Late Clarke winner swings derby in favour of Rosslare
ST. MARY’S (ROSSLARE) KILMORE 2-13 1-15 (AET)
KYLE CLARKE scored a dramatic winner, less than 60 seconds from the end of extra-time, as St. Mary’s (Rosslare) claimed the Enniscorthy Guardian Under-15 hurling Roinn 2 shield in Tagoat.
In a fascinating game, that neither side ever really controlled, Clarke stepped up to the plate and nervelessly nailed the winner from the left of the posts, just inside the ‘45.
The score came just seconds after Ryan Miller seemed to send the game to a replay with a cracking Kilmore equaliser.
In truth, whichever side ended up on the wrong end of the result would have been left contemplating what might have been. Kilmore eased ahead in the opening half, playing with a partial crosswind.
Miller was their primary scorer but Andrew Crosbie and Jude Bates added points, while Patrick Healy netted from Shay Doyle’s handpass to emphasise an impressive start that saw them eventually take a 1-7 to 0-5 interval lead.
The inspirational Alex Looney was the only Rosslare scorer in the opening three-quarters.
Tadhg Hayes ended that run with a 49th-minute point but his side still trailed by 1-10 to 0-8 at that stage.
Things really started to change when Tadhg Brohan came to the fore. He followed up to net after Clarke’s shot was repelled by the superb Dylan Crowley.
A quick Brohan point (1-10 to 1-9) followed but it looked like it might not be Rosslare’s day when Rory Donohoe’s goal was ruled out for square-ball.
However, two minutes into added time, Looney scored the equalising point to send the game to overtime.
St. Mary’s, with Looney nailing a rocket of a penalty, took a 2-12 to 1-11 lead midway though extra-time.
A Rian Carroll score and three Miller points brought the game level but Clarke had the final say with his late, late winner.
St. Mary’s (Rosslare): William Ling; Ciarán Woodcock, Finn O’Donohoe, Danny Howlin; Shane Fortune, Alex Mulvihill, Conor Murphy; Jack O’Hagan, Tadhg Hayes (0-1); Tadhg Brohan (1-2), Alex Looney (capt., 1-9, 0-6 frees, 1-0 pen.), Ben Power; David O’Rourke, Garvan Woodcock, Kyle Clarke (0-1). Subs. - Rory Donohoe for G. Woodcock (39), Darragh Hayes for Fortune (56), Diarmuid Roche for Power (75), also Eoghan Byrne, Robbie Byrne, Eoin Murphy.
Kilmore: Dylan Crowley; Conor Rossiter, Ryan Miller (0-10, 9 frees), Stephen McDonnell; Rian Carroll (0-1), Cian Murphy-Reddy, Niall O’Flaherty; Pierce McDonnell (capt.), Jude Bates (0-2); Josh Berry, Patrick Healy (1-1), Conor Wall; Daniel Foley, Shay Doyle, Andrew Crosbie (01). Subs. - Max Power for Wall (31), Seán Willett for Foley (31), James Cloney for O’Flaherty (64), Wall for Willett (71).
Referee: Shane Quinn (Ballygarrett).