Rosslare run riot in attack
Second defeat for Joseph’s
AN IMPRESSIVE 2-6 without reply in the first 20 minutes of the second-half powered St. Mary’s (Rosslare) to a comfortable win over St. Joseph’s in their Amber Springs/Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship Group A clash in Killurin on Saturday.
The seasiders had been the more purposeful team in the opening period but still had a lot of work to do at the break when they led by 2-4 to 1-4.
However, the Bishopswater crew were blown away by their constant attacking on the restart, especially in a ten-minute purple patch midway through the half when a burst of 2-4 put the outcome beyond any reasonable doubt.
It was a particularly interesting day for two men on either side of the white lines, as St. Joseph’s are now coached by Alan Stafford who gave many years of wonderful service to Rosslare as a player.
And while the town club will always be grateful to David Murphy for the strides they made during his stint as their trainer, he was a sworn enemy on this occasion as he lined out at full-forward with his native St. Mary’s and ended as the winners’ joint top scorer.
St. Joseph’s are notoriously slow starters to every campaign, and this defeat means that they have lost their two opening round games every year now from 2015 onwards.
Rosslare, in contrast, were looking to improve on the previous week’s draw with Bannow-Ballymitty, and they gained the first major breakthrough in the 13th minute after the sides had been level on three occasions beforehand.
Rees Broaders found David Murphy whose off-load put Paul Kinsella through with the ball at his feet, and the wing-forward directed it low past Jamie McMahon to establish a 1-3 to 0-3 lead.
And he struck again in the 29th minute, just about managing to force the ball over the goal-line at the second attempt despite the netminder’s best efforts after Murphy and Robert Butler featured in the build-up.
St. Joseph’s were thrown a lifeline in added time though, as Stephen Kearney’s high and hopeful kick appeared to go into the net off the hand of goalkeeper Gavin Morris who was under pressure from Wayne Carty (2-4 to 1-4).
Rosslare built on their lead when play resumed with points from Lee Devereux and David Murphy, although the former sent a goal chance left and wide in between.
They grew in stature as the half wore on, rarely wasting a ball as the Rossiter brothers and Robert Butler mopped up around the middle third.
The third goal was a well-crafted effort in the 41st minute as Paul Kinsella picked out Tiarnan Rossiter with a long crossfield pass from the right wing.
The county player popped the ball to Cian Boggan who crashed it to the net, and St. Mary’s made their advantage pay as Butler, Naomhan Rossiter, Boggan (drawing a fine reflex save from McMahon) and Murphy (free) added points.
Lee Devereux and Rees Broaders set up David Murphy for the fourth goal in the 51st minute, and their fifth came from an unlikely source.
Andrew Murphy, substituted at half-time, was called upon again for a late cameo after his replacement, Jason Ellard, pulled up with a hamstring injury.
And his first touch on his second coming yielded a goal, finished off from close range after a Broaders pass.
St. Mary’s (Rosslare): Gavin Morris; Barry Quirke, Emmet Byrne, Shea Boggan; Gearóid Byrne (capt.), Tiarnan Rossiter (0-1), Niall Walsh; Robert Butler (0-2), Naomhan Rossiter (0-1); Cian Boggan (1-1), Andrew Murphy, Paul Kinsella (2-0); Lee Devereux (0-2), David Murphy (1-3, 0-2 frees), Rees Broaders. Subs. - Jason Ellard for A. Murphy (HT), Andrew Murphy (1-0) for Ellard, inj. (54).
St. Joseph’s: Jamie McMahon; Darragh Whelan (0-1), Paddy Harnett, Eddie Byrne; Gary Byrne (0-1 free), Eddie Lawlor, Seamus King; Jim Berry, Andy Moore; Stephen Kearney (1-0), Paul Murphy (capt., 0-4, 3 frees), Derek Bergin; Tommy Sheridan, Wayne Carty, Sky Moroney. Subs. - Decky Downes for Moroney (HT), Josh Guerrine for Sheridan (HT), Kieran Kelly for Murphy (47), Sheridan for Bergin (52).
Referee: Niall McDonald (Crossabeg-Ballymurn).