Mary’s survive late rally
ST. MARY’S (M’TN) 1-12 REALT NA MARA 0-11
ST. MARY’S of Maudlintown edged past hosts Reéalt na Mara as they booked their place in the semi-final of the Greenstar Under-20 football Division 4 championship on a bitterly cold Saturday afternoon in Ballygarrett.
After a lukewarm opening half by both sides, St. Mary’s responded exceptionally to falling behind by scoring a vital goal and six points in a crucial ten-minute period midway through the half.
The sides spent the opening half eyeing each other up more than anything else.
A Todd Hynes treble and singles by Lee Nolan and Jamie Thomas did give the Wexford town team a slender lead (0-5 to 0-3) to take into the intermission - with a brace by Jordan Goff and a James Flynn free keeping the locals within touching distance before the teams switched ends.
The initial signs after the restart were gloomy for Maudlintown. They looked to be tiring as Réalt na Mara fired over three early points through Brendan Corcoran, Flynn and James Fleming, putting themselves ahead for the first time.
But then, out of seemingly nowhere, St. Mary’s found a completely different gear.
Hynes pointed before rampaging through the heart of Réalt na Mara’s defence and smashing his shot into the top right corner of the net.
It always looked like the type of game where the team that got the first goal would be able to hold on.
However, St. Mary’s did more than hold on, as they extended their lead.
A Hynes brace, accompanied by Leon and Lee Nolan minors, opened up a seven-point gap in favour of the Wexford town side (1-11 to 0-7).
Réalt na Mara rallied, but not enough to complete a comeback in the final quarter. Fleming added a point before a hat-trick of Flynn scores cut the deficit to three.
With the match restored to a one-score game, there were a few shaky moments for Maudlintown as the clock ticked down, but Hynes steadied any of his side’s nerves as he kicked over his eighth, and the game’s final score, in injury time.
St. Mary’s (Maudlintown): Luke Rogan; Josh Kavanagh, Tre Long, Patsy Whelan; Jordan Donovan, Mark Doyle (0-1), Adam Baziz; Jamie Thomas (capt., 0-1), Cian Whelan; Gary Cullen, Todd Hynes (1-7, 0-2 frees), Lee Nolan (0-2); Mark Thomas, Leon Nolan (0-1), Jack Kehoe.
Réalt na Mara: Kiran Gigi; Billy Dunne, Michael Wafer, Ciarán Dunne; Tom Hobbs, Gavin Morris (capt.), John Sinnott; Adam Fleming, Brendan Corcoran (0-1); James Flynn (0-6, 5 frees), James Fleming (0-2), Killian Doyle; Jordan Goff (0-2), Seán Newens, Jordan Redmond. Subs. - Ciarán O’Toole for Hobbs (18), Cian Fortune for Newens (36), Rory O’Connor for Goff (45), Newens for O’Toole (48).
Referee: Mick Lanigan (Shelmaliers).