Shels defeat title-holders
Clearcut loss for Starlights
SHELMALIERS STARLIGHTS 2-11 0-9
SHELMALIERS WERE on the verge of a place in the Tom Doyle Supplies Senior football championship quarter-finals after beating champions Starlights in Group B at Innovate Wexford Park on Saturday.
The Hollymount side were waiting on the result of the Taghmon-Camross/St. James’ game the following day, with victory for the former enough to guarantee a last eight spot, and that’s the way it workd out.
Regardless of that result, this third success of the campaign is a statement win.
This is a side you really don’t want to fall behind against. Starlights have been masters of winning tough games in recent times, but after their opponents built a lead they never looked like bridging the gap.
In wet conditions, Shelmaliers went long quickly and often, into a full-forward line loaded with potential.
The old complaint against the Over The Water side was that they lacked a consistent scorer, but Craig McCabe was buzzing with confidence inside and could be a huge weapon in the coming weeks.
With a heavily-strapped A.J. Lehane as a capable foil, and plenty of energy in behind, this Shelmaliers side is going to be a tough team to dispatch if they continue with this rich vein of form.
There was just six minutes on the clock when James Cash found himself unusually close to the Starlights goal and was hauled to the deck by Tom Wall for a penalty.
McCabe stepped up and slotted it low to the left to the net, sending Pa Doyle the wrong way.
When Brian Malone drove forward and clipped over a classy point, his side led by 1-3 to 0-1 after just nine minutes.
Quick points by Alan Tobin and Darragh Pepper cut the deficit but Starlights failed to score in the final 20 minutes of the half as their opponents controlled the contest. Lehane took a safe point when breaking in on the left, and Eoin Doyle pointed to make it 1-5 to 0-3 at the end of the quarter.
McCabe added just two more frees in the second quarter but it was enough to leave his side in a strong position at the break.
Shelmaliers, leading by seven (1-7 to 0-3), are always going to be a tough nut to crack and Starlights, without Kevin Foley and Nick Doyle, had no answers.
They did get within five when Aaron Dobbs kicked a 35th-minute free, but his former Wexford F.C. team-mate McCabe replied with a brace at the other end to ensure that there was still seven points between the teams heading into the final quarter (1-9 to 0-5).
Shelmaliers put the game to bed in the 52nd minute when a one-two between McCabe and Seán Keane-Carroll saw the latter dragged down close to goal. McCabe stepped up and fired low to the left again to end Starlights’ unbeaten start to the campaign.
Shelmaliers: Graham Lawler-Ryan; Andre O’Brien, James Cash, Dan Campbell; Simon Donohoe, Graham Staples, Aidan Cash; Brian Malone (0-1), Eoghan Nolan (0-1); Jody Donohoe, Eoin Doyle (capt., 0-1), Ross Banville; A.J. Lehane (01), Craig McCabe (2-7, 2-0 pens., 0-5 frees), Conor Hearne. Subs. - Seán Keane-Carroll for Banville (51), Páraic O’Leary for Lehane (54), Liam Rockett for J. Donohoe (58), Brian Murphy for McCabe (60+2).
Starlights: Pa Doyle; Mel Doyle, Tom Wall (capt.), Rory O’Connor; Anthony Roche, Ricky Fox (0-1), James Peare; Liam Ryan, Jack Kelly (0-1); Alan Tobin (0-1), James Carty, Dillon Redmond (0-1); Ryan Mahon (0-1), Eamonn Furlong, Darragh Pepper (0-2). Subs. - Aaron Dobbs (0-1 free) for Roche (31), Tomás Mahon (0-1) for Carty (42), Lenny Connolly for Furlong (53), Tommy Foley for O’Connor (60+2).
Referee: Brendan Holohan (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown).