Three Stafford frees point way to victory

ST. MARTIN’S edged through to the last four of the Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship when three Seán Stafford frees down the home straight gave them a narrow 0-14 to 1-9 victory over Ferns St. Aidan’s in Friday’s quarter-final in a luminated Bree.

The hard-tackling losers were in no mood to concede any goals, and while they only coughed up four points from play over the 68odd minutes,and just one such score in the second-half, they were perhaps over-zealous in contact on occasion, a belief borne out by the fact that they committed 20 fouls, half of which resulted in St. Martin’s scores.

Half of St. Martin’s tally from play came in an encouraging opening quarter as Philip Waters and Kyle Firman fired over, but the latter was denied by a reflex save from Niall Byrne in their only clearcut goal chance two minutes in.

Ferns actually had twice as many different scorers than the winners, and enjoyed their bright moments themselves in the firsthalf.

Peter O’Toole twice flighted over either side of Peter Codd latching on to a breaking ball to split the posts, while Anthony Dwyer slapped home a close-in free to help create a 1-5 to 0-5 lead at the interval.

Stafford converted a free almost immediately after the re-start, but Derek Thorpe’s swooped response meant that exactly half of Ferns’ total from play came from the middle sector.

Their indiscipline in defence then started to tell on the scoreboard as Stafford didn’t miss one opportunity from a dead-ball in the entire second-half.

Dwyer registered a free at the other end as the score stood at 1-7 to 0-8 by the 45th minute, but another Stafford free, and Firman’s second point, helped restore balance soon after.

Ferns then messed up a chance to go back ahead when the goal opened up for Dwyer but he couldn’t find Lee Quigley, with Codd eventually firing a point attempt wide.

Meanwhile, Stafford nudged St. Martin’s back in front with two frees, and while Brian O’Neill pointed from an unlikely angle one minute short of regulation time, a further brace of frees from Stafford in injury time sandwiched one from Dwyer as the reigning Junior ‘A’ champions moved a step closer to back-to-back titles.

St. Martin’s: Dylan Byrne; Jack Whelan, Philip Dempsey, Sam Audsley; Johnny Hamilton, Tony Kelly, Ryan Murphy; Donal Kelly, Ben Stafford; Darren Jordan, Philip Waters (0-1), Seán Stafford (capt., 0-11, 10 frees); Diarmuid Barry, Kyle Firman (0-2), Liam Ó Lionáin. Sub. - Richard Devereux for O Lionáin (HT).

Ferns St. Aidan’s: Niall Byrne; Patrick O’Hagan, Peter Nolan, Willie Bolger; Christopher Davitt, Seán Walsh (capt.), P.J. O’Neill; Derek Thorpe (01), Peter O’Toole (0-2); Brian O’Neill (0-1), Pádraig Walsh, Peter Codd (01); Anthony Dwyer (1-3 frees), Colm Whelan, Lee Quigley (0-1). Subs. - Jeff Tobin for Whelan (47), Jamie Whelan for Quigley (57).

Referee: Brendan Holohan (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown).