Cushinstown clinch win

TWO SECOND-HALF goals proved decisive as Rathgarogue-Cushinstown eventually fashioned a hard-earned victory over a battling Monageer-Boolavogue in this Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior football championship Group B game at Fr. Murphy Park, Enniscorthy, on Friday.

While the eventual winners made the most of their possession through the opening five minutes with points from Eoin Porter and Nicky Sinnott, the Enniscorthy District side eventually began to bring more momentum to their game.

And they opened their account through a Mark Gahan seventh-minute goal, with his effort lobbing the advancing ‘keeper to nestle in the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

Ed Rowsome’s charges took the initiative, adding further points through Micheál Gahan and a Matthew Dunne free to lead by 1-2 to 0-2 after ten minutes.

With Eoin Porter responding with a fine point from play to be followed by efforts from Peadar Cody and Nicky Sinnott, the New Ross District outfit managed to lead by 0-8 to 1-4 at the interval.

After Daire Bolger and a Dunne free saw the sides exchange early second-half points, the eventual winners got a crucial breakthrough on 39 minutes, when Sinnott finished to the net following good approach play involving Danny Martin Carroll and Porter to give his side a 1-9 to 1-6 lead.

Although Monageer-Boolavogue had an immediate response through a Mark Gahan point, Tadhg Cody sealed his side’s win eleven minutes from the end with a well-executed goal, and despite the best efforts of the opposition they went on to hold out for a seven-point win in the end.

Both sides finished the game with 14 players, with the winners’ Peadar Cody red-carded after 14 minutes, while the losers had Tommy Breen dismissed three minutes from the end.

Rathgarogue-Cushinstown: Jonathan Kelly; Robert Murphy, Bryan Cody, Patrick Murphy; Peadar Cody, Brian O’Neill, Ollie Bolger; Danny Martin Carroll (0-1), Matthew Cody; Daire Bolger (0-1), Eoin Porter (0-6, 2 frees), Tadhg Cody (1-1); Jason Dunne, Bernard Furlong, Nicky Sinnott (1-4). Subs. - Eoghan Whelan for Sinnott, Paddy Barron for Dunne.

Monageer-Boolavogue: Niall Finn; Morgan Gahan, Conal Nolan (0-1), Arran Breslin; Niall O’Reilly, Paddy Breen, Ian Hawkins; Tommy Breen, Bryan Dwyer; Mark Gahan (1-1), Damien Fenlon, Mick Sweeney; Cathal Walsh, Matthew Dunne (0-6, 4 frees), Micheál Gahan (0-1). Subs. - Liam Gahan for Breslin, Seán Roche for Dwyer, Shane Kehoe for Mark Gahan, Dwyer for L. Gahan.

Referee: Martin Armstrong (Starlights).