T.J. foils the twelve men
TAGHMON-C’ROSS DUFFRY ROVERS
A DRAMATIC conclusion to Group A of the Top Oil Intermediate ‘A’ hurling championship saw Taghmon-Camross maintain their one hundred per cent record as a late goal from T.J. Codd gave them a narrow 2-13 to 1-14 victory over twelve-man Duffry Rovers in Saturday’s eventful fifth round tie at St. Patrick’s Park.
Smartphones were put into overdrive in the moments after the full-time whistle, as news from matches elsewhere were slow to be confirmed.
However, when it emerged that Tara Rocks and St. Patrick’s had drawn in Monamolin, the relief among the Duffry Rovers contingent was palpable as it ensured that they secured the final quarter-final berth on the head-to-head ruling over St. Patrick’s.
The Duffry held the edge for a sizeable chunk of the second-half, as they showed tremendous battling qualities to hold a 1-13 to 1-12 lead with two minutes remaining despite playing with two men less after red cards to Aidan Byrne and Donie Doyle earlier in the game.
However, that numerical discrepancy was bound to take its toll the longer the game went on, and so it proved when substitute T.J. Codd popped up to swipe to the net after being teed up by Luke Sinnott just as the clock ticked into injury time.
Amazingly, Duffry Rovers were reduced to twelve men in the aftermath to that green flag, with John Dunne receiving his marching orders for something he said to referee Philip Murphy.
Johnny Flynn-O’Connor’s intended delivery into the square instead dropped over the bar to reduce the gap to 2-12 to 1-14 some four minutes into additional time, before Stephen O’Gorman rounded off the scoring with the last puck of the game.
Earlier, Michael O’Gorman pounced for a deflected goal on 16 minutes as Taghmon-Camross established some daylight (1-4 to 0-2).
Frees from Liam Pender (two) and Cian Fitzhenry kept the Duffry in touch as they trailed by 1-6 to 0-5 at the break, but a goal out of nothing from Donie O’Connor saw them 1-9 to 1-7 in front with 17 minutes to go.
But they ultimately got caught late on, and now face a difficult quarter-final assignment opposite Ballygarrett.
For their part, Taghmon-Camross will meet New Ross District rivals Geraldine O’Hanrahans in the last eight.
Taghmon-Camross: Seán O’Gorman; Mark O’Gorman (capt.), Stephen O’Keeffe, Tom Banville; Stephen Stafford, Chris Cullen, Peter Murphy; Thomas Furlong (0-1), Darren Carty; Darren Hayden, Shane Lacey (0-1), Luke Sinnott; Michael O’Gorman (10), Stephen O’Gorman (0-4), Cathal Doyle (0-7, 6 frees). Subs. - T.J. Codd for Carty, temp. (41-44), Codd (1-0) for Sinnott (58).
Duffry Rovers: Stephen Watchorn; James Nolan, Craig Casey, John Dunne; Cathal Clince (0-2 frees), Donie Doyle, Mattie O’Connor; Aidan Byrne, Liam Pender (0-5 frees); Cian Fitzhenry (0-2, 1 free), Donie O’Connor (1-2), Johnny Flynn-O’Connor (0-1); Robert Frayne (0-2), Joe Coleman, Gavin Watchorn. Subs. - Thomas Dunne for Nolan (29), Alan O’Neill for Watchorn (49), Eamonn Doyle for D. O’Connor (52).
Referee: Philip Murphy (Faythe Harriers).