Pearses cruised past Sylane in Round 1 of the Justin Cheevers Cup (Group 2) played in sun-drenched Ballymacward this evening. It was a one sided affair which saw a full squad effort chip in to win emphatically on a scoreline 4-13 to 1-0. Pearses had victory sewn up by half-time, the scoreboard reading 2-9 to 1-0 in their favour.
Pearses required a decent start and that they got. They had 2-5 on the scoreboard before Sylane scored their solitary score – a goal on 11mins. David Walsh 0-3; Jonah Donnellan 0-2 (0-1F) added the Pearses points. Conor Hillary accounted for the opening goal when he dispossessed the goalie to find the net while the 2 Conor’s- Hillary & Walsh linked up well for Conor Walsh to lob the keeper from distance for Pearses second goal. After Sylane burst through for their goal, Pearses kept plugging away as they steamrolled through the park adding another 0-4 before the break through Donnellan 0-2 (0-1F), Hillary & young Sean Kelly with a lovely effort from play on the stroke of half time. It could have been more in the first half only Sean Kelly found the side net in his goal attempt and Conor Walsh saw his second goal effort saved.
Pearses provided a swift start to the second half. The game was only seconds old when Darren Moran pounced with another goal, a bullet of an effort. Conor Walsh added from play after Conor Hillary scooped the ball up nicely for him. Donnellan & Walsh added further points before Darren Moran scored his second goal of the half with a ground pull past the goalie. Centre back Diarmuid Ryan had the final say with a whopper of a point from way out the field to finish emphatic winners: 4-13 to 1-0. The game as a contest petered out, thereafter. It could have been worse had Donnellan converted some missed frees, Stephen Murphy, Jack Kenny & Conor Walsh added further points from play.
In total 7 players etched their names onto the scoresheet in an overall team performance as Tommy Nutley averted any danger that came his way in goals. Young Daniel Lydon; the solid Dylan Roche, the tenacious Kyle McDonagh, the no–nonsense James Queeney & Cathal Hynes & the powerful Diarmuid Ryan dealt capably with everything that came their way. Fionn Donohue performed with his usual high work rate while reading the game and his opponent superbly. Eoghan Ryan was steady in backs in the 2nd half while Luke Mitchell & Stephen Murphy had 2nd half opportunities in the forwards. Next up in Group 2 is Salthill/ Knocknacarra in Salthill on Friday evening at 6:15pm. Let’s hope Friday evening traffic will be kind!
Scorers: Darren Moran 2-0; Jonah Donnellan 0-5 (0-2F); Conor Walsh 1-1; Conor Hillary 1-1; David Walsh 0-4; Sean Kelly 0-1; Diarmuid Ryan 0-1. Panel: Tommy Nutley, Daniel Lydon, Dylan Roche, Kyle McDonagh, Cathal Hynes, Diarmuid Ryan, James Queeney, Fionn Donohue, Jonah Donnellan, Jack Kenny, David Walsh, Darren Moran, Sean Kelly, Conor Walsh, Conor Hillary, Eoghan Ryan, Stephen Murphy, Luke Mitchell