Carnaross 1-16 Clann na nGael 2-15

Carnaross returned to the exceptionally presented Ballinlough on Sunday to lock horns with the championship favourites, Clann na nGael, in the second round of the championship.

The Athboy Rathcairn men raced into an early lead goaling after 90 seconds from their rampaging wing back. Charlie Murphy opened the Hoops scoring to settle the early nerves. Carnaross utilised the breeze to knock over two quickfire two pointers from a usual and unusual suspect,  Paddy McDermott and Mossy Plunkett respectively. The Ross were beginning to dominate the middle third through Gillic and Murphy but failed to take advantage of a well worked goal chance with Paddy Morris' effort going narrowly wide. They were left to rue this when Clann hit their purple patch ringing off 6 points in a row. The game might have been out of reach were it not for some fine saves from Conor Kenny and a goal line clearance by Paddy Farnan. At half time the scoreline read Carnaross 0-7 to Clann na nGael's 1-10.

Despite playing against the wind in the second half, Carnaross upped their performance and took the game to their opponents. Paddy McDermott knocked over a 2 pointer from a dead ball to initiate the comeback. Scores were traded before John L McGee made his presence felt with a well taken brace.  Clann na nGael continued to look for goals but were guilty of spurning guilt edge chances. Carnaross were then offered a lifeline when McGee was hauled down only for McDermott's penalty effort to sail over the bar. The game turned on its head seconds later when Clann na nGael converted their own penalty, eventually. Despite Kenny making a smart save to keep out the initial effort, Corkery was first to the rebound. Darragh O’Reilly and Paddy Morris' direct running yielded two points to keep pace with the Athboy men. Conor Kenny was equal to another goal bound effort as he enjoyed a spectacular day between the sticks. Building on this momentum, Morris drove at them at pace again, earning a penalty.  McGee was deadly accurate from the spot reducing the margin to 2 points. Carnaross gave it their all with Yore and Plunkett blocking heroically. A resulting 45 was landed by the men in green and yellow before McDermott brought it back to 2. Unfortunately for the Ross men, time ran out and the Clanns hung on for a narrow victory. A heroic effort that fell agonisingly short.

Thoughts now turn to our final group game against St Brigids in a fortnight's time where our destiny remains in our own hands.

Carnaross: Conor Kenny, Adam Kerins, James O'Connor, Paddy Farnan, Shane Yore, Oisín Yore, John Reilly, Tomás Plunkett(0-2), Luke Gillic, Darragh O’Reilly(0-1), Paddy McDermott(0-9), Charlie Murphy(0-1), Oisín Farrelly, Cillian Comaskey, Paddy Morris(0-1). Subs: John L McGee(1-2), Dermot McGee.

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