Plunkett’s bow out as Dublin side prove too strong

Naomh Mearnóg 2-20, St Oliver Plunkett's 0-7

It was not to be for St Oliver Plunkett’s as their Leinster campaign ended almost as quick as it began as a systematic performance from visiting Naomh Mearnóg, Dublin left the Mullingar outfit with their tails between their legs at the end of a comprehensive defeat in Raharney on Saturday.

The side from the capital county came in having played many highly competitive games of late, including their play-off against Fingallians most recently. Plunkett’s have shone this season, winning the county title with some relative ease and had no issues dispatching Ringtown in a game which they never looked like losing.

The pattern of the game emerged almost immediately as Gerry De Loughrey’s side familiarised themselves with the Joristown pitch by firing long, low, balls into the forward line. Inside three minutes, they had three on the board with Liam Mullin, Bernard Deay, and Josh Philips all finding range. Plunkett’s could not get a handle on their opponents but did not help themselves by allowing them easy routes up the field and by-passing the sweeper employed. With no Shane Ormsby in the starting side due to injury, it was a little bit of a reshuffle for the home team, who eventually scored after 12 minutes through the hard-working Paddy Lynam. Soon, Ciarán McKenna’s side were trailing 7-2 as further points from various angles and distances were scored by the Dubliners. The best of those coming from Shane Kavanagh who ended a nice move by striking over. Unfortunately for the men in green, Lynam (free) was all they could muster in the remainder of the half as Philips, Mullin (free) and Chris Farrelly added themselves onto the growing list of scorers. At the interval, Plunkett’s had much to ponder as they trailed by ten points to two – one score from play in over half an hour.

The second half unfortunately saw the home team fair little better, adding just five more scores compared to 1-10 for Mearnóg’s. The period began in identical fashion to the first as Mullin and Seán Hawkshaw pointed from mid-range. With Ormsby and Nathan Cornally now off the bench, Plunkett’s were able to raise the tempo a little as Cornally dropped the shoulder to point with his first effort. When Lynam added another free it did encourage the bench but that hope was quashed when Philips found the opening goal. It all came from a fine burst from Deay as he turned on the pace to open up the defence and leave Philips with the simple task of tapping home. Cathal Craig and Ross Corroon did manage to notch two more points but the pace of the Mearnóg attack was unrelenting as they continued to chip away with further scores – Philips hitting the best of those as he took advantage of a break from a scrappy battle on the ground. With the Plunkett’s foul count rising and knowing the game was dead and buried, the Dublin side took the opportunity to rub salt in the wounds as Mullin added three frees in between Deay’s well-taken goal. Cian Madden rounded their scoring to 2-20 before captain Davy Gavin fired the last of the day to end the affair.

Plunkett’s have much to take from the season and with the growing efforts at underage, the future is bright for the town side but equally the gulf in standard between they and their opponents taken was clear to see. Today was not their finest hour but better times will come again next season.

Scorers - Naomh Mearnóg: L Mullin 0-10 (7 frees), J Philips 1-3, B Deay 1-2, S Hawkshaw 0-2, S Kavanagh, C Farrelly, C Madden 0-1 each.

St Oliver Plunkett’s: P Lynam 0-3 (2 frees), C Craig, D Gavin, R Corroon, N Cornally 0-1 each.

Naomh Mearnóg: Bobby Smith; Eoin Kelly, Tom Cosgrove, Rory O’Loughlin; Gavin Nangle, Tommy Kinnane, Shane Kavanagh; Stan Kinnane, Liam Mullin; Seán Hawkshaw, Shane Nangle, Bernard Deay; Chris Farrelly, Josh Philips, Joey Kinnane. Subs used: Cian Madden for J Kinnane (45), Jack Cottell for T Cosgrove (53), Shane Archer for S Kinnane (53), Jack Kehoe for Kelly (58).

St Oliver Plunkett’s: Conor Lynch; John Fry, Zach Aherne, Brian Reidy; Liam Carey, Aaron Craig, Seán Kelly; Cathal Craig, Matthew Cunningham; Paddy Lynam, David Gavin, Stephen McManus; Ross Corroon, Ciarán Curley, Colm O’Leary. Subs used: Shane Ormsby for Carey (half-time), Nathan Cornally for Cunningham (33), Thomas Meehan for McManus (43), Tomass Turks for C Craig (48), Andrew Cunningham for Curley (50).

Referee: Kevin Brady (Louth).

Examiner's Eye on game

Man of the match

Liam Mullin (Naomh Mearnóg): Sadly, the names are all on the Dublin side. Liam Mullin was very strong overall so takes the nod but Josh Philips and Bernard Deay were both very strong.

Score of the match

The first Mearnóg goal from Philips was the ending of the game in all but result. The run from Deay was the making of the score as his fine pacey run drew in defenders who feared the worst before he calmly passed to Philips to finish the job.

Where next?

Naomh Mearnóg head to the semi-final while St Oliver Plunkett’s bow out after a positive season, overall.