Adamstown strike late on
Ballyhogue pipped by point
A LATE flurry of scores saw Adamstown take the win over Ballyhogue in this tightly-contested Amber Springs/Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship Group B game in Killurin on Sunday.
After trailing for virtually the whole game, the New Ross District side were given a great boost when substitute Harry Cosgrave goaled with three minutes remaining.
The goal gave them a real sense of vigour and they added two points in stoppage time to steal the win from a dejected Ballyhogue side.
The eventual winners actually started off just as they finished with two quick points in the opening minutes, with Ballyhogue looking a little lethargic before they took the lead on the ten-minute mark thanks to a goal by Seán Rochford.
It was point-for-point for the remainder of what was a rather drab first-half, with the opposing free-takers, Noel Roche and Colum Feeney, doing most of the damage for their sides, leaving only the goal between them at the break.
Ballyhogue increased their lead to five early in the new half thanks to two excellently-executed frees from Roche, but that was reduced by Michael Furlong when the defender made a dazzling run from midfield and hit the net with a cracking finish.
Roche put Ballyhogue three in front moments later, but the sides were level midway through the half after Conor Hickey was pushed to the ground inside the small square and buried the resultant penalty.
It looked like Adamstown might push on from this, but two quick points saw Ballyhogue regain their composure.
And they were given a real gift when a misplaced kick-out ended up in Eddie Galavan’s hands and the veteran attacker punished the mistake with a well-taken goal, giving his side a reasonable advantage going into the final stages.
It looked like all may have been lost for Adamstown until Harry Cosgrave goaled immediately after being introduced, and a point from Liam Stafford brought them level.
A stoppage-time free from Conor Hickey saw Adamstown take the lead for the first time in an hour, and gave them their first win of the campaign win Ballyhogue still searching for theirs.
Adamstown: Daryl Walsh; Johnny Connors, Colm Boland, Kieran Finn; Tomás Harrington, Brendan Furlong (0-1), Seán Barden (0-1); Shane O’Gorman, Tony French; Colum Feeney (0-2 frees), Paudie Barden, Lorcan French; Conor Hickey (1-3, 1-0 pen., 0-2 frees), Liam Stafford (01), Michael Furlong (1-0). Subs. - P.J. Carroll for Connors (black card), Paul Delaney for Walsh, Harry Cosgrave (10) for Feeney, Peter Finn for L. French.
Ballyhogue: Myles Roche; Tomás Moriarty, Graham Parker, Colm Parnell; Enda Minogue, James Parle, Tony Ryan; Syl Byrne, Conor Byrne; Dylan Dalton (0-1), Shane Doyle (0-1), Seán Rochford (1-1); Dean Doyle, Eddie Galavan (1-0), Noel Roche (0-7 frees). Sub. - Shane Byrne for Rochford.
Referee: Damien Donovan (Volunteers).