Myler’s goals vital
Horeswood win U20 football opener
HORESWOOD 3-10 R’GAROGUE-C’TOWN 0-8
A DIRECT positional switch between their inter-county duo worked a treat for Horeswood as they steered well clear of home side Rathgarogue-Cushinstown in the second-half on Saturday to secure a spot in the Greenstar New Ross District Under-20 football Roinn 1 championship final.
This was the first game to be played in the entire county at this grade in 2019, and it seemed hard to call at the break when the teams were deadlocked on 0-5 each.
Seán Nolan had contributed three of the visitors’ total from full-forward, but he resumed at midfield for the second period while his Wexford colleague, Jamie Myler, moved to the edge of the square.
And a mere 90 seconds had elapsed before that switch paid off, as Nolan delivered a free-kick into space for Myler who used his blistering pace to devastating effect before planting the ball in the net.
Horeswood were never headed thereafter, although Rathgarogue-Cushinstown were still hanging on to their coat-tails in the 51st minute when a Paddy Barron free meant the hosts were in arrears by 1-8 to 0-8.
It was left to that deadly Nolan-Myler double act to make sure of success, as the former fed the latter for his second goal midway through the last quarter.
Danny Nolan and substitute Kevin Wall added points before Myler completed his hat-trick with a peach of a goal in the 59th minute, taking off again at full speed after accepting a John Chapman pass and burying the ball in the roof of Fionn Slattery’s net.
Seán Nolan had kicked the opening two Horeswood points before a brace from Paddy Barron, the first from a free, brought Rathgarogue-Cushinstown back to level terms.
And they were deadlocked on three further occasions before the interval, with Joe O’Sullivan, Matthew Foley and Nolan the Horeswood score-getters, while Shane O’Connor and Barron (two) responded.
Nolan had hooked an attempt on goal to the right and wide, while Aaron Mythen made a point-blank stop to deny Jack Murphy at the other end in the 29th minute.
All three of Rathgarogue-Cushinstown’s points after the break arrived from frees, courtesy of Eoin Porter (two) and Paddy Barron, whereas Myler, Jack Kehoe and Seán Nolan registered from play for Horeswood before their second goal effectively ended the contest.
Their opponents in the District final will be Munna Abbáin (Taghmon-Camross/Adamstown), who received a walkover from Bannow-Ballymitty on Saturday.
Horeswood: Aaron Mythen; John Chapman, Jason Murphy, Alex Molloy; David Murphy (capt.), Jack Kehoe (0-1), Seán Hunt; Eamonn O’Sullivan, Jamie Myler (3-1); Danny Nolan (0-1), Joe O’Sullivan (0-1), Cathal Mernagh; Matthew Foley (0-1), Seán Nolan (04), Dylan Whitty. Subs. - Neil Ennis for Mernagh (43), Robbie Delaney for Foley (49), Kevin Wall (0-1) for D. Nolan (56), Martin Kinsella for Chapman (59).
Rathgarogue-Cushinstown: Fionn Slattery; Liam Roche, Ricky McGrath, Thomas McGrath; Pat Kehoe, Eoin Porter (capt., 0-2 frees), Aodhán Slattery; Shane Kehoe, Donal Porter; Adam Bookle, Paddy Barron (0-5, 2 frees), Darragh Roche; Jack Murphy, Eoin Burke, Shane O’Connor (0-1). Subs. - Adam Young for D. Roche (38), Jamie O’Rourke for S. Kehoe (43), Vova Murphy for J. Murphy (56), James Rossiter for P. Kehoe, inj. (60), Luke Connor for T. McGrath (60+2).
Referee: Jack Stafford (Clongeen).