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Emmetts lack firepower to defend Championship  Robert
Emmetts 0-4 - Tommie Larkins 0-14
All-Ireland IHC
Robert Emmetts’ hopes of retaining their All-Ireland Intermediate
crown were emphatically ended by a clinical Tommie Larkins side last Saturday
in Oxhey Park.
The London champions failed to register a single score from open play
but were still in contention early in the second-half. However, the Galway
side then upped a gear firing an unanswered 0-7 to cruise to a comprehensive
victory.
Centre-forward Eamonn Hayes was in fine form for the visitors scoring
an impressive six points and was central to all his side’s attacking
plays while Kevin McMullan was the sole scorer for Emmetts.
The game — moved to the Watford venue due to Ruislip being waterlogged
— was played in atrocious conditions with the swirling winds and
continuous rain proving difficult for both sides.
Playing into the stiff breeze in the first-half it was Emmetts who opened
the scoring when McMullan tapped over a close-range free.
The full-forward’s effort was to be the Londoner’s only attack
of real note for the remainder of the half however as Larkins began to
dominate.
It took 13 minutes for the away side to register their first score of
the day. It was worth waiting for though as Paddy Moroney cracked over
a beautifully struck point from the right touchline.
Moroney’s score sparked Tommy Larkins into life and they hit four
points in the 10 minutes that followed, corner-back Paul Flynn’s
long-ranger the pick of the bunch.
Robert Emmetts were struggling to get their forwards involved in the game.
Instead of firing quick ball into their frontline they attempted to pass
their way up the field which more often than not was gleefully intercepted
by their opponents.
McMullan grabbed his second point at the end of the half but two injury-time
65s from the impressive Hayes left the defending champions trailing 0-7
to 0-2 at the interval.
Emmetts came out with Mick O’Dea’s half-time team talk ringing
in their ears and two early frees from McMullan left just a goal between
the sides.
Unfortunately for the London side those two points were to be their last
scores of the game as Larkins upped a gear and began to put severe pressure
on the Emmetts rearguard.
After missing a hatful of chances, the Tribesmen finally got their first
score of the half on 43 minutes when Hayes finished off a superb passing
move with a neat point. Alan Garvey then got in on the act with a terrific
effort from distance — the wind not proving a problem for the midfield
maestro.
Trailing by seven with just 10 minutes remaining Robert Emmetts went for
broke and threw large numbers forward but their cause was all but ended
by referee Brendan Sweeney who harshly sent-off Mark Traynor for a second
bookable offence. Larkins took full advantage and saw the game out with
three late points.
A miserable day and a miserable result for Robert Emmetts.
Robert Emmetts: Garry McCollum; Dan Murphy, Sean McLoughlin, Billy Hennerby;
Niall Healey, Fergus McMahon (capt), Adrian Dollard; Pat Jordan, Enda
Fathy; Dave O’Connor, John McCarthy, John McGaughan; Sean Quinn,
Kevin McMullan (0-4, 4f), Mark Traynor. Subs: Michael Grimes for McCarthy
(45mins); Eoin O’Connell for Murphy (54mins); Damien Kealy for Hennerby
(58mins).
Tommy Larkins: Dara Starr; Paul Flynn (0-1), Roderick Whyte, James Rohan;
Damien Kelly, Ciaran Fahy, Eugene Gorman; Alan Garvey (0-1), Gerard Kelly;
Paddy Moroney (0-2), Eamonn Hayes (1-5, 2f, 2’65), Kevin Hoban (0-2);
Declan Garvey (0-1), Niall Kelly, Mickey Fahy (0-1). Subs: Brian McCormack
for Gerard Kelly (6mins); Martin Rourke for Niall Kelly (47mins).
Referee: Brendan Sweeney (Cavan).
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