Kinvara 1-11 Pearses 0-12: Like the recent Senior League game also played at Carnmore, the wind played a big part in the result of this game on Saturday last. Pearses dominated the opening half with the strong wind at their backs, Kinvara controlled the second.
Pearses lead by 0-3 to 0-0 after eight minutes, with Paul Moore leading the attack from centre-forward. He hit two of the scores and County Minor panelist, Brian Sweeney, the other. Kinvara’s Conor Whelan got the seasiders off the mark with a point from play. Pearses landed the next four points (Sweeney 3 and Gary Lally) to lead by 0-7 to 0-1.
Kinvara broke the Pearses purple patch with a point. Lee Murphy and Sweeney took Pearses’ total to 0-9. Whelan then intervened, with a quick-fire 1-1, the goal assist from busy midfielder Ronan Kilkelly. Brian Sweeney won a 21-yard free for Pearses. He was rattled in the process and centre-back Ronan Bellew filled in on free-taking duties. Half-time: Pearses 0-10 Kinvara 1-3.
Pearses lost injured full-back Brendan Egan for the second half. A reshuffle robbed the attack of Paul Moore who had been influential in the first half. He was redeployed to centre-back, with Ronan Bellew dropping back to the edge of the square to marshal Kinvara’s Whelan. Darragh Skehill made a return after a long injury layoff.
Kinvara hit the first two points of the second half, before Brian Sweeney retired with an injury picked up just before half-time. Substitute Keith Connell took the Pearses tally to 0-11 after eight minutes. Kinvara had the next four points, to go in front for the first time on the three-quarter mark.
Connell levelled the game, with another free, but Kinvara went back in front from a free. Paul Moore and Gary Lally lead the charge to try and retake control. Connell and Darragh Skehill had scoring chances, but Conor Whelan put Kinvara two up.
Pearses tried hard to create a goal chance in the frantic final minutes. Ronan Bellew ventured forward to aid the cause and was fouled, resulting in a second yellow for the Kinvara man. Connell lofted the resulting free towards the square, but it drifted wide and Ref Miley Holland blew the final whistlle.
Best for Pearses were Ronan Bellew, Paul Moore, Gary Lally and Brian Sweeney before going off. Conor Whelan wasandamp;nbsp; the match-winner for Kinvara with 1-3. Kinvara now advance to Round 2, while Pearsesandamp;nbsp; take on Liam Mellows in a knockout qualifier.
Pearses: F Healy; P Lally, B Egan, T Broderick; R Skehill, R Bellew (0-1f), A Naughton; J Lally, B Sweeney (0-5, 3f); R Lally, P Moore (0-2), D Kelly; L Murphy (0-1), G Hennelly, G Lally (0-1). Subs used: D Skehill, J Jenkins, K Connell (0-2f), S Skehill.