Pádraig Pearses send out statement of intent in senior football championship

Pádraig Pearses reminded everyone why they remain the team in pole position to possibly dethrone reigning champions, St. Brigid’s, with an emphatic 3-15 to 2-12 victory against Boyle in the second round of the Hodson Bay Group Senior Football Championship in Strokestown on Friday evening.

There may have been six points between the teams at the finish, but the gap between the sides in terms of quality was much bigger as Boyle, who had been flying high under Fergal O’Donnell, were taught a valuable lesson about life in the fast lane.

Niall Murray’s team were outstanding in the opening 30 minutes.

Cian McKeon grabbed the game’s first score, but that’s as good as it got for the O’Rourke Cup champions.

A couple of two-pointers from Ronan Daly and Tom Butler got Pearses motoring, and they never looked back.

Donie Smith’s penalty, after Pearses goalkeeper Paul Whelan had fouled Luke McGrath, hinted at Boyle staying in the hunt.

But a brilliantly-taken goal by Jack Nevin handed the winners a 1-7 to 1-1 lead, and further goals by Thomas Carey and Jack Tumulty gave last year’s beaten finalists a 3-11 to 1-6 interval advantage against a Boyle team reduced to 14 players after Michael Hanmore picked up a second yellow card.

Pearses, despite losing Lorcan Daly to a second yellow card late on, were always in control in the second half, and even though Jack Moran grabbed an injury-time goal for Boyle, there was no disguising the gulf in class between the two teams.

There were also two games down for decision in the McNulty’s Furniture Intermediate Football Championship where there were comfortable victories for two of the competition’s big-hitters, Tulsk Lord Edwards and Éire Óg.

Tulsk were level 0-3 apiece at half time in their game against St. Barry’s in Tarmonbarry, but Liam McNeill’s side upped the ante in the second half to run out 1-18 to 0-10 winners.

The visitors came out all guns blazing at the start of the second half, kicking 0-10 in the first eight minutes of the final period.

Two-pointers from Padraig Scott, Thomas O’Rourke (free) and Evan Flynn sent the winners on their way.

Half-time substitute Cillian Campbell, Eoin O’Connell (free), Cian Quinn (free) and Eoghan Diffley kicked scores for Barry’s to reel in the deficit, but Dylan Gaughan sealed Tulsk’s victory with a goal to get his side back on track after their opening round defeat against St. Dominic’s.

Meanwhile, Éire Óg proved that rumours about their possible demise were greatly exaggerated as last year’s beaten finalists returned to form with an impressive 1-21 to 1-9 victory against a depleted St. Croan’s outfit in Ballinlough.

Following their off-colour display against Fuerty in the opening round, Brendan Greene’s side responded emphatically to that ten-point reversal with an excellent opening half performance where they effectively put the game to bed.

A 0-16 to 0-6 interval lead included five two-pointers, with three from Conor Cox, and one each from Brian Greene and Jason Doory.

Greene’s second-half goal sealed the deal, and even though Rory Kelly grabbed a consolation goal for Croan’s, Éire Óg’s graph was back on an upward trajectory.

*Reports from all three of Friday evening's games in Tuesday's Roscommon Herald.