Buttevant thrash Na Piarsaigh with Mark Lenahan the hat-trick hero
EE 24/09/2023 SPORT - Na Piarsaigh's Danny Maguire stumbles to the ground as he is challenged by Macroom's Alan Quinn during the Bon Secours Premier Intermediate Football Championship Relegation Play Off match in Ovens. Picture: Howard Crowdy
BUTTEVANT brushed Na Piarsaigh aside with ease in the McCarthy Insurance Division 5 FL with a dominant display in the north side of the city on Thursday evening, taking them to three wins from three.
The travelling outfit controlled the midfield with ease, and with a high press and quick passing approach, Na Piarsaigh were overpowered.
The northsiders came into this one after securing their first football league win since June 2022 – an important 3-10 to 0-13 win over Glenville on Tuesday.
They started well again this evening, and managed a goal in the 16th minute to reduce their deficit to three, but Buttevant’s response in the second quarter was unrelenting. The Avondhu side kicked 1-6 without reply, and led 1-14 to 1-3 at the break.
An excellent pair of goals in the second half from Mark Lenahan saw the full forward complete his hat-trick, while midfielder Michael O’Neill also excelled in front of the posts, managing five scores from play.
The pair were withdrawn in the 50th minute as Buttevant made all nine changes, and Piarsaigh did manage two scores in the closing 10 minutes, albeit only a consolation.
A quick score from Kieran Waters gave the northsiders the lead from the whistle, but within two minutes Buttevant had taken the lead, which they held for the remainder of the game.
They managed some excellent scores, one of those a quick one-two between Mark Lenahan and Paddy Behan, with the former kicking a superb point.
Na Piarsaigh’s star man was Kevin O’Meara – who scored four from play at wing back, including one to get Piarsaigh back within one point after seven minutes.
The Avondhu club hit the woodwork three times in the first 15, but kicked a flurry of points to put the game to bed after 25 minutes. Buttevant eventually found a goal on the eve of the break, as Lenahan produced a deadly finish beyond Jamie Boland, who could do little more than get a touch, such was the power.
Lenahan’s second was in the 38th minute, as he palmed in one of the many long passes that Na Piarsaigh struggled to deal with all game.
Conor Hanlon set up the full forward for his third – another thunderous strike that could not be stopped.
K O’Meara 0-4 (0-1 f), D McGuire 1-1, C Clancy (f), S Downey, K Waters 0-1 each.
M Lenahan 3-6 (0-1 f), M O’Neill 0-5, C Hanlon 0-3 (0-2 f), D Hanlon 0-2 (0-1 f), P Behan, K Lenahan, A O’Neill, S Madigan 0-1 each.
J Boland; C Long, P Murphy, S Bowen; D McNally, D Spillane, K O’Meara; L Sheehan, K Waters; E Fitzgerald, C Clancy, D McGuire; S Downey, D Kelly, P Guest.
J Lynch for Kelly (39), L Murphy for McNally (43), C Higgins for P Murphy (44), S Higgins for O’Meara (54, inj).
D O’Sullivan; J O’Brien, N O’Riordan, M Walsh; B O’Riordan, S Mannigan, J Whelan; A O’Neill, M O’Neill; K Lenahan, C Hanlon, A Trimm; P Behan, M Lenahan, D Hanlon.
J O’Neill for Behan, R Fowley for B O’Riordan, K Crowley for O’Brien (all HT), Danny Ryan for K Lenahan, Donal Ryan for N O’Riordan (inj) (both 43), D Keane for A O’Neill (45), C O’Toole for M Lenahan, B O’Shaughnessy for D Hanlon (both 50), R Harrington for Trimm (54), R Fowler withdrawn (57, inj).
Canice Walsh (Nemo Rangers)
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