St Thomas’ shoot lights out again in trimming of Moycullen

Moycullen 0-16

By Pádraic Ó Ciardha at Pearse Stadium

RELENTLESS. Remorseless. Restrained. One of those words is perhaps unlike the others but each of them describe the performance given by St Thomas’ in their 24-point win over Moycullen last Saturday evening. Strangely, it’s probably that final word which should give those looking to challenge them in this year’s championship the most cause for concern.

The final scoreline showcases St Thomas’ dominance clearly enough but the truth is that Cathal Daly’s side probably had another couple of levels within them had they really needed them. Their touch, vision and execution was superb and though their accuracy did dip a little in the final quarter, the contest was long over by that stage.

It would be a disservice to Moycullen to say it was like a training match but there was a sense that the St Thomas’ players were purely focused on executing their own game plan with little regard to who the opposition were. There will be tougher tests to come for the Peterswell/Kilchreest side no doub,t but their performances in the opening two rounds suggest that they’ll hope to show that the failure to complete the sevin-in-a-row last year was merely as a blip rather than a changing of the guard.

In a game where one side score 4-28, you’d expect a couple of forwards to steal the limelight and while Éanna Burke and Conor Cooney, in particular, were in excellent form, St Thomas’ dominance was built on from the back. Conor Headd, David Sherry and John Headd were all excellent in the full-back line and even when Moycullen’s Cian Folan, who ploughed a lone enough furrow, did begin to win ball in the second half, the St Thomas’ defence made sure through means both fair and foul that he never got the change to cut through and cause real damage.

Evan Duggan was another standout while David Burke and Damien McGlynn got through a power of work in midfield though Moycullen were hamstrung from the outset by the absences of Diarmuid Davoren and Colm Cunningham. Fionn McDonagh and his ability to win primary possession from the puckout was also a significant loss.

St Thomas’ own big man, Evan Brady, caused serious damage any time the sliotar went up to him and he and Victor Manso formed quite the partnership in the full-forward line. Brady assisted both of Manso’s goals while Manso returned the favour for one of Brady’s brace of majors.

Éanna Burke provided the velvet glove to fit around the iron fist, picking off some lovely scores in both halves, but it was Conor Cooney, who else, who probably typified the St Thomas’ performance. While Cooney racked up seven points from seven frees in the first half, his most eye-catching contributions from play during that opening period were a pair of neat dispossessions to rob Niall Fitzgerald and Niall Mannion around midfield.

Pictured: Moycullen's Evan Kenny attempts to block down the strike of Eanna Burke of St. Thomas' during Saturday's Senior A group match at Pearse Stadium. Photo: Sean Lydon.