Carty’s class clear but Taghmon win at a cost

A SUBLIME display of point-taking from Ian Carty guided Taghmon-Camross to a hard-earned victory over Ferns St. Aidan’s in this Amber Springs/Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship Group A opener that ended on a needlessly heated note in St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, on Saturday.

The talented number 14, who started at midfield, kicked ten of the victors’ twelve scores including four from play, with a trio of longrange efforts with the outside of the right boot drawing gasps of appreciation from the crowd.

However, the win for the side relegated from Senior ranks last year was tarnished when a row developed after the final whistle that they really had no business getting involved in given the outcome of the game.

It appeared that a ball kicked in frustration by a Ferns player at netminder Jack Dunne sparked the flare-up, and it ended with Taghmon-Camross midfielder Stephen O’Gorman being shown a red card.

Referee Brendan Martin also spoke to one of the winners’ mentors, Shane Dunphy, and confirmed afterwards that he would be naming him in his report too.

Taghmon-Camross, playing with two sweepers, opened with the first three points from Carty (free), Cathal Doyle and Carty (play) before Ryan Nolan converted two placed balls for Ferns.

The latter showed no after-effects following a 90-minute stint with Wexford F.C. in Drogheda the night before, but his team relied too much on him for scores as he ended with 1-6 of their 1-7 tally.

Although a good long-range kick by captain Patrick Breen brought Ferns to level terms by the 20th minute, three more points from the Carty brothers, Ian (two frees) and Darren, left Taghmon-Camross ahead by 0-7 to 0-5 at half-time.

However, they were fortunate that Ryan Nolan didn’t punish a poor kick-out when he blazed over the bar with the goal at his mercy prior to their own seventh point.

There was a double blow for Taghmon-Camross on the re-start, as Shane Doyle was black carded for a deliberate pull down on Chris Turner from a Nolan free into the square from the left corner, and the latter trotted over to sink the penalty in the net (1-5 to 0-7).

Ferns still led by 1-7 to 0-8 with nine minutes left after Nolan responded to another Ian Carty free with a brace of points, the first from play.

However, Taghmon-Camross turned in a very impressive finish and claimed victory thanks to four scores without reply from the outstanding Carty.

After driving the ball just over from a crossfield Adam Sinnott pass, he levelled from a free, kicked his third outside of the bootstyle beauty, and then capped a classy display with his tenth point from another placed ball deep into added time.

Next up for the winners is a meeting with Naomh Eanna in Hollymount on Saturday at 7.30 p.m., and this promises to be an interesting clash given the excellent display produced by the Gorey side in the first round.

Ferns St. Aidan’s will be aiming to get the show back on the road against Ballyhogue in Oylegate earlier in the day.

Taghmon-Camross: Jack Dunne; Stephen O’Keeffe, Alan Nolan, Shane Doyle; Mark O’Gorman, Barry O’Gorman (capt.), Darren Carty (0-1); Ian Carty (0-10, 6 frees), Stephen O’Gorman; Cathal Doyle (0-1), Mick O’Gorman, Stephen Stafford; Shane Lacey, Derek O’Hanlon, Pat Nolan. Subs. - Tom Banville for S. Doyle, black card (37), Adam Sinnott for Mick O’Gorman (39), Pete Murphy for O’Hanlon, inj. (49).

Ferns St. Aidan’s: Ivan Meegan; Brian O’Neill, Pádraig Bolger, James Tonks; Rory Scallan, Declan Byrne, Keith Breen; Patrick Breen (capt., 0-1), James Lawlor; Tommy Dwyer, Ian Byrne, Jonny Dwyer; Chris Turner, John Breen, Ryan Nolan (1-6, 0-4 frees, 1-0 pen.). Subs. - Brendan Jordan for Turner (54), Peter Nolan for J. Dwyer (57).

Referee: Brendan Martin (Ballyhogue).