Seniors Survive The Drop

Edenderry……2-09
Gracefield……0-06

As Noel Cooney blew the final whistle on Wednesday night, there was a huge sigh of relief in the Edenderry camp, as they had just defeated Gracefield to retain their Senior status for 2010. In a game which at times got very heated, Edenderry did enough to beat a Gracefield side that was already safe from relegation. As a result Shannonbridge make the drop to the Intermediate ranks after they lost to Gracefield and drew with Edenderry. While Edenderry won one and drew one; and Gracefield won one and lost one.

Edenderry made a great start to the game, and within a few minutes they were 1-01 to no score in front. Keith McGuinness opened the scoring with a great point, and it was shortly followed by a goal from a Mark Young, after he fisted the ball past the Gracefield goalie from a Basil Malone 45 metre free. Gracefield opened their account with a point from a free, before cornerback Johnny Hurst found himself in the full forward line scoring a point, after finishing off a great move from Martin Keogh, Basil Malone and Keith McGuinness. Cillian Farrell then kicked two points in a row. The first came from a free awarded for a foul on Basil Malone, while the second was an impressive long range shot, after good work from Keith McGuinness and Basil Malone. Gracefield reduced Edenderry’s lead to four points, as they kicked a point from a free and then a very good point from play. However Edenderry finished the half off brilliantly scoring a goal and two points without reply to effectively seal victory. Cillian Farrell kicked the two points, the first came from play after he brilliantly side-stepped a Gracefield defender before floating the ball over the bar. The second came from a free awarded for a foul on Colin McNamara. The goal came from Keith McGuinness who finished off a great team score which started with a brilliant bit of high fielding from Richie Dalton. Then some good play from Wayne Mooney, Stephen Guing, Basil Malone and Cillian Farrell set up Keith McGuinness, who gave the Gracefield goalie no chance with a great finish to the corner of the net.

Halftime, Edenderry 2-06 Gracefield 0-03.

Early in the second half Conor O’Donoghue came in for the injured Daniel Moloney, before the two teams were reduced to 14 men when Noel Cooney sent off Colin McNamara and the Gracefield number 15. The opening score of the second half came from a Gracefield free kick, before Brian Quinlan made a great save to prevent a goal for the Laois border side. The lively Shane ‘Bisto’ Kelly then scored a great point from the corner, after Cillian Farrell rose highest to flick the ball into Bisto’s path from a long ball into the full-forward line. Edenderry were then reduced to 13 men when Shane Connell received a harsh second yellow card, and was sent to the line by Noel Cooney. But within seconds the Gracefield number 7, who had earlier been booked, made a similar challenge to Connell’s, and referee Cooney had no choice but to give him a second yellow to make it 13 aside. Martin Keogh then scored a very good point to put ‘The Reds’ 10 points in front. Derek Kelly then made his comeback from illness, when he replaced Bisto Kelly who received a rousing cheer from the Edenderry crowd, after he put in a real tough display, as he took some big hits from several Gracefield players. Mark Young then sent over Edenderry’s last point of the game, when he brilliantly converted a free out near the side-line. Gracefield then scored a point from a free, before Peter Manley came in from Mark Young. Gracefield then kicked a good point from play, before substitute Conor O’Donoghue made a fantastic block at the very end to deny Gracefield a late goal.

Edenderry had some good performances all over the field from Daniel Moloney, Sean Pender, Wayne Mooney, Keith McGuinness, Cillian Farrell, Mark Young, Bisto Kelly and Conor O’Donoghue.

Team: Brian Quinlan; Johnny Hurst (0-1), Daniel Moloney, Sean Pender; Colin McNamara, Stephen Guing, Wayne Mooney; Shane Connell, Richie Dalton; Martin Keogh (0-1), Basil Malone, Shane Kelly (0-1); Keith McGuinness (1-1), Cillian Farrell (0-4), Mark Young (1-1).

Subs used: Conor O’Donoghue, Derek Kelly, Peter Manley.

Referee: Noel Cooney.