Goals secure final place

R’GAROGUE-C’TOWN 4-6 ST. MARY’S (M’TOWN) 0-6

THREE SECOND-HALF goals fired Rathgarogue-Cushinstown to the Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior ‘B’ football championship decider, as they saw off St. Mary’s (Maudlintown) with a dominant display in this semi-final in Oylegate on Sunday.

There was a dreary opening to this affair as both sides failed to create scoring opportunities, with many of the movements from both teams breaking down at vital stages due to over-playing the ball or having passes go astray.

The eventual winners did look that little bit sharper however, and they finally opened the scoring midway through the half when Eoin Burke’s looping effort fell just in under the crossbar and hit the net.

This seemed to settle the New Ross District side as they added two points moments later thanks to Brendan Fitzpatrick.

St. Mary’s were clearly struggling but they continued to work hard and were rewarded when Roy Doyle hit their first score nine minutes before the break.

They finished the half strongly, with Conor Keeling hitting two well-taken points before Barry Harpur’s minor was sandwiched by efforts from Fitzpatrick and Jimmy Whelan, leaving that goal between the sides at half-time.

The second period sparked to life with a quick exchange of scores between James Murray and Liam O’Shea, but Rathgarogue-Cushinstown delivered another heavy blow when Ian Kennedy finished to the net from close range after O’Shea’s original effort came out off the crossbar.

The Wexford town side were up against it but any hopes they had were dashed midway through the half when James Bolger put Neil Merrigan through and the onrushing wing-back hit the net to make it a nine-point game.

The icing on the cake was added when Colin Whelan added a fourth goal near the end, setting Rathgarogue-Cushinstown up for a final date with Craanford.

Rathgarogue-Cushinstown: Fionn Slattery; Colm Murphy, Francis O’Brien, John O’Keeffe; Chris Kent, Pádraig McGrath, Neil Merrigan (1-0); Ian Kennedy (1-0), Mark Carroll; Eoin Burke (1-0), Jimmy Whelan (0-1), Patrick Barron; Brendan Fitzpatrick (0-3, 1 free), James Bolger, Liam O’Shea (0-2). Subs. - Colin Whelan (1-0) for Barron (41), Shane Whelan for Bolger (49), Jack Murphy for J. Whelan (50), David Thorpe for Burke (57), Paul Murphy for Kennedy (58).

St. Mary’s (Maudlintown): John Keating; P.J. Fanning, Mark Healy, Harry Kavanagh; Tre Long, Emmet Keeling, Cian Whelan; Paul O’Connor, Chris Kehoe; Barry Harpur (0-2, 1 free), James Murray (0-1), Tony Duggan; David Murphy, Conor Keeling (0-2), Roy Doyle (0-1). Sub. - James Flood for Kehoe (45).

Referee: Stephen Burke (Volunteers).