Rosslare ease to victory
ST. MARY’S (R) CLONGEEN 1-16 0-7
ST. MARY’S eased to a most comfortable twelve-point victory over a disappointing Clongeen outfit in this Amber Springs/Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship Group A game at Taghmon on Saturday.
From an early stage it was a case of how much St. Mary’s would win by such was their dominance around the pitch. They certainly put in a huge effort, with their passing football coupled with their finishing making this a one-way contest.
Clongeen had little to offer, particularly in attack where they were totally devoid of ideas, scoring just two points from play. For St. Mary’s, who have an amount of quality in their side, this win should boost their confidence for sterner tests ahead.
The seasiders had the veteran David Murphy at full-forward, and he always won the hard ball, forced frees that he pointed, or laid the ball off to his colleagues for some well-executed scores. Corner-forward Lee Devereux was particularly prominent, finishing with a personal tally of 0-4.
Within twelve minutes of the start, St. Mary’s when assisted by the breeze had raced into a 1-4 to nil lead. The goal arrived on eleven minutes when Devereux, having cut through the defence, saw his point attempt rebound off the upright to the waiting Ultan Quirke who fired low to the net, adding to the points from Devereux, Andrew Murphy and two David Murphy frees.
Clongeen had to wait until the 14th minute for their opening score, a Liam Murphy point, but by the interval St. Mary’s remained in control, leading by 1-8 to 0-4.
Despite playing into the breeze the Mary’s grip on this game tightened as Robert Butler and Naomhan Rossiter controlled midfield. Within nine minutes of the re-start, the Mary’s had stretched into a 1-11 to 0-4 lead through points from Robert Butler, David Murphy (free) and Devereux, with Clongeen having their opening second-half score after 42 minutes through a William McDonald free.
David Murphy continued to add points from the dead ball while substitute Peter Carr saw a goal attempt fly just wide after a sweeping movement had left him in the clear.
In truth there was never any doubting the side’s dominance as they ran out comfortable winners, and their twelve-point margin could have been greater.
St. Mary’s: Stephen Brien; Ned Power, Gearóid Byrne, Conal Grant; Niall Walsh, Shay Boggan, Tiarnan Rossiter (0-1); Robert Butler (0-1), Naomhan Rossiter; Ultan Quirke (1-1), Andrew Murphy (0-1), Paul Kinsella; Lee Devereux (0-4), David Murphy (0-8, 7 frees), Conor Cafferkey. Subs. - Jason Ellard for Quirke, Peter Carr for A. Murphy, Barry Quirke for Boggan.
Clongeen: Ricky Rochford; Stephen Curtis, Barry Foxe, Jamie Keating; Martin Reville, Shane Cahill, Donal Whelan; Cathal Murphy, Shane Kilkenny; Ger Foxe, Enda Murphy, Robert Farrell; Liam Murphy (0-1), Paul Curtis (0-1), William McDonald (0-5 frees). Subs. - Martin Delaney for Keating, Anton Stafford for G. Foxe, Tom Donovan for Reville, Joe Toomey for L. Murphy.
Referee: Brendan Martin (Ballyhogue).