Depleted Martin’s exert full control
ST. MARTIN’S SARSFIELDS 0-15 1-6
THE RELATIVE ease in which St. Martin’s safely negotiated this second round Senior football championship Group A game in Cushinstown on Saturday can actually be summed up by a look at the players they were missing, and that’s not to be critical of the efforts of those in action who guided them to a comfortable six-point win over a flat Sarsfields side.
For starters, two men who combined for 0-11 one week earlier against Castletown – Barry O’Connor and Ciarán Lyng – were absent from the forward line, with the former training with Sydney Swans during the week.
In addition, defender Joe O’Connor was ruled out after sustaining an injury in that game, joining Conor Firman on the sidelines, while they also lost Michael Codd to a hamstring strain and Mikey Coleman to a black card in the course of this disappointing contest.
Yet, they were still able to maintain a healthy gap at all times, with Sarsfields left to rue their poor use of possession in the first-half in particular.
Certainly, the word ‘ turnover’ should have figured prominently in their post-match de-brief, because the underdogs effectively ruled out their own chances of springing a surprise by giving the ball away so cheaply, with the poor distribution and constant fumbling helping St. Martin’s to establish a 0-10 to 1-1 half-time lead.
The attacking threat they brought to their high-scoring first round loss to St. James’ was completely absent on this occasion, with just three of their seven scores arriving from open play.
St. Martin’s, who welcomed Jamie Carty back to their attack after injury, had first use of the breeze blowing into the Terrerath end and led by 0-3 to nil after twelve minutes thanks to Jake Firman, Jack O’Connor and Ben Maddock.
However, a rare Sarsfields break yielded an equalising goal near the end of the opening quarter, with Lee Chin dispossessing a rival around midfield and starting a move that also featured David Mooney and Michael Hanrahan before Eoin Roche side-footed to the net from close range (1-0 to 0-3).
It didn’t alter the course of the game, though, with a pointed Chin free in the 23rd minute providing the sole remaining score for the Butters before the interval.
Darren Codd restored the Martin’s lead with a good long-range point from play, and he went on to underline his capabilities from free-taking off the ground – a talent which would, no doubt, have remained hidden if Ciarán Lyng and Barry O’Connor had been there to look after the placed balls.
He converted three out of four attempts before the break (and six from eight in all), and substitute Philip Dempsey, overlapping corner-back Mikey Coleman, and finally Jamie Carty also contributed to that six-point interval advantage.
Sarsfields may have been favoured by the elements on the re-start, but getting the margin between the sides below five points was a task that proved beyond them.
The ten second-half scores were shared equally, and that suited St. Martin’s just fine as they always seemed capable of responding to a Sarsfields point at the other end.
It was 0-13 to 1-4 at the three-quarters mark, with efforts from Codd (free), Jack O’Connor and Jake Firman yielding three responses from Chin (two frees).
Mikey Coleman also took a black card for the team when he hauled down the county hurler after a crossfield Philip Dempsey pass was inter cepted, ending any prospects of the second goal Sarsfields needed badly in the process.
A late Chin drive was also blocked by Ben Maddock, but a second win on the trot for St. Martin’s was already assured at that stage after the accu rate Darren Codd responded to points from Chin (free) and Eoin Roche with another brace of placed balls.
St. Martin’s: Luke White; Willie De vereux, Mark Maloney, Mikey Coleman (0-1); Aaron Maddock (capt.), Paudie Kelly, Michael Codd; Daithí Waters, Ben Maddock (0-1); Jake Firman (0-2), Joe Coleman, Harry O’Connor; Jamie Carty (0-1), Jack O’Connor (0-2), Darren Codd (0-7, 6 frees). Subs. - Philip Dempsey (0-1) for Codd, inj. (12), Kyle Firman J. Coleman (33), Rory O’Connor for K (36), Patrick O’Connor for M. Coleman, black card (39).
Sarsfields: Philip Cullen; Brendan Mulligan, Cathal Kirwan, Con Ó Don nagáin; Dylan Furlong, Michael Hanrahan (capt.), Shane Hall; Ciarán Kirwan, Seán Corcora; David Gouldson, Lee Chin (0- 4 frees), John Bridges; Lee Smith, David Mooney, Eoin Roche (1-1). Subs. - Conall Clancy for Smith (22), Pierce O’Connor for Ciarán Kirwan (46), Conor Halligan for Bridges (50).
Referee: David Jenkins (Gusserane).