Crossabeg-Ballymurn chalk up a superb tally

CROSSABEG-BALLYMURN outscored St. Joseph’s by 0-17 to 0-3 in the last 38 minutes to get their Amber Springs/Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship Group A campaign off to a winning start in Ferns Centre Of Excellence on Sunday.

In many ways it was a typical Crossabeg-Ballymurn type performance. They played with pace and energy, and it seemed like everyone was willing to be the option and produce the overlapping run.

That said, there were times when things didn’t gel, when it looked like the first championship game of the season, so the victors will be more than happy to escape a bruising encounter with the win secured.

Before their opponents kicked away to win comfortably, the newlook, youthful Bishopswater side had produced several moments of quality and showed plenty of promise.

It’s the first time a smattering of players from their under-age setup have played a part in the top adult team since their re-formation, which must have been a source of great pride for those who have put in the hard graft over the last several seasons.

Despite falling 0-3 to 0-1 behind, St. Joseph’s got a major fillip when Paul Murphy broke on to Andy Moore’s crossfield ball at full speed, drove in on the right of goal and dispatched past Ben Turner to the net.

Against the breeze, the Wexford town club were flying when Wayne Carty punched home Josh Guerrine’s hopeful ball towards goal from the edge of the square. It put his side 2-2 to 0-5 up but things started to change quickly.

Aided by a couple of Cormac O’Rourke points, Crossabeg-Ballymurn went in 0-10 to 2-2 ahead after scoring five points in a row. Indeed, it could have been worse, as Jamie McMahon made a fantastic double save to first deny Pádraig Foley, and then Ronan Devereux.

Playing against the elements didn’t hamper Crossabeg-Ballymurn, as seven points in twelve minutes, including a couple from Andy Butler, put the contest to bed by the end of the third quarter.

Later, Pádraig Foley brought his tally for the afternoon to four as they eased home.

Crossabeg-Ballymurn: Ben Turner; Michael Eviston, Oisín Foley (capt.), Conor Barlow; Conor Devereux (02), Martin Redmond (0-1), Seamus Carroll; Pádraig Foley (0-4), Robert Byrne; Bill Eviston, Ronan Devereux (0-1), Cathal Devereux (0-2); Cormac O’Rourke (0-5, 1 free), Eoin McDonald, Andy Butler (0-5, 2 frees). Subs. - Mark O’Connor (0-1) for McDonald (26), Davy Kehoe for R. Devereux, inj. (44), Oran Maddock for B. Eviston (47), McDonald (0-1) for Cathal Devereux, inj. (51), Evan Kinlough for Byrne (58).

St. Joseph’s: Jamie McMahon; Eddie Byrne, Paddy Harnett, Seamus King; Darragh Whelan, Stephen Kearney, Sky Moroney; Jim Berry, Andy Moore; Derek Bergin, Paul Murphy (capt., 1-3, 0-3 frees), Tommy Sheridan (0-1); Josh Guerrine, Wayne Carty (1-0), Adam Beary (0-1 ‘45). Subs. Eddie Lawlor for Moroney (37), Kieran Kelly for Guerrine (47), Seán Breen for Beary (53).

Referee: Derek Murphy (St. Martin’s).