Wadding hits Fintan’s brace

Duffry downed by three goals

THE OLD adage that goals win games is a well-worn cliché, but it was certainly the case in Tagoat on Saturday as St. Fintan’s overcame Duffry Rovers in their Amber Springs/Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship Group B opener.

The Enniscorthy District side seemed to be ticking along quite nicely as they led by 0-5 to 0-2 midway through the first-half, but Joey Wadding pounced to draw St. Fintan’s level.

The timing of all of the St. Fintan’s goals was crucial as, after the sides had gone in deadlocked at the break, they grabbed their second straight from the re-start, with Wadding again doing the needful.

Conor Sinnott then added their third major midway through the second-half to give his side a six-point cushion and, try as they might, Duffry Rovers were unable to bridge that gap.

After a pedestrian start, with two Niall Beggan placed balls cancelled out by Conor Sinnott (free) and Donal Shanley in the opening twelve minutes, Duffry Rovers really began to find their stride, with Johnny Flynn-O’Connor firing over their first from play and a Beggan brace extending their lead to three.

However, St. Fintan’s were back on level terms in the 18th minute when Shanley pumped the ball towards the posts and Wadding got a strong fist on it to divert it to the net.

Jason Pettit followed it up with a sweet point to edge the Wexford District outfit in front for the first time, but another Beggan free ensured the sides went in level at the interval (1-3 to 0-6).

St. Fintan’s were out of the traps like a prize greyhound after the break as Wadding hit the back of the net again just 20 seconds in.

Shane Pettit did the donkey work, but Wadding still had plenty to do and he did it in style, driving forward with purpose before burying the ball low and hard past goalkeeper Bobby Larkin.

After Niall Beggan had popped over a free, the Duffry were handed an opportunity to get their noses in front when Johnny Flynn-O’Connor was on to a short kick-out like a flash, but his effort rippled the side-netting.

St. Fintan’s made the most of the let-off, and after Donal Shanley stroked over two frees, either side of a Cian Fitzhenry point, Conor Sinnott profited when the Duffry made a defensive error, dribbling the ball forward and firing to the net for the killer goal in the 47th minute (3-5 to 0-8).

Duffry Rovers kept plugging away, with Cian Fitzhenry slotting over three frees, but a well-drilled St. Fintan’s outfit never looked like relinquishing the advantage.

St. Fintan’s: Patrick McDonnell; Shane Sinnott, Eoin Cummins, Paul Cummins; Robert Coakley, Frank Staples, Peter Goldsmith; Shane Pettit, Eoin O’Callaghan; Niall Moore, Jason Pettit (0-1), Robbie McGinn; Conor Sinnott (capt., 1-1, 0-1 free), Joey Wadding (2-0), Donal Shanley (0-4, 3 frees). Subs. - Adam Devereux for Moore, John William Rowe for S. Pettit.

Duffry Rovers: Bobby Larkin; Liam Pender, Donie Doyle, Thomas Dunne; John Dunne, Conor Jordan (capt.), Craig Casey; Ted O’Brien, Tim Bowler; Glenn Rafter, Johnny Flynn-O’Connor (0-1), Alan Doyle; Niall Beggan (0-6, 5 frees), Robert Frayne, Cian Fitzhenry (0-4, 3 frees). Subs. - Gavin Watchorn for A. Doyle, Jamie Roban for Pender, Seamus Doyle for O’Brien.

Referee: Barry Redmond (Na Fianna Clonard).