Goal-getting Bannow on top
Marshalstown’s pace posed problems in lively clash
BANNOW MARSHALSTOWN 4-7 0-7
THE BLINDING pace of Marshalstown’s key players gave their opponents lots of concern, but ultimately Bannow’s goal-getting exploits made all the difference when they stormed their way to the Allianz Rackard League boys’ football Roinn ‘C’ title in St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, on Tuesday.
The south county side rattled their rivals’ net four times, with a brace apiece from central attackers Mikey Kent and Conor Quigley putting paid to the chances of the gutsy Enniscorthy District champions.
Marshalstown underlined their speed from the off, as captain Killian Brennan won the throw-in and soloed his way to a fine point after a mere eleven seconds.
Eoin Breen responded immediately for Bannow, and they gained a lead that was held for the remainder of the game when midfielder Cian Cummins set up his partner, Bobby Murphy, to make it 0-2 to 0-1 in the fourth minute.
Murphy quickly turned from scorer to provider, picking out the long-striding Mikey Kent who burst through for a well-taken goal on their next attack.
It took a good save from Dylan Westnott-Byrne to deny Kent a second, but the pressure mounted on Marshalstown when Cian Cummins stretched the Bannow advantage to 1-3 to 0-1 in the seventh minute.
It was left to excellent centre-forward Brian Ivers to drag his side back into contention. He was undoubtedly the quickest of all the players on the field, and his solo running at pace earned a number of frees.
His place-kicking off the ground was top notch too, and he raised three white flags before the break to leave Marshalstown facing a more manageable deficit (1-5 to 0-4).
Kent had pointed and also hit the post for Bannow during the second quarter, while Cian Cummins had goal on his mind when his dangerous shot was tipped over the bar by netminder Westnott-Byrne.
One notable feature of the first-half was the fine accuracy displayed by the two sides when chances did arise, as they only shot one wide apiece, both just before the interval.
Another free converted by Brian Ivers, after a foul on Killian Brennan, left Marshalstown just three points behind inside one minute of the re-start.
Bannow saw two of their best players confined to the sin-bin for ten-minute spells, but they also pounced for a key goal during that period when Conor Quigley lobbed the ball to the net with a fine strike (2-5 to 0-5).
Marshalstown’s refusal to give in was admirable, and they still retained some hope after Killian Brennan and Brian Ivers (free) left them trailing by four points entering the last quarter.
With Bannow’s key performers back on the field, they pressed home their advantage in the closing stages. Mikey Kent forced Dylan Westnott-Byrne into another fine save at the end of a driving run, but a superb pass by Eoin Breen unlocked the Marshalstown defence with eleven minutes left.
He picked out Tommie Rossiter who handpassed swiftly to Conor Quigley, and the full-forward netted from close range for his second goal (3-5 to 0-7).
Kent added 1-1 to double his personal tally, and it was pleasing to note that Bannow coach Lloyd Colfer summoned each and every one of the winners’ squad from the sideline to play some part in a fine victory.
One of that number, Jack Sinnott, kicked a super point to round off an impressive win, but the physically-smaller Marshalstown lads also contributed in rich measure to an enjoyable game.
Bannow: Patrick Quigley; Ian Fleming, John Gaul, Patrick Rossiter; Jack Rossiter, Dylan Hayes (capt.), Cameron Whelan; Bobby Murphy (0-1),
Cian Cummins (0-2); Eoin Breen (0-1), Mikey Kent (2-2), Aaron O’Sullivan; Tommie Rossiter, Conor Quigley (2-0), Joe Murphy. Subs. (rolling) – Patrick Murphy, Josh Monaghan, Alex Anglim, Jack Sinnott (0-1), Rupert Eaton, Dean Diskin, Luke Murphy, Seán Furlong, Cillian Reville, T.J. Currid, Peter Sinnott, Darren Williams.
Marshalstown: Dylan Westnott-Byrne; Oisín Fenlon, Peter Lett,
Evan Kehoe; Michael Kehoe, Cormac Devereux, Jack Burton; Killian Brennan (capt., 0-2), Danny Walsh; Quen Redmond, Brian Ivers (0-5 frees), Tomás Tyrrell; Oisín Finn, Jack Tomkins, Kaelem Whelan. Subs. (rolling) – Jerry Connors, Tomás Mernagh, Sam Lett, David Donnelly, Jack McGrath, Joe Byrne.
Referee:
Stephen Burke (Volunteers).