Late McCarthy point forces share of spoils in shield final
CROSSABEG-BALLYMURN ST. JOSEPH’S 2-9 2-9 (AET)
EXTRA-TIME failed to separate these two fine sides as a David McCarthy pointed free one minute from the end saw Crossabeg-Ballymurn force a draw with town team St. Joseph’s in this excellent New Ross Standard Under-13 football Division 3 shield final in Oylegate.
St. Joseph’s shrugged off a slow start to play their way back into a game that the Crossabeg-Ballymurn side looked like dominating given their fine opening quarter, building a 1-3 to 0-2 lead while enjoying most of the territorial possession.
However, credit to the Wexford town side, as they never lost their composure despite being pinned back on defence for most of that opening spell.
And they responded with some excellent attacks through the second quarter, mostly by the exciting Kaylem Harnett who dictated their recovery from the centre-forward position.
Crossabeg-Ballymurn got the ideal start with a third-minute goal. After full-forward William Murphy had his shot excellently saved by Corey O’Rourke, corner-forward Rory Davis reacted quickest to the breaking ball to shoot home first time from close range.
While St. Joseph’s responded with a Kaylem Harnett fifth-minute pointed free, their opponents bounced back and kicked three unanswered points through David McCarthy, Ross Walker and Rory Davis to lead by 1-3 to 0-1.
Twelve minutes into the half, St. Joseph’s built a promising attack, resulting in Harnett forcing a fine save out of ‘keeper Cillian O’Toole, but from the resulting free the same player reduced the deficit with a point.
Harnett kicked over a fine point from play, while on 20 minutes he saw his low shot blocked in the goalmouth but Liam Dempsey was on hand to find the net, bringing the sides level (1-3 each).
Crossabeg-Ballymurn finished the half strongest, resulting in three points through David McCarthy (two frees, one ‘45) to leave his side with a 1-6 to 1-3 interval lead which they deserved as it was mainly brought about by the excellent play of Adam Murphy, Anthony O’Connor, Niall Cullen and McCarthy.
The second-half produced the best football of the game, with play swinging from end to end, and one having to admire the skill level brought by both sides.
St. Joseph’s staged a remarkable recovery after falling six points adrift within one minute of the restart when Niall Cullen finished a lovely move with a splendid finish to the net, leaving his side with a six-point advantage (2-6 to 1-3).
The tempo of the game upped considerably following this as St. Joseph’s, inspired by Shane Curran, Brandon Stafford, Ryan Gavin and Kaylem Harnett, began to impose themselves even more on proceedings.
Harnett pointed two frees, before he sent a lovely ball across the goal for substitute Cillian Whelan to punch to the net, leaving just one point separating the sides (2-6 to 2-5) after 42 minutes.
After Harnett pointed two further frees to edge his side in front for the first time, it took a huge David McCarthy free to bring the sides back level (2-7 each) with five minutes remaining, with neither team able to fashion a winner in the closing minutes.
The sides exchanged points through Dean Hillis and a McCarthy free to remain level at the end of the first period of extra-time, while in the second period Harnett and McCarthy exchanged pointed frees to send the game to a replay.
Crossabeg-Ballymurn: Cillian O’Toole; Evan O’Leary, Adam Murphy, Conor Wycherley; Pierce Doyle, Anthony O’Connor, Seán Hennessy; Niall Cullen (1-0), Matthew Bishop; Ross Walker (0-1), David McCarthy (0-7, 5 frees, 1 ‘45), Conor O’Brien; Ryan Doyle, William Murphy, Rory Davis (1-1). Subs. - Jake Roche for Wycherley, Jack Halpin for Davis, Jack Purcell for Murphy, Jack Redmond for R. Doyle, Robin Hawkins for Walker, also Kevin Berry, Ben Redmond, Corran Murphy.
St. Joseph’s: Corey O’Rourke; Darragh Holmes, Shane Curran, Seán McCleane; Lee Byrne, Brandon Stafford, Jamie Barnes; Cian Whelan, Ryan Gavin; Charlie Lawlor, Kaylem Harnett (0-8 frees), Adam O’Leary; Liam Dempsey (1-0), Dean Hillis (0-1), Aaron Doyle. Subs. - Cillian Whelan (1-0) for O’Leary, Cian Roche for Dempsey, Callum Fowler for Doyle, also Jack Clare, Dian Smith, Conor Shortall, Jay Redmond.
Referee: Martin Quigley (Rathnure).