FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND-UP Walsh kicks winning point
GAA Jimmies edge clash of champs
THE BATTLE of the last two titleholders produced a very exciting finish in rain-sodden O’Kennedy Park, New Ross, on Sunday as St. James’ hit 1-2 without reply in the last quarter to pip Gusserane and get their Tom Doyle Supplies Senior football championship Group B campaign back on course.
What a difference a week made for the Ramsgrange crew, as seven days earlier they were on the receiving end at the same venue when Fethard launched a late burst to beat them by two points.
And the prospect of a second successive loss had to be foremost in a lot of St. James’ minds after they conceded a third goal in the 45th minute.
The only blemish on a superb midfield performance from Matthew O’Hanlon came when he spilled Jack Burford’s ’45 in his own square, after a marvellous John Ryan save denied Mark Rossiter, and Robbie Corcoran was on hand to force the breaking ball home and stretch the Gusserane lead to 3-6 to 0-11.
While the titleholders welcomed back Rossiter, they were without two more prominent figures from their opening day win over Horeswood in young defender Gavin Sheehan and midfielder Cillian Kehoe.
The depth in their panel has been put to its fullest test even at this early stage of the campaign, but they weren’t able to hang on this time around.
There was no score for over nine minutes after that Gusserane goal until dual county Minor Jamie Myler swung over a neat left-footed point to give St. James’ hope.
And their big breakthrough arrived in the 56th minute after a Gusserane player lost the ball in a central position coming out of defence.
Matthew O’Hanlon launched a long handpass into the path of Adam Parle who was closed down quickly but still managed to deliver a low drive into the net for the equaliser.
St. James’ had experimented with their tactics, playing big Brendan Doyle at full-forward but then not utilising him as often as they probably planned with long deliveries.
And somewhat ironically, they made their surge for the winning post after he had drifted back out to his more regular midfield posting in the last ten minutes.
Substitute Tommy Walsh will also have good reason to remember this keenly-fought clash, as he was less than eight minutes on the field before latching on to a Doyle handpass and kicking the winning point with 80 seconds of normal time remaining.
St. James’ have now beaten Gusserane in their two championship meetings in the past three campaigns, although they made the task harder than necessary by conceding those three goals.
The first arrived in the 23rd minute after a period when they played some fine football to move clear by 0-7 to 0-4 with four unanswered points from Matthew O’Hanlon (’45), Kevin O’Grady, Brian Molloy and David Doyle.
Seán Ryan launched a high ball towards Adrian Flynn on the edge of the square, and it broke into the path of Paul Wall who lashed home the leveller.
Jack Burford (’45) and Jamie Myler (free) swapped points before the break, leaving the sides deadlocked (1-5 to 0-8) at the end of a half which featured one very good John Ryan save from a Sam Wall shot in the sixth minute.
The second period was less than 40 seconds under way when Kenneth Cahill was upended for a penalty which he calmly finished to the net, although the St. James’ response was strong as O’Hanlon, Adam Parle and O’Hanlon again (’45) brought them level by the 36th minute.
The latter score came after Micheál Ryan turned a Jason Barron piledriver over the endline via the post, with St. James’ clearly intent on getting a first win under their belts.
However, Gusserane got a little bit of breathing space towards the end of the third quarter when Mark Rossiter restored their lead from a free before Corcoran knocked in their third goal on a busy day when he also won a Billy Browne Cup soccer medal with Cushinstown.
The Jimmies weren’t deterred though, and their one-point win ensures that this fascinating group is likely to have many more twists and turns whenever the last three rounds take place.
St. James’: John Ryan; Paul Barron, Jason Barron, Greg Doyle; Robbie Barron, David Doyle (0-1), Daniel Keating; Darragh Lyons, Matthew O’Hanlon (0-4, 2 ’45s); Kevin O’Grady (0-2), Brian Molloy (0-2), Graeme Molloy (capt.); Jamie Myler (0-2, 1 free), Brendan Doyle, Adam Parle (1-1). Subs. - Shane Murphy for Keating (48), Tommy Walsh (0-1) for G. Molloy (51), Liam Murphy for B. Molloy (55), Donal Barron for J. Barron (60+1).
Gusserane: Micheál Ryan; Liam Dillon, Mark O’Neill, Jack O’Connor; Sam Wall, Graeme Cullen (capt.), Jack Burford (0-2 ee’45s); Kenneth Cahill (1-0 pen.), John Roche; Adrian Flynn (0-1 free), Mark Rossiter (0-1 free), Páraic Conway (0-1); Robbie Corcoran (1-0), Paul Wall (1-0), Seán Ryan (0-1). Subs. - Shane Cullen for Corcoran (56), Martin Fitzharris for Cahill, inj. (59).
Referee: Anthony Tobin (Geraldine