BRENDAN FURLONG
ST ANNE’S (RATHANGAN) BALLYHOGUE
ROY NUNN stepped up to the plate with a point in additional time to hand St. Anne’s a dramatic late victory over a battling Ballyhogue outfit in this Enniscorthy Farm systems Junior A football championship quarter-final at Taghmon on Sunday morning last.
Having juggled with the lead on so many occasions during the course of the sixty minutes, they needed this late point which arrived at a juncture when it looked as if the game was about to enter extra time, but the stubborn challenge presented by Ballyhogue was eventually overcome with that late Nunn intervention.
St. Anne’s started brightly having the better of the opening quarter at the end of which they led 0-4 to 0-1, through points from Shane Mythen, three long range frees, and Gavin Howlett, whose punched effort from a breaking ball went over the bar when it could so easily have been a goal, while it was a Dylan Dalton pointed free in between that provided the oppositions solitary score through this opening period of play.
After Peter Kelly with a forty meter pointed free had reduced the deficit, wing-forward Shane Roche saw his shot for goal spin across the goalmouth and just wide.
Following this let off, St. Anne’s responded with points from Gavin Howlett and two Mythen 50- meter frees, to extend into a 0-7 to 0-2 lead after 28 minutes of action.
However, it was Ballyhogue who finished the half strongly with a Kevin ring point, while the same defender fired home a 32nd minute goal, to leave the minimum separating the sides at the half-time break, 0-7 to 1-3.
After Jess Codd and Roy Nunn points extended their sides lead on the resumption, it was Ballyhogue who bounced back for points from Mick Parker, Kevin Ring and two from Cian Ryan to tie the sides at 0-10 to 1-7, with ten minutes remaining.
St. Anne’s: Dylan Kavanagh; Gavin O’Brien, Andrew Walsh, Jim Ryan; Vincent Carroll, Joe O’Conn or, Kevin Redmond; Shane Mythen (0-6 frees), Seamus Mythen (0-1) Gordon Simpson, Jess Codd (0-2), Roy Nunn (0-2); David Kavanagh, Niall Doyle, Gavin Howlett (0-2). Subs: Brian Kavanagh for Remond; Billy Ryan for Simpson; Paul Martin for Howlett.
Ballyhogue: Enda Byrne; Shane Fenlon, Cormac Byrne, Darragh Byrne; Peter Doyle, Gerry Heanue, Conor Long; Peter Kelly (0-1 free), Michael Long (0-1); Liam Rossiter, Dylan Dalton (0-2, 0-1 free), Shane Roche; Cian Rogers (0-2), Kevin Ring (1-2), Conor Rossiter. Subs: Mick Parker (0-1) for Conor Rossiter; Jack Fortune for Cormac Byrne; Cormac Byrne for Heanue (inj.).
Referee: Fintan Whyte (St. James).