Rosslare edge past the Duffry
Rossiter gets winning point
ST. MARY’S (R’LARE) 2-15 DUFFRY ROVERS 2-14
ST. MARY’S (Rosslare) sprung a mild surprise in knocking prematch favourites Duffry Rovers out of the Amber Springs/Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football title chase with a narrow 2-15 to 2-14 victory in Sunday’s high-scoring quarter-final in Bellefield.
Most of the seasiders’ groundwork was done in a near perfect display of shooting in the first-half, as their inter-changeable movement up front and clever shot selection had them as much as 1-7 to 0-4 in front by the 17th minute.
While Duffry Rovers managed to shave the deficit down to a more workable two points by the interval, and kept plugging away in the second-half, St. Mary’s had just about enough credit in the bank to hold on to claim a deserved win.
Despite the excellent Robert Frayne opening the scoring after only 19 seconds, St. Mary’s generally led the Duffry defence on a merry dance in the first-half, scoring all manner of points on the way to establishing that useful ascendancy.
Indeed, efforts from play by Shane Sinnott (two), Paul Kinsella, Lee Devereux (two), and one each from David Murphy and Niall Walsh, supplemented Wexford footballer Tiarnan Rossiter linking up with Walsh before flashing home a brilliant goal on eight minutes.
Niall Beggan swung over a fine point from Donie Doyle’s pass after 19 minutes, and when Stephen Watchorn spotted Gavin Watchorn haring away over his shoulder, the latter’s shot crashed off the butt of the post but was turned into the Rosslare net by a helpless backtracking defender.
And three more Duffry points had them within 1-10 to 1-8 by half-time, although Cathal Clince kept their chances alive when smothering Robert Butler’s chance just before the break.
The lead twice deviated below the two-point margin in an end-toend second-half, with three scores from Stephen Watchorn (two frees) making it 1-14 to 1-13 with ten minutes remaining.
But St. Mary’s briefly opened up some breathing space again through Rees Broaders’ deflected goal at the Bellefield Road end.
However, a brilliant individual goal from Frayne restored parity at 2-14 each by the 54th minute, only for his county colleague, Naomhan Rossiter, to wisely point what proved to be the winning score one minute later.
St. Mary’s (Rosslare): Gavin Mor- ris; Shea Boggan, Emmet Byrne, Liam O’Connor; Seán Finan, Gearóid Byrne (capt.), Niall Walsh (0-1); Tiarnan Rossiter (1-0), Robert Butler; Shane Sinnott (0-3), Paul Kinsella (0-1), Andrew Murphy; Rees Broaders (10), David Murphy (0-6, 5 frees), Lee Devereux (0-3). Subs. - Cian Boggan for O’Connor, black card (3), Larry Morrissey for G. Byrne, black card (40), Naomhan Rossiter (0-1) for A. Murphy (49).
Duffry Rovers: Cathal Clince; Liam Pender, Conor Jordan, Thomas Dunne; John Dunne, Craig Casey, Donie Doyle; John McCarthy, Aidan Byrne (capt., 0-1); Gavin Watchorn (1-2), Robert Frayne (1-2), Stephen Watchorn (0-4, 2 frees); Niall Beggan (0-2, 1 free), Johnny Flynn-O’Connor (0-2, 1 free), Cian Fitzhenry (0-1). Subs. - Donie O’Connor for Beggan (35), Eamonn Doyle for J. Dunne (40), Glenn Rafter for S. Watchorn (52).
Referee: Shane Quinn (Réalt na Mara).