Martin’s survive searching test from Pat’s

ST. MARTIN’S ST. PATRICK’S 2-12 1-14

ST. MARTIN’S endured a severe test of their mettle as they survived a late St. Patrick’s recovery to book their place in the All-County Football League Division 4 final with a hardfought 2-12 to 1-14 victory in Camolin on Sunday.

The visitors had eased as much as eight points in front with a third of the game played, but were made to sweat at the finish by the spirited hosts, who accounted for the last three points after Darren Jordan was sent-off on a second yellow card.

The Piercestown and Murrintown natives couldn’t have asked for a better start when Philly Waters, an imposing presence at full-forward throughout, drop-kicked to the net after a minute.

And they almost struck gold one minute later but team captain Conor Coleman was denied by an excellent save from Enda Murphy.

St. Patrick’s had a massive opportunity to raise a green flag themselves when Richie Flood was tripped in the area on ten minutes, but he dragged the resultant penalty to the wrong side of the post.

And that miss was excaberated when St. Martin’s strung together six points without reply, all from play, including three from Richie Devereux and two from Coleman, to help open up a rather agreeable 1-10 to 0-9 advantage at the change of ends.

St. Patrick’s seemed to be improving before the break, having kicked the last four scores of the half, and they really gave themselves a fighting chance on the resumption when Richie Flood palmed to the net after some outstanding work down the right wing from Tommy Morris (1-10 to 1-9). However, St. Martin’s had other ideas as Conor Coleman benefited from a knock-down off Waters and, despite his angle narrowing, managed to hammer an unstoppable shot to the top corner of the net.

They only registered two more scores before the end as St. Pat’s went into salvage mode. Niall O’Brien took up the mantle as chief tormentor, kicking over five points (three frees) from various distances, but St. Martin’s had enough guile to progress to a meeting with Volunteers by the skin of their teeth.

St. Martin’s: Nicky Greene; Donal Kelly, Sam Audsley, Tony Kelly; Adrian Ryan (0-1), Mark Maloney, Philip McDermott; Darren Jordan (0-3 frees), Ben Stafford; Eoghan Rackard (0-1) , Richie Devereux (0-4), Diarmuid Byrne; Conor Coleman (capt., 1-3), Philly Waters (1-0), Diarmuid Barry. Sub. - Adam McLoughlin for Rackard (54).

St. Patrick’s: Enda Murphy; Brian Cadigan, James Cousins, Joe Cousins; Tommy Morris, Michael O’Brien, Peter Roche; Shane Finn, Tommy Dunne (0-1); Stephen Ryan (0-2), Richie Flood (1-0), Tynan Flynn (0-1); Niall O’Brien (0-9, 4 frees), Damien Grannell (0-1), Fergal Maguire. Subs. - Glen Carton for Ryan, inj. (17), Shane Furlong for Roche, inj. (47), Paul McDonald for Maguire (52).

Referee: Shane Quinn (Réalt na Mara).