Early Lawless goal puts Caherlistrane on the right road

Caherlistrane 1-12

Barna 1-8

ONE year ago, missed chances caught Caherlistrane out in their championship opener against St. James’ and they nearly did the same in their second encounter with Annaghdown. But the shoe was on the other foot last Sunday as they secured an opening day victory.

Barna will look to 12 wides (eight in the second period) as to why they lost the game, a result which puts them under immediate pressure to keep their county title hopes alive.

In fairness, both teams had glorious chances spurned in an entertaining encounter that started with two early goals and the biggest surprise among supporters was that both teams only managed one major each.

The game was exactly 31 seconds old when the first green flag was raised as Caherlistrane made a statement of intent. Last year’s quarter-finalists sent Martin Burke on the attack. The wing forward delivered the ball towards the square where Stephen Lawless managed to get control and kick the game’s opening goal.

Caherlistrane were in the ascendancy and dominated the opening exchanges with Ronan Conneely adding a point in the second minute for a 1-1 to 0-0 scoreline. But they didn’t put the boot down, instead dropping balls into keeper James Kane’s hands and eventually were punished.

Barna had missed a couple of chances as they struggled to break their duck but when they did, they showed what they are capable of. Ray Conneely’s pinpoint delivery was missed by Sean Kyne and Andy Devereux was put through on eight minutes before burying to the net.

On 13 minutes, Tom Curran registered his first free to level as the middle 10 minutes of the half belonged to the west Galway men.  Declan Walsh strode up the field on the quarter hour to give Bert Curran’s side the lead before Curran and Brian Conneely made it 1-4 to 1-1 in Barna’s favour on 21 minutes.

Caherlistrane had faded and went 20 minutes without a score, and it took former county player Cormac Bane with a sublime kick from the right to end their drought. But Barna were forcing an advantage and added two more points through Devereux and Curran to take a 1-6 to 1-2 lead.

Full report in this week’s Connacht Tribune.