Clanna Gael Fontenoy edge past St Fechin's in Round 1 of the AIB Leinster JHC

CLANNA GAEL FONTENOY 1-14

ST FECHIN’S 1-13

Clanna Gael Fontenoy survived some late scares as they edged past a brave St Fechin’s by a solitary point in their AIB Leinster Junior Club Hurling Championship Round 1 encounter at a soggy O’Toole Park on Saturday afternoon. 

Having beaten St Peregrine’s in the Dublin decider, the Ringsend had to dig deep in the second-half but did just enough in the closing stages to secure their progress to the last four.  

The Ringsend outfit will have been pleased to have gone into the break trailing by 1-8 to 1-7 given the strength of the breeze with Aidan Duffy firing home a superb goal for Clanna Gael in the 28th minute.

The tense encounter continued upon the restart but with Karl Morgan landing some crucial points, the hosts did enough to prevail with goalkeeper Dean Fitzpatrick making a match-winning save in injury time. 

There was an even start to proceedings as Paddy Lynch opened the scoring for the visitors as he converted a 2nd minute free before Aonghas Keane restored parity soon after for Clanna Gael. 

St Fechin’s availed of the breeze at their back to open up a healthy lead as Ronan Hackett restored their advantage before Lynch popped over his second free in the 6th minute. 

Further points by half-backs Peter Fortune and Jamie McDonnell doubled the St Fechin’s lead by the 9th minute but with Mikey Cullina and Austin Dodd to the fore, the Dublin champions struck back thanks to Liam Ó Laoide and Sean Curzon. 

With both sides guilty of some errant shooting, the visitors regained control on the scoreboard as a Lynch double was augmented by a Danny Morgan score, leaving five points between the teams by the 23rd minute. 

However, the hosts finished the half strongly through a brace of Karl Morgan frees and a superbly-taken goal from Duffy added further momentum to their challenge. 

While St Fechin’s replied with a goal of their own through a free from goalkeeper Dan O’Neill in the 30th minute, late points by Dodd and Morgan helped trim the Clanna Gael deficit to the bare minimum by half-time. 

Seamus McCann and Hackett traded scores in the early minutes of the second-half and St Fechin’s continued to enjoy their marginal lead as Lynch and Darragh O’Gorman added to their tally in the third quarter. 

A brilliant Max Morgan point saw Clanna Gael back on level terms by the end of the third quarter and while Lynch replied with a ’65’ at the opposite end, Karl Morgan swivelled superbly at midfield to restore parity midway through the final quarter. 

Late scores from McCann and Curzon looked to have sealed the win but St Fechin’s refused to accept their fate as they lay siege in the home goal in the dying minutes. 

Ryan Walsh saw a goal bound shot deflected over the crossbar while Fitzpatrick excelled with a full-length save as Clanna Gael did just enough to get over the line by the final whistle.     

Scorers – Clanna Gael Fontenoy: K Morgan 0-6 (5f); A Duffy 1-0; S Curzon, S McCann 0-2 each; A Dodd, A Keane, L Ó Laoide, M Morgan 0-1 apiece. St Fechin’s: P Lynch 0-5 (3f, 1 ‘65’); D O’Neill 1-0 (f); R Walsh, R Hackett 0-2 each; P Fortune, J McDonnell, D O’Gorman, D Morgan 0-1 apiece. 

Clanna Gael Fontenoy: D Fitzpatrick; M Culligan, B Barron, N Madill; A Culligan, A Carroll, M Cullina; A Dodd, K Morgan; S Curzon, A Keane, L Ó Laoide; M Morgan, S McCann, A Duffy. Subs: E Carroll for Ó Laoide (47).     

St Fechin’s: D O’Neill; C Higgins, O Byrne, G Allen; S Hodgins, P Fortune, J McDonnell; C Moynagh, R McGinley; P Lynch, D Ryan, S Kerrisk; D Stone, D Morgan, R Hackett. Subs: D O’Gorman for McGinley (half-time), R Walsh for Allen (38), S Curtis for Stone (49).    

Referee: Ciarán Flynn (Meath).