Esker Gaels 3-19 St. Michaels 1-10
Esker Gaels chalked up a second win in the division 3 championship group stage last Monday in Tang against an understrength St. Michaels. The wind assisted home side got off to a slow start before early points from William Geraghty (three) and Nathan Corcoran (two) settled them into their stride. St. Michaels interspersed these scores with two pointed frees before further points from Ben Martin, Corcoran and Geraghty followed. Adam Smyth soon placed Geraghty behind the cover to coolly finish left-footed to the net and there was now real daylight between the sides at 1-8 to 0-2.
The away side responded immediately with a goal of their own, despite Sean Elliffe keeping the initial effort out, and soon added two points to leave the gap at four points after twenty minutes. Perhaps sensing the need to build up a lead with the wind, Esker upped the ante coming into half time, notching five points through Keelan Blom, Eoghan Fallon, Smyth (a ’45), Corcoran (a free) and Geraghty again. Michaels responded with a solitary point, leaving the score at 1-13 to 1-5 at half time.
A more efficient Esker outfit pushed for home soon after the restart. Martin added a free in the first attack and this was followed by two quickfire goals. Geraghty brought his tally to 2-5 with another neat finish and Corcoran finished in style after a strong run. Both sides notched five points each over the remaining twenty minutes, with the home side getting scores through substitute Eoin Conlon (two), Corcoran, Smyth and Blom. Esker restricted Michaels to one goal chance, which Elliffe got down smartly to save. Eoin Jordan’s (who did a fine job refereeing the game) final whistle blew leaving the final scoreline at 3-19 to 1-10.
Team: Sean Elliffe, Michael Cummins, Cathal Reilly, Tristan Montgomery, Kyle McCormack, Adam Smyth (0-2, 0-1 ’45), DJ Connaughton, Daniel Taplin, Keelan Blom (Capt) (0-2), Eoghan Fallon (0-1), Ben Martin (0-2, 0-1f), William Geraghty (2-5), Nathan Corcoran (1-5, 0-1f)), Nathan Downes, Mark Seery, Eoin Conlon (0-2), Evan Maloney, Owen Blom, Gabriel Barros, Rafael Barros
Esker Gaels’ last group game will be away to Multyfarnham on Monday 28th August. Currently sitting second in the group (by virtue of their head to head record over Delvin/St. Pauls), Esker will qualify for a division 3 semi final should they hold their second place spot after the final round.
