Following their opening round defeat, Jenkinstown Gaels got their Coolrite U-19 Div. 3A championship back on track with what turned out be a hard fought five point win over host side Carnaross on Saturday afternoon 26th October.
This round two trip up the M3 proved a successful one as the independent side won out 0-18 to 1-10 to take the two points on offer and in turn re-ignite their hopes of progression to the knockout stages, following their opening round defeat to Na Fianna.
Jenkinstown Gaels were coasting early on, as by the time Carnaross registered their first score in the 20th minute, Jenkinstown had six points scored, four points from Liam Jennings, one for Jack Lynch after he capitalized on a Carnaross defenderโs block to send the rebound between the uprights and a point from Evan Drum after good interlink play with Barry Walsh in the build up.
The visitors would go on to add another four points before referee Martin Dawsonโs half time whistle, courtesy of Jennings (3) and Kyle OโMalley, with the home side tagging on a second point to leave Jenkinstown Gaels with a commanding 0-10 to 0-2 half time lead.
If the first half belonged to Jenkinstown Gaels, the opening twenty three minutes of the second half belonged to Carnaross as the home side endured a purple patch of their own, outscoring Jenkinstown 1-8 to 0-3 in that period.
The eight point half time deficit was reduced to five three minutes into the second half, with the home side hitting the first three points, to leave it double scores, 0-10 to 0-5.
A third free of the afternoon from Liam Jennings extended Jenkinstownโs lead to six, but that margin was cut in half sixty seconds later when Carnaross struck for the gameโs only goal with a brilliantly executed shot which left Jenkinstown โkeeper Cian Willaims with no chance, now 0-11 to 1-5 five minutes into the second half.
Jenkinstown responded to that setback immediately with Kyle OโMalley sending over his second point of the afternoon sixty seconds later. Carnaross and Liam Jennings then traded points to leave it 0-13 to 1-6 nine minutes into the second half.
Four unanswered points between the 41st and 53rd minutes for the home side drew matters level for the first and only time during the game, 1-10 to 0-13.
However, Jenkinstown werenโt to be headed, as they eventually woke up from their second half slumber to register the last five points of the game, two Liam Jennings frees and a point apiece for Tom Powderly, Leon Giblin and Max Kennedy to run out five point winners on a full time score line of 0-18 to 1-10.
Best for the winners were David Regan, Luke Gallagher, Max Kennedy, Leon Giblin, Kyle OโMalley, Tom Powderly and top scorer Liam Jennings.
Next up for Jenkinstown Gaels is a visit to Simonstown in round three on Saturday 9th November.
Cian Williams, Cillian Kelly, Colm McIvor, Charlie Benson, David Regan, Luke Gallagher, Max Kennedy (0-1), Barry Walsh, Leon Giblin (0-1), Kyle OโMalley (0-2), Liam Jennings (0-11, 6f), Jack Lynch (0-1), Evan Drum (0-1), Tom Powderly (0-1), Luke OโHalloran.
Subs used: Cillian Purcell, Sean Gerard Walsh, Oz Conboy.
