Mary’s approach last eight with quiet confidence

ST. MARY’S (M’TN) 2-14 FERNS ST. AIDAN’S 2-8

ST. MARY’S (Maudlintown) will head into the quarter-finals with a quiet confidence after a routine win over Ferns St. Aidan’s in St. Patrick’s Park on Saturday made it four wins out of five in Group B of the Ashdown Park/Amber Springs Hotels Intermediate football championship.

Their opponents also scraped through to the last eight after amassing three points from their five games, with only scoring difference separating themselves and St. Mary’s (Rosslare).

Dermot Flood and Richie Kehoe did most of the damage for the Wexford town side, but they have a nice balance throughout the team and have a host of players capable of picking off scores.

St. Mary’s were 0-3 to 0-2 to the good when Flood grabbed the opening goal in fortuitous fashion, with his ‘45 deceiving goalkeeper Jason Maguire and ending up in the back of the net.

However, Ferns were back on level terms within five minutes, when a Paul Morris free was quickly followed by a John Breen goal.

Jonny Dwyer’s attempt at a point was held up by the strong breeze and Breen gathered possession, before calmly slotting the ball over the line.

Richie Kehoe and Pierce Dooley then notched good points either side of a Ryan Nolan free, before Kehoe had the green flag waving again.

The busy full-forward gathered a long delivery from Ross Lynch, before unleashing a powerful shot to the corner of the net.

St. Mary’s held a 2-6 to 1-5 lead at the break and they stretched the advantage to nine points by landing five on the trot after the re-start, with Donal O’Leary (two), Jason Swords, Ross Lynch and Richie Kehoe all doing the needful.

Two minutes after entering the fray Ben Cowman gave Ferns a grain of hope in the 47th minute when he bundled the ball over the line to get them back within six (2-11 to 2-5).

However, that six-point gap remained at the final whistle, with Willie Lambert, Dermot Flood and Jason Swords splitting the posts for St. Mary’s and Paul Morris, Peter Nolan and Patrick Breen replying for Ferns.

St. Mary’s will now play Taghmon-Camross.

St. Mary’s: Paul Dempsey; Alan Lynch, Roy Doyle, Mark Doyle; Gavin Cullen (0-1), Alex Lynch, Gary Murphy; Graham Carty, Donal O’Leary (0-2); Ross Lynch (0-1), Martin O’Connor, Jason Swords (0-2); Dermot Flood (1-4, 1-0 ‘45), Richie Kehoe (1-2), Pierce Dooley (0-1). Subs. - Willie Lambert (0-1) for Dooley, Eddie Pitman for Cullen.

Ferns St. Aidan’s: Ivan Meegan; Niall Maguire, Pádraig Bolger, Brian O’Neill; Peter Nolan (0-1), Declan Byrne, Keith Breen; John Breen (10), Colm Whelan; Jonathan Dwyer, Tommy Dwyer, Aaron Collier; Patrick Breen (0-1), Paul Morris (0-3, 2 frees), Ryan Nolan (0-3 frees). Subs. - Ciarán Roberts for O’Neill, Ben Cowman (10) for J. Dwyer.

Referee: John Tobin (Geraldine O’Hanrahans).