Conway Cup Final 2009- Match Report
Conway Cup Final 2009- Match Report
May 12, 2010
Conway Cup Final 2009
Parnells 2-12
Kingdom Kerry Gaels 1-9
By Tony Tighe - Irish Post
Last Saturday at Greenford the curtain came down on the 2009 GAA season in London. A little later than expected perhaps, but Parnells won’t care one jot as they got their hands on the Conway Cup.
Playing their second game in three days – although with a much stronger panel at their disposal – the Northwick Park outfit overcame a Kingdom Kerry Gaels side who battled bravely but faded in the last quarter.
Warwickshire have also had to play a 2009 final this year, but what does that exactly mean? Have Parnells now completed a double of Tipperary Cup and Conway Cup from last year? Are they still potless for 2010? As it was technically a 2009 game, are Parnells allowed to drink from the cup? Would it have stopped them doing so regardless? Probably not.
Two goals inside five second-half minutes swung this game for Parnells. Richard Dempsey shook off the leg injury sustained midweek to race in from the right wing and exquisitely lob KKG ‘keeper Shaun Howard, and although Kingdom stalwart John ‘Jacko’ Murphy responded with a well-taken goal of his own minutes later, the win for Parnells was secured when David O’Sullivan bundled home.
This was a much more polished Parnells that the one that lost limply to St Kiernans in the Tipperary Cup, and new recruit Sean McVeigh played a big part in that. The Antrim native is a serious attacking threat, almost unstoppable when he breaks in to a gallop, and he gave the KKG defence a severe workout.
In attack the half-forward duo of Dempsey and O’Sullivan were superb, sharing an impressive tally of 2-6, while Daire O’Donovan finished with three points, which could have been more had he not blazed a goal chance over the bar.
The return of Ciaran Kelleher, Johnny Niblock and captain Enda O’Connor shored up the Parnells defence, Kelleher keeping KKG target man Colm Foody relatively quiet.
For the Kingdom, goalkeeper Howard was highly impressive and Denis McNamara battled to the finish around the middle third, while substitute Murphy top-scored with 1-2.
Laois native Murphy was forced to enter the fray inside two minutes after Michael Greaney was forced off injured, and made an immediate impact by playing McNamara in for their opening score.
And Murphy should have followed that up with a goal moments later when a sublime pass from Foody left him with just goalkeeper to beat. He took his eye off the ball at the last second though, and could only find the side netting at the midway point of the half with Foody again the architect.
By that stage KKG remained in contention, trailing by the minimum which was commendable given the strong breeze in Parnells’ favour. But they then went 14 minutes without a score as the game camped in their own half, during which Parnells opened up a five-point gap.
A late Foody free left KKG trailing 0-8 to 0-4 at the interval and the full-forward added another early in the second half, playing a quick one-two with McNamara from a ’45 and clipping over.
Parnells kept their composure, with Dempsey and O’Sullivan both pointing, and on 42 minutes the former struck for the first goal of the day to daylight between the sides.
But back came KKG, and after latching onto a breaking ball Paul Kielt fed Murphy, who slotted past Evan Byrne, and when centre-back Kevin Waldron pointed there was just one score separating the sides.
McVeigh was being forced to play much deeper at this stage as KKG sensed an upset, but they were undone in unfortunate circumstances when roaming wing-back Donald Connor saw his point attempt come off the post and into the arms of O’Donovan.
The full-forward looked destined to score only for Howard to pull off a breathtaking point-blank save. The goalkeeper’s luck was out though, the rebound falling to O’Sullivan who found the net via Howard and post. Game, set, match.
KKG did battle back with a couple of late scores but Parnells were now playing with a swagger, and they cruised home with six points to spare.
Parnells: E Byrne; E O’Connor, C Kelleher, K Culhane; E Crowley, J Niblock, D Connor; S McVeigh (0-1), D Donnelly; E Fallon, D O’Sullivan (1-4, 1f), R Dempsey (1-2, 1f); E Flaherty (0-1), D O’Donovan (0-3), A Murray (0-1).
Kingdom Kerry Gaels: S Howard; A Shanaghy, M Shanahan, M Cooke; I Buckley, K Waldron (0-1), A Murphy; D McNamara, A Daly (0-2); A Kenny, A Casey (0-1), D Downey; P Kielt, C Foody (0-3, 2f), M Greaney.
