Lawlor goals vital for Ferns
Réalt never fully recovered from two first-half strikes
A PAIR of first-half James Lawlor goals proved too much for Réalt na Mara to overcome in the Martin Cullen Cup final at St. Patrick’s Park on Sunday.
The Ferns forward was in exceptional early season form, twice linking up with Eoin Murphy to give his side a timely boost ahead of the start of the Wexford People Minor football championship this week.
Part of the beauty of the 13-a-side format is the open spaces created by having four less players on the field. However, Réalt na Mara didn’t need that space inside to open the scoring with a long-range Brendan Corcoran goal in the first minute.
They almost added a second when Killian Doyle drilled narrowly wide as the Ballygarrett boys started the game on the front foot. Still, they would only add a late Corcoran point after Ferns slowly took control of the first-half.
It started with Lawlor’s first goal, a drilled low finish after superb play in the build-up by Niall and Eoin Murphy in the eleventh minute. A string of five points followed with Brian O’Neill adding the pick of them with a sensational effort with the outside of the right boot.
The second Ferns goal arrived in the 21st minute and was the product of more clever Eoin Murphy play. Lawlor smashed home the major high past Tom Hobbs to make it 2-5 to 1-0.
Eventually taking a ten-point interval lead (2-8 to 1-1), Ferns still maintained a double digit advantage midway through the second period.
They had a chance to put the game to bed when Eoin Murphy had an opening for a third St. Aidan’s goal but Tom Hobbs made a solid stop.
For the final ten minutes Réalt na Mara really pressed. With Corcoran, James Fleming and Jordan Redmond on target, the gap narrowed to seven with three minutes to go.
However, there was to be no dramatic comeback. The match ended with more red cards than points in the time remaining. Ferns finished with eleven men but they held on to take the Martin Cullen Cup.
Ferns St. Aidan’s: Evan Murphy; Steve Warren, Rory Scallan; Conor Scallan, Patrick O’Hagan, William Bolger; Niall Murphy (0-1), Rob Murphy; Adrian Breen (0-4, 3 frees), Eoin Murphy (capt., 0-4 frees), Michael O’Brien; Bryan O’Neill (0-1), James Lawlor (2-2). Subs. - Shane Stafford for R. Scallan, inj. (32), also Barry Murphy, Byron Jordan, Patrick O’Toole.
Réalt na Mara: Tom Hobbs; Brian Lee, Billy Dunne; Jordan Goff, Liam Molloy, Gearóid Redmond; Conor O’Toole (capt., 0-1 free), Adam Fleming; James Fleming (0-2 frees), Jack O’Mahoney, Killian Doyle; Brendan Corcoran (1-3, 0-1 frees), Seán Newens. Subs. - Jordan Redmond (0-2 frees) for O’Mahoney (10), Kieran Dunne for Lee (21), Conor Doyle for Molloy (22), Molloy for C. Doyle, black card (25), Joe Burke for Newens (26), O’Mahoney for O’Toole (29), O’Toole for K. Doyle (34), Newens for O’Mahoney (46), also Johnny Sinnott, Tom Higgins, John Higgins, Dillon Fleming, Seán Weafer, Aaron Earle, Aaron Hall.
Referee: Brendan Martin (Ballyhogue).