ROUND-UP Martin’s survive revival

GAA

ST. MARTIN’S survived an impressive second-half comeback from Rathgarogue-Cushinstown to hold on for a two-point win in this Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior football championship Group A game in Oylegate.

The Piercestown/Murrintown side looked to be in control of proceedings up until the final quarter when Rathgarogue-Cushinstown found a new lease of life to bring themselves to within a point of the victors.

Unfortunately for them, they had left themselves too much to do in a short space of time and St. Martin’s held on for the points in the end.

St. Martin’s started brightly with points from Diarmuid Byrne and Richard Devereux and a Philip Waters goal inside the first ten minutes.

Their rivals were struggling however, with a Bernard Furlong point being their sole score of the half.

Seán Stafford and Conor Coleman added scores at the other end but St. Martin’s probably should have put their opponents away as Mark Maloney’s effort on goal rolled wide shortly before Waters was denied from point-blank range, leaving them only four points clear at the break.

They resumed the scoring in the second-half but Rathgarogue-Cushinstown were clawing their way back into things with points from Daire Bolger and Tadhg Cody.

Stafford’s brace midway through the half put his side ahead by seven, but things took a turn from here on with Danny Martin Carroll, Bolger and Aaron Ryan reducing the gap before a high ball into the danger area was fisted to the net by Peadar Cody, leaving only a point between the sides and two minutes to play.

But St. Martin’s knew they could do enough to hold on, with Stafford adding a little insurance near the end with a fine score resulting in a deserved two-point win.

They have enjoyed a perfect start with their first and second teams: four wins from four games.

St. Martin’s: Nicky Greene; Pádraig Rossiter, Mark Maloney, Tony Kelly; Adrian Ryan, Kevin Price, Ben Maddock; Luke White, Peter Barry; Conor Coleman (0-2), Richard Devereux (0-2), Diarmuid Byrne (0-1); Eoghan Rackard, Seán Stafford (0-5, 1 free), Philip Waters (1-0). Subs. - Ciarán Redmond for Coleman, Martin Whelan for Waters.

Rathgarogue-Cushinstown: Fionn Slattery; Patrick Murphy, Ollie Bolger, Neil Merrigan; Bryan Cody, Eoghain Whelan, Peadar Cody (1-0); Robert Murphy, Matthew Cody; Eric Cummins, Daire Bolger (0-4 frees), Tadhg Cody (0-1); Brendan Fitzpatrick, Bernard Furlong (0-1), Aaron Ryan (0-1). Subs. - Eoin Porter for Slattery, Liam O’Shea for Fitzpatrick, Danny Martin Carroll (0-1) for Murphy.

Referee: Philip Murphy (Faythe Harriers).