball into the Eunans danger area was grabbed and hammered to the net by Ruairi Campbell , Peter Kelly pointed for Eunans but in their next attack
Setanta added a fourth goal , Campbell again with a super solo effort , 4-08 to 0-12 and Setanta in total control .
Daire O Maoileidigh added his sixth point but Setanta finished in style with a string of points.
Marley, Cullen , Campbell, , Gilmote and Sean Ward all scored to complete an impressive performance and retain their Championship title.
St. Eunan’s: Cian Hennessy; Sean Halvey, Conor McVeigh, Lorcan Heavey; Conor O’Grady(0-02), Sean McVeigh(0-01), Ryan Hilferty; Brian McIntyre, Cormac Finn; Daire O’Maoileidigh ( 0-06), Kevin Kealy ( 0-02), Matt Ahern (0-01), Peter Kelly(0-01), , Ferghal Delaney Russell Forde (0-01).
Subs ; Conor Neely for Conor MvVeigh ( 44mins), David Horgan for Forde ( 50mins), Gavin Forde for Finn 55mins),
SETANTA; Kevin Campbell , Conor McGettigan Stephen McBride , Mark Callaghan, R Coyle , Bernard Lafferty(0-01), Niall Cleary , Declan Coulter ( 1-01), Dean Harvey , Josh Cronnolly, Danny Cullen ( 0-02) , Sean Ward (0-01), Oisín Marley (0-03), , Gerry Gilmore ( 1-03), Ruairi Campbell (2-01).
Subs ; Conor Gallen for Connolly (50mins), Justin McBride for Cleary (52mins), Denin Rowan for McGettigan (56mins) , Colm Melaugh for Coulter (58mins). Tiarnan McConnell for Coyle (60mins).
