Two injury-time goals power Crossabeg-Ballymurn to title
CROSSABEG-BALLYMURN 3-9 ST. JOSEPH’S 3-6
WILLIAM MURPHY and Jack Purcell netted injury-time goals to fire Crossabeg-Ballymurn past a gutsy St. Joseph’s side to New Ross Standard Under-13 football Division 3 shield glory in St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy.
The boys in green and white had battered the opposition goal for most of the final quarter, but an incredible defensive effort from the Bishopswater club somehow kept their opponents at bay right into additional time.
However, their resistance was shattered when Murphy pinged the net after a sensational team build-up that involved David McCarthy, Purcell and Niall Cullen.
Then, with their opponents shattered, Purcell caught a long Ross Walker ball in and dispatched past Corey O’Rourke to wrap up the win.
St. Joseph’s were probably the better side in the first-half. With Shane Curran repelling the Crossabeg-Ballymurn advances, Ryan Gavin giving an exhibition of aerial play, and Kaylem Harnett weaving his way through to create scores, they went in at the interval ahead.
A Liam Dempsey major and a fisted Adam O’Leary goal had given them a 2-0 to 0-1 lead.
Walker’s goal, plus scores by Rory Davis, Matthew Bishop, McCarthy and Conor O’Brien, drew Crossabeg-Ballymurn level, but Harnett’s late point ensured St. Joseph’s led by 2-3 to 1-5 at half-time.
The Wexford town boys looked to be making a break for it when Dempsey caught Aaron Doyle’s ball in and dispatched past Cillian O’Toole, but they came under intense pressure as David McCarthy chipped away to get his side within one (3-4 to 1-9).
Harnett looked to have settled St. Joseph’s down with his converted free in the first minute of added time, but there was still a huge twist to come as Murphy and Purcell pounced to give Crossabag-Ballymurn the shield.
Crossabeg-Ballymurn: Cillian O’Toole; Evan O’Leary, Adam Murphy (capt.), Conor Wycherley; Pearce Doyle, Anthony O’Connor, Seán Hennessy; Niall Cullen, David McCarthy (0-5 frees); Matthew Bishop (0-1), William Murphy (1-1), Conor O’Brien (0-1); Rory Davis (0-1), Ross Walker (1-0), Ryan Doyle. Subs. (rolling) - Jack Purcell (1-0), Jack Redmond, Jack Halpin, also Jake Roche, Dermot Berry, Ben Redmond, Corran Murphy, Robin Hawkins.
St. Joseph’s: Corey O’Rourke; Darragh Holmes, Shane Curran, Seán McCleane; Lee Byrne, Brandon Stafford, Jamie Barnes; Cian Whelan, Ryan Gavin (0-1 free); Aaron Doyle, Dean Hillis, Charlie Lawlor; Adam O’Leary (1-0), Kaylem Harnett (0-5, 2 frees), Liam Dempsey (2-0). Subs. (rolling) - Cillian Whelan, also Jack Clare, Dion Smith, Kevin Roche, Callum Fowler, Conor Shortall, James Kirby, Jay Redmond.
Referee: Ian Plunkett (Marshalstown-Castledockrell).