DUFFRY ON A HIGH
Taghmon dispatched after extra-time
DUFFRY ROVERS 5-8 T’MON-C’ROSS 4-8 (AET)
WITH THIS New Ross Standard Under-14 football Division 5 championship final ticking well into the fifth minute of added-time, it looked like Taghmon-Camross were going to hold on to take the crown.
They led by three, down from five with three minutes of normal time remaining, but they still controlled their own destiny in St. Patrick’s Park.
Then, one long, hopeful ball forward fell to the right man, Danny Fitzhenry, at the right time.
The corner-forward had been involved a few minutes earlier when Taghmon-Camross put the ball into their own net to give Duffry a lifeline.
This time he cut in towards goal and drilled past Paddy Nolan, who had no chance, to send the game to extra-time.
From that point on, the Coolree boys looked destined to take the trophy.
Points from Gavin Roban, Conor Cooney and Tiernan Fitzhenry gave them something to hang on to in the first-half of extra-time, and scores from Pádraig Walters and Roban after the change-around made sure there would be no similar comeback at their expense.
The game really didn’t start at the same breakneck speed. The Duffry looked calm and confident as they built a 1-2 to nil lead on the back of a fine opening goal by Danny Fitzhenry. Conor Murphy picked out Cody Meyler and he fired low to the net to respond at the other end.
As the game moved into the second quarter, the Duffry started to move ahead. Evan O’Connor thumped a deflected effort to the net in the 17th minute, and James Lawless added another major from the right side of goal to make it 3-3 to 1-0.
Points from wing-forwards Conor Murphy and James Whitty cut the gap to seven at the break and they were a sign of things to come.
Rovers didn’t score until the late own goal, and in the meantime Taghmon-Camross racked up 3-3 to take a five-point lead.
Ben Furlong came off the bench to fire home an excellent goal, Michael Foley calmly dispatched a penalty, and Meyler drilled in a rebound after James Kelly’s shot was saved.
However, Rovers found their late fightback to force overtime (4-6 to 5-3) and eventually pointed their way clear.
Duffry Rovers: Ciarán Doyle; Cathal Cloke, Seán Kelly, Liam Redmond; Callum Boyce, Tiernan Fitzhenry (0-1), Cathal O’Gorman; Lee Sludds (joint capt.), Ian Blake; Conor Sinnott, Evan O’Connor (1-0), Joshua Doyle; Danny Fitzhenry (2-0), Gavin Roban (joint capt., 0-3, 1 free), James Lawless (12). Subs. - David Nolan for Cloke (26), Conor Cooney (0-1) for Sinnott (40), Pádraig Walters (0-1) for O’Connor (49), Jacques Neville for Sludds, inj. (63), Sludds for Redmond (70), also James Aylward, Noel Cowman, Ryan Growler, Jamie Blackburn, Ryan Purcell, Dylan Purcell, Darragh O’Donovan, Aaron Walsh, Des Kennedy.
Taghmon-Camross: Paddy Nolan (capt.); Luke Murphy, Jack Kelly, Cillian Gondard; Liam Winters, Mark Doyle (0-2, 1 free), Conor Foley; Maurice Cogley (0-1), Shane Codd; Conor Murphy (0-2), Michael Foley (1-2, 1-0 pen., 0-1 free), James Whitty (0-1); Ben Codd, James Kelly, Cody Meyler (2-0). Subs. - Ben Furlong (1-0) for B. Codd (18), Patrick Monaghan for L. Murphy (29), Jack Murphy for Furlong (41), Conor Mernagh for M. Foley, inj. (51), Daniel Ruane for Winters (57), Cathal Breen for J. Murphy (69), also Mark White, Tadhg Williams, Jack Barron.
Referee: Francis Neville (Shelmaliers).