Anne’s snatch late, late draw
Rochford kick foils Fethard
FETHARD ST. ANNE’S 2-12 1-15
AIDAN ROCHFORD kicked a 64th-minute equaliser as St. Anne’s snatched a draw from the jaws of defeat in Group B of the Senior football championship in Clongeen on Sunday.
The leveller came at the end of a breathless game, in which boths sides had their small spells in the ascendancy. However, neither could really dominate for long and a draw was probably just about the fair result.
If either just shaded the contest it was Fethard and they’ll be probably the more disappointed at not taking the full points on offer.
As well as being ahead for most of the game, Jimmy Sutton was denied an injury-time goal by Paul Brennan, a salvo that would have wrapped up the win.
There was a lot to like about the heart and endeavour of the New Ross District side. They are still short of a few, including the Dwyer brothers, Kevin Rowe and Daniel Mullan, but they did welcome John Tubritt back from suspension.
Things were tricky for St. Anne’s too. Again they were missing a huge part of their arsenal in Diarmuid O’Keeffe - still limping but without the crutches - and they lost Liam Og McGovern in the opening quarter too.
The drama that was set to unfold in the second-half was far removed from the sparring of the first. It was 0-2 each at the end of the opening quarter, but St. Anne’s star man the last two weeks, Liam Rochford, notched his second in the 16th minute to give his side the lead.
Fethard, who kicked seven first-half wides and hit the upright, fought back again and were level at five each when Tubritt pointed in the 26th minute.
They took a 0-6 to 0-5 lead at the break when Richie Waters kicked a ‘45, which came after Graham O’Grady had twice been denied an opening major, first by a block and then by Brennan.
The game opened up and was fantastically entertaining in the second period. Fethard held a 0-9 to 0-7 advantage when Tubritt won a 45th-minute penalty which he took himself, but again the impressive Brennen dived low to his left to save.
Two Seán Gaul frees brought St. Anne’s level but only for a few seconds. Fethard went right down the other end where Rúairí Tubrid burst away and fed Garrett Foley who drilled high to the Rathangan net.
O’Grady put four between them, only for St. Anne’s to respond. Finn O’Driscoll caught the ball close to goal, shot and it pinballed around the goalmouth, with the suggestion that Kevin Breen got the final touch before it crossed the line.
Minors by Páraic O’Keeffe and Liam Rochford put St. Anne’s 1-11 to 1-10 up, but again Fethard hit back with Adam Swan netting in the 54th minute.
Despite the best efforts of Rochford, there was still two points between the sides going into added-time, but he did notch his sixth before Aidan nailed the equaliser at the death.
Fethard: Paul Foley; Martin Power, Richie Waters (0-1 ‘45), Seán Donohoe; Graham O’Grady (0-1), Edmond Power, Stephen Barry; Joe Sutton, Rúairí Tubrid; Darren Foley, Garrett Foley (1-0), Jimmy Sutton (0-3, 2 frees); Bryan Power (0-4), Mark Wallace (0-1), John Tubritt (0-1). Subs. - Adam Swan (1-1) for D. Foley, inj. (12), Noel Colfer for Barry (60+1).
St. Anne’s: Paul Brennan; Páraic O’Keeffe (0-1), Tomás Cullen, Finn O’Driscoll; Liam Og McGovern, Seán Gaul (0-3 frees), Kenny Cloney; Aaron Craig, Jonathan Fogarty; Aidan Rochford (0-1), Mark Furlong (0-1), Mikey Fogarty; Kevin Breen (1-1), Liam Rochford (0-6, 1 free), Jack Murphy (0-2). Subs. - Darragh Furlong for McGovern, inj. (12), Ben Moore for M. Furlong, temp. (34-36), Barry Roche for Cloney (47), Moore for Craig, black card (57), David O’Connor for D. Furlong (60+2).
Referee: Seán Whelan (St. Martin’s).