Coleman hits winning haul
Martin’s ace registers 3-7
A HAUL of 3-7 from sharp-shooter Conor Coleman helped a slicker St. Martin’s to a ten-point win over Buffers Alley in the All-County Hurling League Division 5 final at Hollymount on Friday.
The contest was very much in the balance at half-time, with the Wexford District side just three points to the good (1-9 to 1-6), but a purple patch on the resumption which yielded 1-3 in a devastating five-minute spell put St. Martin’s firmly on the road to victory.
Buffers Alley drew first blood in a fast-paced contest, with Robert Donnelly gathering a long punt forward from Barry Turner and firing to the back of the net, but St. Martin’s managed to get their noses in front by the eight minute, with Ed O’Byrne, Conor Coleman (two) and Richard Devereux all knocking over points.
It was tit-for-tat until the 24th minute, with the accurate Kevin O’Leary converting four frees and Robert Donnelly splitting the posts for the Monamolin-based outfit, while Pádraig Morrissey, Conor Coleman (two) and Darren Codd replied for St. Martin’s to leave the sides deadlocked at 1-5 to 0-8.
However, the prolific Coleman put daylight between the sides when he plundered a pivotal score seconds later, gathering a pass from Ed O’Byrne and driving the ball to the back of the net.
Coleman and Kevin O’Leary then exchanged frees at the end of the first-half, and it looked all to play for with just a puck of the ball between the sides.
However, St. Martin’s put the foot on the accelerator after the teams changed ends, and an Ed O’Byrne point from the left wing within seconds of the re-start was a sign of things to come.
The industrious Ryan Murphy followed it up with good longrange point before Conor Coleman collected a hurried clearance and fired a searing shot beyond goalkeeper Darragh Kehoe.
Coleman stretched the lead to nine points with the half only five minutes old when he split the posts from a ‘65, but Buffers Alley did give themselves hope in the 39th minute when Paul ‘Roddy’ Doyle gathered a long delivery from Mattie Cardiff and kicked the ball to the back of the net.
Kevin O’Leary tapped over a free to reduce the gap to five, but Conor Coleman quickly extinguished any thoughts of a fightback when he grabbed his third goal.
When the corner-forward stood over a free 25 yards out, most expected him to tap it over the bar, but Coleman went for the jugular and blazed a rasping drive to the top left-hand corner of the net to give his side a 3-12 to 2-7 advantage.
St. Martin’s midfielder Pádraig Morrissey was sent-off with 13 minutes remaining but it did little to affect the remainder of the contest, with Ed O’Byrne (two), Richard Devereux, Conor Coleman and Darren Codd notching points for St. Martin’s and Kevin O’Leary, John O’Sullivan and Colm Og Doran replying for the vanquished Buffers Alley side.
St. Martin’s: Dylan Byrne; Tony Kelly, John Coleman, Johnny Hamilton; Mikey Coleman, Donal Kelly, Adrian Ryan; Pádraig Morrissey (0-1), Ryan Murphy (0-1); Richard Devereux (0-2), Nicky Greene, Ed O’Byrne (0-4); Conor Coleman (3-7, 1-3 frees, 0-3 ‘65s), Alan Kehoe, Darren Codd (0-2). Subs. - Philip Waters for M. Coleman, Philip Coleman for Kehoe, Martin Whelan for O’Byrne.
Buffers Alley: Darragh Kehoe; Pierce Butler, Paudie Kinsella, Gearóid O’Connor; Ewan Johnston, Mattie Cardiff, Colm Og Doran (0-1); Kevin O’Leary (0-7 frees), Barry Turner; John Furlong, Paul Doyle (1-0), Lee Murphy; Robert Donnelly (1-1), John Moran, Owen Dempsey. Subs. - Robbie Kirwan for Johnston, Paul Doran for O’Connor, John O’Sullivan (0-1) for Murphy, Tom Kavanagh for O’Leary.
Referee: Mick Lanigan (Shelmaliers).