Masterful McEnery keeps Nick’s in top flight

Kieran McEnery was the St Nick’s hero in this senior football relegation play-off at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday night.

Goalkeeper McEnery saved a first half penalty, made a number of superb stops throughout and then converted two frees late in the second half to maintain their top flight status.

The winners dominated for long periods but wasted numerous chances and were hanging on in the closing minutes as Piarsaigh mounted a late scoring charge.

With the Brosnan brothers, Dean and David, prominent, Nick’s stormed into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead, which should have been far great but for poor finishing.

Na Piarsaigh got a great chance to get back in the game when they won a penalty for a leg block, but McEnery saved superbly from John Gardiner.

The switch of Sean Óg Ó hAilpín to midfield helped Na Piarsaigh control the tie for the remainder of the first half and a succession of points left Nick’s hanging on to a 0-5 to 0-4 interval lead.

Na Piarsaigh threw down the gauntlet to their northside rivals early in the second-half with two points in a row, John Gardiner’s score a magnificent effort from the touchline.

However, Nick’s weathered the storm and regained the initiative when Barry O’Donovan netted after Alan Brady lost possession.

The goal gave Nick’s a 1-7 to 0-6 lead and McEnery brought off a point-blank save from Stephen Glasgow before going up to score two long range frees, they were never going to be caught.

But Piarsaigh didn’t go down without a fight and in the closing minutes they forced Nick’s to live on their nerves as they scored five points in-a-row before time ran out on them.

Forth-six years after they defeated St, Vincent’s in the 1966 intermediate county final to gain senior status, Na Piarsaigh now drop down to that grade again. And itt won’t be easy to get back.

Scorers for St. Nick’s: B. O’Donovan 1-3 (0-1 free); David Brosnan, K. McEnery (1 45, 1free) 0-2 each; Dean Brosnan, G. Callanan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Na Piarsaigh: S. Glasgow (0-1 free), J. Gardiner, A. Keating 0-2 each; C. O’Mahony, C. Joyce, P. Gould, G. Joyce 0-1 each.

ST. NICHOLAS: K. McEnery; A. Dunlea, D. Óg O’Donovan, C. Spain; S. Kennefick, T. Spain, D. Cunningham; P. O’Brien, R. Brosnan; G. Callanan, N. Horgan, Dean Brosnan; B. O’Donovan, David Brosnan, A. O’Brien.

Subs: D. Kearney for Horgan (40); D. Goggin for P. O’Brien (55); M. Dooley for A. O’Brien (60).

NA PIARSAIGH: D. Power; A. Brady, M. Prendergast, C. Hourigan; D. Mannix, S. Óg Ó hAilpín, J. McDonnell; P. O’Rourke, C. Joyce; S. Glasgow, P. Gould, C. O’Mahony; K. Buckley, J. Gardiner, A. Keating.

Subs: P. Joyce for J. McDonnell (40); A. Hogan for C. O’Mahony (55).

Referee: M. Collins (Clonakilty).