O’Callaghan hits last-gasp leveller

A LATE, late Eoin O’Callaghan goal earned St. Fintan’s a share of the spoils against Duffry Rovers in this largely entertaining Ashdown Park/Amber Springs Hotels Intermediate football championship Group B game in St. Patrick’s Park on Friday.

As is the case with any drawn game, one side feels they have let victory slip from their grasp while the other feels the result is as good as a win.

And this game was no different, as Duffry Rovers must be kicking themselves after going seven points clear with ten minutes remaining having been the better side for the majority of proceedings.

From this point, they conceded five frees inside their own half, which were expertly converted by Donal Shanley, before one final delivery broke to second-half substitute O’Callaghan, who sent the crowd wild as he finished to the net from close range.

There was no time for a reply, resulting in St. Fintan’s getting their first point on the board and Duffry Rovers their second as they now have two draws from two games.

St. Fintan’s started the game off at an electric pace with Jamie Sinnott looking impressive with two great scores early on, and with the help of Niall Moore and Conor Sinnott they were three in front soon after.

The Duffry then began to show what they were made of, and with points from Niall Beggan, Gavin Watchorn, Cian Fitzhenry and three scintillating scores from Johnny Flynn-O’Connor they went in at the break four clear.

The Duffry continued to lay down their control over proceedings on the re-start and, as Flynn-O’Connor and Beggan continued to impress with some well-taken scores, they were seven clear nearing the end.

St. Fintan’s were struggling but it was evident that they weren’t playing to their full potential, and with some great work from Jim Rossiter, Donal Shanley and Conor Sinnott they pushed themselves back into things, with the kick of a ball separating the sides going into added time.

One last hit-and-hope ball was then delivered high into the square, and the alert O’Callaghan was in the right place to level matters with his goal deep into added time.

St. Fintan’s: Patrick McDonnell; Shane Sinnott, Frank Staples, Peter Goldsmith; Brendan Hughes, Jim Rossiter, Kevin Day; Conor Sinnott (0-2), Jason Pettit; Joey Wadding, Donal Shanley (0-6 frees), Jamie Sinnott (0-2); Niall Moore (0-1), Cathal O’Brien, David Moore. Subs. - Adam Devereux for Pettit, Pádhraic Rossiter for Hughes, Eoin O’Callaghan (1-0) for J. Sinnott.

Duffry Rovers: Bobby Larkin; Donie Doyle, Conor Jordan, Thomas Dunne; John Dunne, Craig Casey, Aidan Byrne; Ted O’Brien, Stephen Watchorn (0-1); Gavin Rafter, Johnny Flynn-O’Connor (0-6, 3 frees), Gavin Watchorn (0-2); Niall Beggan (0-3), Donie O’Connor, Cian Fitzhenry (02, 1 free). Subs. - Glenn Rafter for T. Dunne, Tim Bowler for Gavin Rafter, Liam Pender for Glenn Rafter.

Referee: Barry Redmond (Clonard).