Pearses 1-14 Kinvara 0-7

Pearses retained their Senior status after a resounding victory over Kinvara in this Final Relegation Playoff in Athenry yesterday. The result was decided in middle period of this game. In these 20 minutes Pearses outscored Kinvara by 1-9 to 0-1 to leave the South Galway men desperately chasing for the rest of the game. Kinvara will now play intermediate next year for the first time since 1977.Kinvara started well and led 0-5 to 0-3 after 20 minutes, with Robbie and Cyril Donnellan and Tomas Flannery the scorers for Pearses. Pearses then burst to life and between the 23rd and the 29th minute had added five points without reply. Jimmy Gelston, Cormac Ward, Richie Lally, Tomas Flannery and Goalie Fergal Flannery the scorers. Kinvara’s only reply was a free from their best player on the day Conor Kavanagh. The teams retired at the break with Pearses leading 0-8 to 0-6.Pearses continued their dominance into the second half and two Tomas Flannery frees extended their lead. Soon after Aidan Kilkenny blazed a great goal chance just over the bar, but a minute later Cormac Ward had the ball in the back of the net. Damien Wynne added another point to leave the score at 1-12 to 0-6 with 20 minutes remaining. Pearses were cruising home. Shane Kavanagh then pointed, for what was to be Kinvara’s only point of the second half. The Seasiders lay seige on the Pearses goal, but couldn’t make any inroads. Kinvara did have goal chances however. Damien Huban shot a great chance wide on the 25th minute and soon after Conor Kavanagh did likewise.Robbie Donnellan capped a fine performance with his second point on the 29th minute and Tomas Flannery pointed a free in injury time. Kinvara Keeper Colm Callanan was denied from a 21 yard free. Richie Lally was then red carded for a trip on Shane Kavanagh as he headed for goal, but the result was in no doubt at this stage.Pearses won this game hands down, but overall they also had the better championship, giving battling displays in all their matches and being unlucky not to been allowed the chance to have a crack at Athenry. Kinvara shipped a few heavy defeats and their only performance of note against Cashel in the first Relegation Playoff. Maintaining Senior status is a great boost for Pearses and with some of the young players coming through, we can hope for a better run of results next year.Pearses: F. Flannery (0-1f); A. Kenny, T. Kenny, P. Raftery; T. McDonagh, A. Kilkenny (0-1), K. Hardiman; D. Wynne (0-1), S. Hardiman; R. Donnellan (0-2), C. Donnellan (0-1), J. Gelston (0-1); T. Flannery (0-5f), C. Ward (1-1), R. Lally (0-1). Kinvara: C. Callanan, A. Moylan, A. Leech, P. O’Sullivan, J. Kavanagh, G. Mahon, S. Moylan, N. Curtin, S. Kavanagh (0-2), B. Carroll, C. Kavanagh (0-3f), S. Quinn, P. Keane (0-1), D. Huban, E. Linnane (0-1). Subs: C. Curtin for B. Carroll, D. Huban for C. Curtin (Inj.), N. Bermingham for P Keane, M. Kilkelly for S. Quinn.