Seasiders pip Hogues
ST. MARY’S (Rosslare) made an ideal start to this season’s Amber Springs/Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship with a hard-fought 0-11 to 0-10 victory over Ballyhogue in Friday’s Group A opener under the lights in Hollymount.
Given their status as two of the victors’ most important players, it was entirely fitting that Tiarnan Rossiter and David Murphy played such pivotal roles in the win, as they were involved in all bar one of their entire total either through scoring or supplying a direct assist.
Rossiter was in outstanding form at midfield, winning his duel with county colleague Shane Doyle on the way to scoring four points, while Murphy was a selfless foil at full-forward in laying off five scores for his grateful team-mates.
Indeed, the latter off-loaded to Cian Boggan to open the scoring on two minutes and called on all his experience to draw a free which he converted by the seventh minute.
Noel Roche had pointed a fine score under considerable duress in between, but a trademark run from Rossiter saw him point after nine minutes.
A tug on Shane Byrne allowed Roche to knock over a free in response, while Gavin Morris was quick off his line to smother Dylan Dalton’s goal chance at the start of the second quarter.
There were as many wides as scores by that juncture (three from St. Mary’s), but Murphy soon popped the ball to Conor Cafferkey to point via the post, and he also supplied Rossiter to score off the instep to stretch their lead to 0-5 to 0-2.
Dean Doyle hit back with a quickfire brace to cut the gap to one after 24 minutes, only for Rossiter to convert a free off his trusty left boot to create a 0-6 to 0-4 interval lead for St. Mary’s, who were kitted out in St. Martin’s familiar maroon jerseys.
An exquisite pass from Murphy set up Boggan’s second score, and Rossiter made it 0-8 to 0-4.
But Willie Carley’s charges (wearing HWH-Bunclody’s colours) responded through Shane and Dean Doyle respectively, only for Cafferkey to pounce on a cheap giveaway to keep St. Mary’s in front.
Shane Doyle pointed after an improvised one-handed catch as the gap shrunk to 0-9 to 0-8 after 42 minutes, but Morris was alert again to prevent Enda Minogue finishing off a well-worked move.
The wily Murphy (who else?) won possession to feed Devereux for Rosslare’s tenth point, but Roche seared clear of three opponents to peg a point back, while captain James Parle advanced forward to force parity after 50 minutes.
However, Tiarnan Rossiter teed up his younger brother, Naomhan, three minutes later to kick a booming point which proved to be the winner for last year’s semi-finalists.
St. Mary’s (Rosslare): Gavin Morris; Gearóid Byrne, Emmet Byrne, Liam O’Connor; Niall Walsh, Naomhan Rossiter (0-1), Shea Boggan; Tiarnan Rossiter (capt., 0-4, 1 free), Robert Butler; Rees Broaders, Andrew Murphy, Cian Boggan (0-2); Conor Cafferkey (0-2), David Murphy (0-1 free), Lee Devereux (0-1). Sub. - Barry Quirke for A. Murphy (54).
Ballyhogue: Darragh Cloke-Rochford; Tomás Moriarty, Seán Rochford, Colm Parnell; Enda Minogue, Conor Byrne, James Parle (capt., 0-1); Shane Byrne, Shane Doyle (0-2); Peter Kelly, Dylan Dalton, Dean Doyle (0-3); Noel Roche (0-4, 2 frees), Eddie Galavan, Graham Parker. Subs. - Mick Condon for Galavan (42), Seán Ring for Dalton (51).
Referee: James Mullally (Gusserane).