FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND-UP Mary’s victors with late surge
GAA Adamstown shell-shocked
TRAILING BY three points with three minutes remaining, St. Mary’s (Rosslare) shocked Adamstown with a late 1-3 to gain an eventual three-point victory in this hard-fought Amber Springs/ Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship Group A game in Taghmon on Sunday.
Adamstown, having dominated most of the second-half, looked well on their way to victory, leading by 0-11 to 0-8, but their failure to turn possession and opportunities into scores came back to haunt them as they were left shell-shocked on the final whistle.
St. Mary’s had struggled to impose themselves on the game, except for brief passages of play, but veteran David Murphy’s goal three minutes from the end galvanised their storming finish.
They went on to kick three further points, one a superb effort from the corner from almost on the endline, which preserved their one hundred per cent record after earlier beating St. Fintan’s.
Ian Bradley and Tiarnan Rossiter exchanged opening points, but the accuracy of Conor Hickey, along with efforts from Michael Furlong and Liam Stafford, helped Adamstown to hold the advantage.
They went on to lead by 0-7 to 0-5 at the interval, with David Murphy pointing frees to keep his side in contention.
The second-half followed much the same pattern with Adamstown enjoying most of the outfield possession.
With Tony French, Ian White and Hickey all kicking points, they led by 0-10 to 0-6 at the end of the third quarter, with Murphy converting a free in between for the seasiders.
But really Adamstown would have been further ahead but for wayward finishing.
They still looked comfortable until Murphy got under a high Tiarnan Rossiter lob to beat ’keeper Alan Bradley to the punch, with the ball dipping under the bar to nestle in the corner of the net, so the sides were now level (1-8 to 0-11) with three minutes remaining.
One minute from the end Murphy pointed his side in front with a free, the first time they led in the game, with Lee Devereux adding two decisive points in the final minute.
St. Mary’s: Stephen Breen; Ned Power, Gearóid Byrne, Conal Grant; Niall Walsh, Tiarnan Rossiter (0-1), Philip Lambert; Robert Butler, Naomhan Rossiter (0-1); Ultan Quirke, Andrew Murphy, Paul Kinsella; Lee Devereux (0-3), David Murphy (1-5, 0-5 frees), Conor Cafferkey. Subs. - Barry Quirke for U. Quirke, inj., Peter Carr for A. Murphy.
Adamstown: Alan Bradley; Kieran Finn, Lorcan French, James Breen; Johnny Connors, Michael Furlong (0-1), Barry Power; Tony French (0-1), Paudie Barden; Liam Stafford (0-1), Tomás Harrington, Shane O’Gorman; Conor Hickey (0-6, 4 frees), Ian Bradley (0-1), Ian White (0-1). Sub. - Eric Bradley for Power.
Referee: Philip Murphy (Faythe Harriers).