The Nire started their defence of the Conway Cup with a 1-13 to 0-5 victory over Stradbally at Fraher Field on Saturday night.
Shane O'Meara found the net in the first half for Michael Ryan's men while Sean Walsh starred at midfield with four points from play. Aaron Ryan knocked over three from play.
Daniel Weldon opened the scoring for Stradbally after 80 seconds. Shane Aherne then sent a 45 and a free left and wide.
Aaron Ryan and Sean Walsh snuck The Nire in front. On 12 minutes, Walsh, Conor Gleeson and Dylan Guiry combined to set up Shane O'Meara for a superb team goal. Ryan and O'Meara added points to increase the gap to six by the end of the first quarter.
Mikey O'Brien struck Stradbally's second point after 19 minutes. Shane O'Meara, Dermot Ryan, Tom Barron and Tholom Guiry split the posts into the road goal to give The Nire a 1-8 to 0-2 half time advantage. Six different players got on the scoresheet. To make matters worse for Stradbally, corner forward Eoin O'Brien limped off after 26 minutes.
Sean Walsh added three second half points as he glided through the Stradbally defence. The Reds won a penalty on 38 minutes when Mikey Mullaney was brought down. Robert Aherne dragged his spot kick right and wide however. Michael Walsh struck the post with eight minutes left before substitute Rory Fennell shot wide.
Scorers for The Nire: Shane O'Meara 1-3 (2fs), Sean Walsh 0-4, Aaron Ryan 0-3, Tom Barron, Dermot Ryan, Tholom Guiry 0-1 each.
Scorers for Stradbally: Daniel Weldon, Mikey O'Brien, Robert Aherne, Michael Walsh, Pa Skehan 0-1 each.
The Nire: Stephen Ryan; Sean Boyce, David Meehan, Jake Mulcahy; Dermot Ryan, James McGrath, Tom Barron; Sean Walsh, Tholom Guiry; Dylan Guiry, Conor Gleeson, Fionn Hallinan; Aaron Ryan, Shane O'Meara, Kyle Cuddy.
Sub: Ciaran Walsh for Aaron Ryan (50).
Stradbally: Eoin Cunningham; Joseph Fenlon, Barry O'Brien, Paul Connors; Mikey Mullaney, Liam Fennell, Jack Mullaney; Shane Aherne, Robert Aherne; Daniel Weldon, Mikey O'Brien, Daniel Fenlon; Paul Tobin, Michael Walsh, Eoin O'Brien.
Subs: Rory Fennell for Eoin O'Brien (26), Nicky Power for Daniel Fenlon (HT), Pa Skehan for Mikey O'Brien (47), Tommy Fennell for Tobin (50), Donnacha Dunphy for Connors (62).
Referee: Anthony Fitzgerald
