Hard-working Mary’s get over line

ST. MARY’S (ROSSLARE) FAYTHE HARRIERS 1-11 1-9 A HARD-WORKING team display enabled St. Mary’s to get across the line as they eventually fashioned a hard-earned two-point victory over Faythe Harriers in their Junior hurling championship Group B game in St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, on Thursday.

After they scored four points inside the opening ten minutes through Paul Kinsella (’65 and free), Ultan Quirke and Barry Quirke, it was clear that the Rosslare side were determined to take two much-needed points from this game.

That is how it turned out in the end but they had to endure many anxious moments before achieving victory.

Faythe Harriers had to wait until the eleventh minute for their opening score, an Eoin Roche point, but with Naomhan Rossiter and Peter Carr responding, St. Mary’s went in with a 0-6 to 0-4 interval lead, as the Harriers closed out the half with points from Conor Halligan and Eoin Roche.

On the resumption the Mary’s extended their lead through an opening minute point from Ultan Quirke.

The sides continued to trade points, with the eventual winners still leading by 0-8 to 0-6 at the end of the third quarter.

Then corner-forward Ultan Quirke found the net from close range, stretching his side’s lead to five points. Two Jack Murphy points (’65 and free) reduced the deficit to three.

The Harriers made switches in attack, but points from Peter Carr and Ultan Quirke gave the Mary’s a five-point cushion (1-10 to 0-8) entering the closing five minutes.

The Harriers continued to mount attacks, resulting in a fine Jack Murphy point from play, while on the 60th minute Shane Howard crashed home a goal to leave the minimum separating the sides (1-10 to 1-9).

In additional time substitute Ian Kavanagh pointed to secure the victory for his side.

St. Mary’s: Niall Walsh; Emmet Byrne, Conor Cafferkey, Stephen Cogley; Ned Power, David Murphy, Tiarnan Rossiter; Robert Butler, Gearóid Byrne; Larry Morrissey, Naomhan Rossiter (0-1), Peter Carr (0-2); Ultan Quirke (1-3), Paul Kinsella (0-3, 1 free), Barry Quirke (0-1). Subs. - Ian Kavanagh (0-1) for B. Quirke, Conal Grant for Cogley, Andrew Murphy for Power, Oscar Pitt for U. Quirke, inj.

Faythe Harriers: Ian Scallan; Stephen Cummins, Cillian Lawlor, Danny Walsh; Damien Roche, Nicky Lawlor, Fiach O Crualaoich; Jack Murphy (0-3, 2 frees, 1 ’65), Fran Cleary (0-1); Conor Halligan (0-1), Shane Howard (1-1), Ian Mitchell; Paul Gannon, Eoin Roche (0-2); Peter Walsh. Subs. - Anthony Walsh (0-1) for Mitchell, Ciarán Byrne for P. Walsh.

Referee: David Owens (Askamore).