Lee’s late winner
RAPPAREES CREPT past St. Martin’s in an enthralling encounter in the semi-final of the All-County Hurling League Division 4 in Piercestown on Sunday.
The Enniscorthy side rode the wave of a terrific 90-second spell in which they overturned a fivepoint deficit to go on and score an injury time winner, courtesy of Lee Murphy.
The eventual victors dominated the opening exchanges but only managed to take a two-point lead into the interval.
Ricky Fox, Eamonn Furlong and Declan Ruth were in accurate form as they contributed seven of their side’s eleven first-half scores.
Adam Cantwell’s goal from distance, which Rapparees goalkeeper David Doyle really should have dealt with better, kept the home side within touching distance in what was an under-par first period. Braces from Seán and Ben Stafford meant the score at the break read 0-11 to 1-6.
St. Martin’s certainly came out of the traps the better team after the re-start. Conor Coleman’s powerful low strike gave them the lead and further points by Cantwell, Seán Stafford and Conor and Michael Coleman extended their lead to five (2-13 to 0-14) by the 50-minute mark.
Having scored just three times in 20 second-half minutes, it was difficult to see where a Rapps comeback might come from, but Tommy Foley’s only score of the game kick-started a vital 90 seconds for the visitors.
Lee Tracey finished high after Peter O’Sullivan broke the ball in his direction and, almost in the blink of an eye, Mick Dempsey ran through the maroon back line and finished into the bottom left corner of the net.
By the end of normal time St. Martin’s had levelled again through Seán Stafford and Darren Jordan, but Murphy held his nerve when it was needed most to clinch a vital winning point three minutes into additional time.
Rapparees: David Doyle; Declan Courtney, Eoin Quigley, Cathal Ryan; Tommy Foley (0-1), Declan Ruth (capt., 0-2, 1 free, 1 ‘65), Mark Redmond; Ronan Kirwan, Anthony Murphy; John Murphy (0-1), Ricky Fox (0-3, 2 frees), Lee Murphy (0-2); Gary Murphy (0-1), Eamonn Furlong (0-3), Aaron Ronan (0-1). Subs. Peter O’Sullivan (0-3) for A. Murphy (25), Nathan O’Connor for Redmond (39), Jim Connors for Doyle (40), Lee Tracey (1-0) for J. Murphy (44), Mick Dempsey (1-0) for G. Murphy (53).
St. Martin’s: Dylan Byrne; Johnny Hamilton, Sam Audsley, Tony Kelly; Eoin O’Leary (0-1), Ben Maddock, Michael Codd; Adam Cantwell (1-1), Michael Coleman (0-2); Ben Stafford (0-2), Philip Waters (0-1), Darren Jordan (0-1); Liam O Lionáin, Seán Stafford (capt., 0-6, 5 frees), Conor Coleman (1-2). Subs. - Adrian Ryan for Waters (31), Jack Devereux for O Lionáin.
Referee: Stephen Burke (Volunteers).