Sub: J Murphy (1-2) for Greaney (2mins).
Réiteoir: M Maher
Parnells 2-12
Kingdom Kerry Gaels 1-9
By Tony Tighe - Irish Post
Last Saturday at Greenford the curtain came down on the 2009 GAA season in London. A little later than expected perhaps, but Parnells won’t care one jot as they got their hands on the Conway Cup.
Playing their second game in three days – although with a much stronger panel at their disposal – the Northwick Park outfit overcame a Kingdom Kerry Gaels side who battled bravely but faded in the last quarter.
Warwickshire have also had to play a 2009 final this year, but what does that exactly mean? Have Parnells now completed a double of Tipperary Cup and Conway Cup from last year? Are they still potless for 2010? As it was technically a 2009 game, are Parnells allowed to drink from the cup? Would it have stopped them doing so regardless? Probably not.
Two goals inside five second-half minutes swung this game for Parnells. Richard Dempsey shook off the leg injury sustained midweek to race in from the right wing and exquisitely lob KKG ‘keeper Shaun Howard, and although Kingdom stalwart John ‘Jacko’ Murphy responded with a well-taken goal of his own minutes later, the win for Parnells was secured when David O’Sullivan bundled home.
This was a much more polished Parnells that the one that lost limply to St Kiernans in the Tipperary Cup, and new recruit Sean McVeigh played a big part in that. The Antrim native is a serious attacking threat, almost unstoppable when he breaks in to a gallop, and he gave the KKG defence a severe workout.
In attack the half-forward duo of Dempsey and O’Sullivan were superb, sharing an impressive tally of 2-6, while Daire O’Donovan finished with three points, which could have been more had he not blazed a goal chance over the bar.
The return of Ciaran Kelleher, Johnny Niblock and captain Enda O’Connor shored up the Parnells defence, Kelleher keeping KKG target man Colm Foody relatively quiet.
For the Kingdom, goalkeeper Howard was highly impressive and Denis McNamara battled to the finish around the middle third, while substitute Murphy top-scored with 1-2.
Laois native Murphy was forced to enter the fray inside two minutes after Michael Greaney was forced off injured, and made an immediate impact by playing McNamara in for their opening score.
And Murphy should have followed that up with a goal moments later when a sublime pass from Foody left him with just goalkeeper to beat. He took his eye off the ball at the last second though, and could only find the side netting at the midway point of the half with Foody again the architect.
By that stage KKG remained in contention, trailing by the minimum which was commendable given the strong breeze in Parnells’ favour. But they then went 14 minutes without a score as the game camped in their own half, during which Parnells opened up a five-point gap.
A late Foody free left KKG trailing 0-8 to 0-4 at the interval and the full-forward added another early in the second half, playing a quick one-two with McNamara from a ’45 and clipping over.
Parnells kept their composure, with Dempsey and O’Sullivan both pointing, and on 42 minutes the former struck for the first goal of the day to daylight between the sides.
But back came KKG, and after latching onto a breaking ball Paul Kielt fed Murphy, who slotted past Evan Byrne, and when centre-back Kevin Waldron pointed there was just one score separating the sides.
McVeigh was being forced to play much deeper at this stage as KKG sensed an upset, but they were undone in unfortunate circumstances when roaming wing-back Donald Connor saw his point attempt come off the post and into the arms of O’Donovan.
The full-forward looked destined to score only for Howard to pull off a breathtaking point-blank save. The goalkeeper’s luck was out though, the rebound falling to O’Sullivan who found the net via Howard and post. Game, set, match.
KKG did battle back with a couple of late scores but Parnells were now playing with a swagger, and they cruised home with six points to spare.
Parnells: E Byrne; E O’Connor, C Kelleher, K Culhane; E Crowley, J Niblock, D Connor; S McVeigh (0-1), D Donnelly; E Fallon, D O’Sullivan (1-4, 1f), R Dempsey (1-2, 1f); E Flaherty (0-1), D O’Donovan (0-3), A Murray (0-1).
Kingdom Kerry Gaels: S Howard; A Shanaghy, M Shanahan, M Cooke; I Buckley, K Waldron (0-1), A Murphy; D McNamara, A Daly (0-2); A Kenny, A Casey (0-1), D Downey; P Kielt, C Foody (0-3, 2f), M Greaney.
Sub: J Murphy (1-2) for Greaney (2mins).
Réiteoir: M Maher