AFL Div 2 - Naomh Olaf v St Patrick’s Palmerstown

Pairc Ui Bhriain, Sunday 13 December 2009

A large group of loyal Naomh Olaf supporters gathered to watch this vital senior football game which both Naomh Olaf and St Pats had to win to secure Senior Football status for 2010.

The scoring was opened by a nice early point from play by Eoin Kinsella. However despite playing good football for the rest of the half the Olafs forwards were guilty of awful misses in front of goal with their only reward being a point from a close in free by Eoin Kinsella. Olafs finished the half behind by 0.4 to 0.2

The second half began with a point from Cormac Lucey for Olaf’s and both teams were struggling to put scores on the board. St Pats replied quickly with a point but with Olafs still behind by 3 points to 5, Eoin Kinsella ran on to a pass from Bernard Gaughran and scored a great goal to put Olafs ahead by a point. Pats again stormed back with 2 good points from play. Two Olafs frees, one from Eoin Kinsella and a monster from Cormack Lucey tied the game at 1.5 to 0.8 With the game now in the last few minutes and the tension growing , Shane Whyte delivered a good ball into the square which was broken by Eric Horgan, fell to Eoin Kinsella who finished to the net to put Olafs ahead by 3 points. Substitute David Lynch scored the insurance point to leave Olafs winning by 2.6 to 0.8

Our defence was very solid all through with Ronan Miley Robbie Byrne and Seamas Kinsella in outstanding form. Kevin Birrane, captain, made a huge contribution at midfield. Roving corner forward Shane Whyte had probably his best game of the season. Best of a hard working forward line were Cormack Lucey and in particular Eoin Kinsella

The senior football squad and management team can now enjoy a well deserved rest over the festive season. Well done to all!

The team was S Stapleton, D Egan, R Byrne, S Kinsella, B Gaughran, R Miley, A Murphy, C Sobolewski, K Birrane (C), C Lucey, B Begley, D Maxwell, S Whyte, E Christian and E Kinsella.

Scorers E Kinsella 2 3, C Lucey 0 2 D Lynch 0 1

Substitutions

D Lynch for B Begley, G Wilkins for C Sobolewski, E Horgan for E Christian, N Mc Caffrey for S Whyte(inj.)