Spoils are shared
Gusserane waste big lead but hold on
GUSSERANE COUGHED up a huge lead but eventually held on to claim a draw in the Junior ‘A’ football championship quarter-final in Taghmon on Friday last.
Having trailed by 1-7 to nil after 23 minutes, things looked far from promising for Adamstown, but the scoreline didn't tell the story of a game that they were far from out of.
They had six wides on the board in that time and shared a fairly even split of posession, yet it was Gusserane that took their chances with quick, clever balls into their attackers that helped them into a five-point lead following scores from Martin Fitzharris, Tom Foran, Ger Wallace and a Darragh Doyle brace.
When Fitzharris goaled, after a lovely Foran defence-splitting pass, and the full-forward then added another brace of minors to his assist, Adamstown were in big trouble. Ian Bradley opened their account with 2:24 left in the firsthalf, and a brace from Ian Stafford in what was left gave his side some hope for the second period (1-7 to 0-3).
Gusserane scored three points in the opening twelve minutes of the second-half, so it wasn't like their production dropped massively. However, their opponents were suddenly finding gaps at the other end.
Shane Bradley punched Tomás French's pass to the net in the 35th minute and a second major followed soon after when Vinny Doheny caught Bradley's line ball close to goal and slotted it past Brian Fardy.
Ian Bradley's point levelled the scores in the 42nd minute, just 15 minutes after they had been scoreless (1-10 to 2-7). Gusserane did get two ahead again after points by Doyle and Seán O'Connor, but Adamstown forced a draw following minors from Shane and Ian Bradley.
With referee Philip Murphy unsure of whether or not extra-time was to be played, the teams headed off content to fight it out for a semi-final place another day - this evening (Tuesday) as it happens, in New Ross at 6.45 p.m.
Gusserane: Brian Fardy; James Redmond, John Roche Jnr., Ciarán Conway; Evan O'Neill, Matty Flynn, Robert Browne (capt.); John Roche Snr., Darragh Doyle (0-3, 2 frees); Seán O'Connor (0-1), Keith Hayden, Martin Fitzharris (1-2); Ger Wallace (0-1), Tom Foran (0-5), Eoghan Foran. Subs. - Seamie Ryan for Roche Snr. (31), James Kinsella for Browne (47), Ronan Waters for Wallace (57), Conor Cleary for Hayden, inj. (58).
Adamstown: Eoin Furlong; John Whelan (capt.), Liam McDonald, Jack Curtis; Brendan Furlong, Andrew English, James Delaney; Ian Bradley (0-3), Podge Wickham; Tomás French, Kevin Browne, Michael Boland; Ciarán Foley, Ian Stafford (0-3, 1 free), Shane Bradley (1-3). Subs. - Paddy Sinnott for McDonald (31), Vinny Doheny (1-0) for Foley (31), Patrick Delaney for J. Delaney, black card (51), Johnny Connors for Stafford (55), Lee White for French (59).
Referee: Philip Murphy (Faythe Harriers).