Duffry close to perfection
Rovers rule as Bannow-Ballymitty had few answers
DUFFRY ROVERS BANNOW-BALLYMITTY 4-9 1-3
DUFFRY ROVERS put in an almost complete performance when claiming the New Ross Standard Under-13 football Division 2 championship trophy after a 4-9 to 1-3 win against Bannow-Ballymitty in the final in St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy.
Indeed, from the moment the dangerous Jason Sheridan saw his shot across goal nestle in the net after only a minute of action, the Coolree-based lads never really looked back.
It wasn’t that the south county side were completely outplayed. Captain Eoin Roche was a powerful presence in the middle sector, and Joel McDonald had his good moments in defence, but the Duffry just had too many strings to their bow as they reached nearly optimum levels of performance.
In fact, the victors could have conceivably found the net three more times in the first-half alone, and on any other day could well have doubled their goal tally overall.
Aran Hogan stood strong to repel James Lawless in the early stages, Dylan Purcell’s cross didn’t quite sit up for Sheridan to tuck away soon after, and Lawless was off-balance when shooting towards goal on 18 minutes.
Meanwhile, a nicely-taken point from Alex Power, and a free from Shane Carroll, kept Bannow-Ballymitty within 1-2 to 0-3 after 23 minutes, but an intricate move led to Sheridan popping up at the edge of square to lash home and open up a 2-2 to 0-3 lead at the interval.
Although Lawless (free) and Purcell tagged on further points on the re-start, Eoin Roche used his strength to solo through and rifle an unstoppable shot to the net to cut the gap to 2-4 to 1-3.
But Duffry Rovers’ response to that setback was the hallmark of champions, as points from the industrious Brian Roban, Lawless and joint captain Robbie Chapman preceded Sheridan jinking in from the endline and finding the top corner of the net with a dipping shot.
And there was still time for Lawless to spray home their fourth goal three minutes from time to seal an impressive victory march for the Enniscorthy District club.
Duffry Rovers: Cillian Hanrahan; John Kavanagh, Joey Earle, Ryan McCarthy; James McHugh, Danny Fitzhenry, David Nolan; Robbie Chapman (joint capt., 0-1), Pádraig Waters (joint capt.); Michael Murphy, Shane Reddy, James Lawless (1-3, 0-1 free); Jason Sheridan (3-1), Dylan Purcell (0-2), Brian Roban (0-2). Subs. - Luke Jordan for Kavanagh, Ciarán Murphy for McCarthy, Conor McHugh for Roban, William Wilson for Lawless, Raymond Barnes for Waters, Tomás Walsh for Murphy, also Mikey Quigley, Brian Murphy, Seán Deegan, Seán Redmond, Cillian Doyle, Cathal Power.
Bannow-Ballymitty: Aran Hogan; Wal Cullen, Joel McDonald, Cian Rossiter; Daniel Sinnott, Luke Waters, Craig Sinnott; Alec Moran, Eoin Roche (capt., 1-1); Lee Kennedy, Shane Carroll (0-1 free), Tom Moran; Kyle Cleary, Alex Power (0-1), Harry Murphy. Subs. - Paddy Quigley for C. Sinnott, inj., Darragh Ennis for Murphy, also Adam Walsh, Jack Cleary.
Referee: Aiden O’Brien (Cloughbawn).