Great win for gutsy Longford club Grattans away to Wexford opposition
AIB Leinster Club Junior Football Championship First Round
Young Grattans . . . 1-9 Fr O Regans Craanford (Wexford) . . . 0-7
Coached by former Dromard footballer Niall Vance, the Stonepark side laid the foundations for their eventual triumph at St Patrick’s Park with a strong first half display that left them in a comfortable 1-6 to 0-5 lead at the break with Gary Hand scoring the crucial goal.
Gutsy Grattans (minus the injured Karl Murray) consolidated their tight grip on the game on the changeover and are back on the road again this Saturday when they face the Kildare Junior champions Ellistown (situated close to Rathangan) in the quarter-final which is fixed for Manguard Park in Newbridge, throw-in 3.30pm.
Played in dry conditions, Grattans started with great intensity against the Wexford champions and got off to the perfect start with a 4th minute point from play from captain John Hand.
That set the trend early on and John would go on to play a pivotal role in this victory with 5 points. The Grattans full-forward line of Eoin Kinlan, John Hand and Gary Hand were causing havoc in the first half and contributed 1-6 between them which was a fantastic return.
Grattand went in at the break 1-6 to 0-5 in front, the goal coming from Gary Hand after a well worked move.
On the resumption of the second half, Craanford really upped their game and but for a few costly early wides the scoreline might have been closer.
But as Grattans have done all through the Longford championship this year they have ground out the result with some outstanding defensive play especially in the second half when Craanford were really piling on the pressure.
Gratans stood firm all over the pitch until the final whistle blew to rapturous applause from their brilliant travelling supporters.
Days like this don’t happen very often for a small club like Grattans but they will certainly look forward to an away trip again this Saturday when they will play Ellistown in Newbridge.
Notable outstanding performances against the Wexford champions from James Moran, Stephen Oates, Emmet Clarke, DavidTrappe (who received the Clubber man of the match award), John Hand, Gary Hand and Eoin Kinlan but overall it was a great team performance.
GRATTANS: Reuben Murray; Jack Tiernan, James Moran, Niall Nerney; David Trappe, Stephen Oates, Emmet Clarke; Beau O’Connor, David Bermingham; Rory Howlin, Harry Mulvihill (0-1), Eoin Farrell; Gary Hand (1-0), John Hand (0-5, 2f), Eoin Kinlan (0-2).
Subs used: Shane O’Brien, Tadgh Nerney (0-1, f), Willie Stokes.