Jenkinstown Gaels lost out to Na Fianna by three points in the opening round of the Coolrite U-19 Div. 3A Football Championship played under lights at Batterstown on Friday night October 18th.

Jenkinstown Gaels 0-07 Na Fianna 0-10

Yesterday's downpours cleared and stayed away for this low scoring game, albeit wet and slippy underfoot conditions, which yielded seventeen scores, including just four from play for Na Fianna & three from play for Jenkinstown Gaels.

Right from throw it was Na Fianna who were in command, leading six points to no score mid-way through the first half.

Jenkinstown's first score came in the 15th minute with midfielder Barry Walsh firing over. However, that was as good as it got for Jenkinstown in the opening half as Na Fianna tagged on another point before referee Darren Dunne's half time whistle to lead 0-6 to 0-1 at the break.

But for wastefulness and turnovers in attacking positions in the first ten minutes Jenkinstown may well have been closer to their opponents at the break.

Having been the star of the show in Blackhall Gaels’ Intermediate Relegation Final win over Nobber just 24hrs earlier, Liam Jennings was given a breather from the start here, however as the game was pulling away from Jenkinstown Gaels, Jennings was introduced soon after the twenty minute mark.

Jennings opened his account from a free two minutes into the second half, with Na Fianna responding with a free of their own two minutes later. A brace from Jenkinstown Gaels, the first blasted over by Leon Giblin when perhaps a goal chance was on and the second a Jennings free, leaving three between the sides eight minutes into the second half, 0-7 to 0-4.

Two Na Fianna frees either side of a Jennings free left it 0-9 to 0-5 at the three quarter hour mark. A pair of Liam Jennings frees then left just two between the sides, 0-9 to 0-7, with three minutes remaining.

However, that was as near as Jenkinstown Gaels got to their opponents throughout the hour and a Na Fianna point in additional time saw them take the two points on offer with a well deserved 0-10 to 0-7 win.

Next up for Jenkinstown Gaels is a trip to Carnaross next Saturday afternoon for round two.

Jenkinstown Gaels team & scorers: Cian Williams, Charlie Benson, Colm McIvor, Cillian Purcell, Cillian Kelly, Luke Gallagher, Max Kennedy, Barry Walsh (0-1), Leon Goblin (0-1), Cathal Cunningham, Sean Geard Walsh, Evan Drum, Kyle O’Malley, David Regan, Luke O’Halloran.
Subs used: Liam Jennings (0-5, 4f), Jack Lynch, Harry Dunne, Ronan Thompson, Sean Cribbin, Cian Melville. 

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