Browne points way for holders
Fethard retain District ‘B’ title
A DAMIEN Browne point with the game well into added time was the winning score for Fethard as they retained the New Ross District Junior ‘B’ football championship title with a minimum margin victory over Bannow-Ballymity at Horeswood on Friday last.
As in their earlier meeting in the league section, very little separated the teams all through, but the introduction of the evergreen Jim Byrne for the final ten minutes helped to swing it Fethard’s way at a time when it looked as if Bannow-Ballymitty would prevail.
A fifth-minute Robert Swan goal gave Fethard the ideal start and by half-time they were 1-6 to 0-4 ahead, with most of their forwards having scored. Bannow-Ballymitty with a few positional switches got on top for most of the secondhalf and, with the aid of a Nicky Doyle goal and some welltaken points from Seán Sinnott and Pat Fitzharris, they edged a point ahead before Fethard introduced the influential Jim Byrne.
The former Wexford dual Senior player scored a levelling point from an acute angle and extra-time looked likely as the game entered the closing stages. Then up popped Damien Browne to score the winning point.
Bannow-Ballymitty got two opportunities from long-range frees to at least force a draw, but they fell short and Fethard go through to the county semi-final. The cup was presented by the New Ross District Secretary, John Hanton, to his fellow clubman Paul Foley.
Fethard: Ciarán Furlong; Christopher Molloy, Seán Sutton, John Rice; Shane Tubrid, Evan Rowe, Andrew Whelan; Paul Foley (capt., 0-2, 1 free), Daniel Johnson (0-1 free); Damien Browne (0-1), Brian O’Donohoe (0-1), James Dillon; Ricky Rowe (0-1), Robert Swan (11), John Luc Tubritt (0-2). Subs. - Stephen Barry for Sutton, Conan Murphy for Dillon, Jim Byrne (0-1) for Rowe, also Tommy Power, Niall Roche, Jeff Barry.
Bannow-Ballymitty: Kevin Doyle; Ben Moran, Tommy Hannon, David Staunton; David White, Robert Mageean, Pádraig McCormick; Nicky Doyle (1-1), Mark Wallace (0-1); Fintan White, Rory Hannon, Seán Sinnott (0-3, 1 free); Christiopher Anglim (0-1), Garry Morton, Pat Fitzharris (0-3, 2 frees). Subs. - Darragh O’Connor for Moran, Paul Browne.
Referee: Anthony Tobin (Geraldine O’Hanrahans).