Seconds also big victors
ST. MARTIN’S eased to a comfortable 22-point victory over a disappointing Bannow-Ballymitty outfit in this totally one-sided Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship Group A game in Rathangan on Sunday.
Given the heavy rain which marred most of the game, it was no surprise that the standard suffered, but one still had to admire the superior skill and first touch of St. Martin’s who controlled proceedings for the entire game.
They picked off some excellent scores while their defence totally shut out the opposing attack, leaving their opponents to survive off scraps of possession.
While it was a satisfying display from the eventual winners, for Bannow-Ballymitty it was a game they will want to quickly put behind them as they were totally outclassed.
St. Martin’s took the lead as early as the third minute through a Seán Stafford pointed ‘65, and while they dominated possession they could only manage a further two points though Nicky Greene and a Stafford free in the following eight minutes.
However, ten minutes into the game, a move started outfield by Donal Kelly saw Stafford clinically finish to the net, and when he added a further point his side went in leading by 1-4 to nil at the interval.
Bannow-Ballymitty raised hopes of a second-half recovery when they shot two quickfire points on the resumption from Robert Cogley and Gary Morton, but that was as good as it got, as St. Martin’s quickly regained the initiative.
The leaders picked off a string of points before a Donal Kelly 48th-minute goal saw them move into a 2-10 to 0-2 lead.
With Bannow-Ballymitty unable to rally, St. Martin’s spent most of the closing ten minutes continually on the attack.
They added two further goals through Zac Firman, with the fourth an excellent finish given the conditions, while their opponents only managed a consolation point through a Robert Cogley free.
St. Martin’s: Dylan Byrne; Shane Walsh, Philip Dempsey, Jack Whelan; Johnny Hamilton, Tony Kelly, Ryan Murphy; Ben Stafford (0-1), Donal Kelly (1-0); Nicky Greene (0-1), Seán Stafford (1-6, 0-3 frees, 0-2 ‘65s), Adam Cantwell; Kyle Firman (0-3), Conor Coleman (0-1), Jack Devereux. Subs. - Zac Firman (2-1) for Hamilton, Conor Stafford for Whelan, Ben Morris for D. Kelly.
Bannow-Ballymitty: Seán McCormack; Pádraig McCormack, John Mernagh, Jack Donohue; David Currid, Art Sweetman, James Sinnott; Conor Furlong, Ryan Morris; Gary Morton (01), Mark Wallace, Robert Cogley (0-2, 1 free); Gary Jordan, John O’Leary, Richie Walsh. Subs. - Mark Colfer for Walsh, Robbie Rossiter for Wallace, Niall Murphy for O’Leary.
Referee: Jack Stafford (Clongeen).