Vickers comes to the rescue! St Pat’s snatch late draw

at Pearses’ Park, Arklow from play by Ciaran McGettigan and Simon Boucher and a Conor O’Brien point from a free.

However, Aaron Nugent had the final say in the scoring stakes in the first half when he converted another free to leave Ashford ahead by 1-3 to 0-5 at the break. Despite Ashford more than holding their own in general play in the first half, they had to be concerned that their only real scoring threat came from Aaron Nugent, who scored all their total up to this point in the game.

The second half started in a very lively manner with the awarding of a penalty to St. Pat’s in the third minute. Conor O’Brien converted to put his side back into a two point lead.

That man Aaron Nugent pulled back a point from play five minutes later but both sides were fighting for supremacy in worsening weather conditions and scores were hard to come by.

A Jordan Pettigrew free in the 17th minute appeared to be drifting wide but the ball took an unexpected direction from the bounce and went over the bar.

Once again Aaron Nugent responded, this time from a free. By now Ashford were ringing the changes and had five subs in by 20 minutes.

Ciaran McGettigan, who had a quiet game by his standard, restored St. Patrick’s two point advantage with eight minutes left in the half.

At this stage sheets of rain were blowing down the field as both sides battled for victory. With four minutes to go, Colm Doyle, one of the Ashford replacements, struck a decisive blow when he fisted home Ashford’s second goal.

When Brendan Manning and Danny Kavanagh quickly added points from play to put Ashford three points to the good, it appeared that St. Pat’s race was run.

However, they had no intention of surrendering without a fight. In the second minute of injury time they worked a near-in free into the goalmouth where Shaun Vickers got his boot to the ball and became the hero of the hour with an equalising goal. The final whistle sounded on the kick out and both sides will have to do it all again.

Scorers - Ashford: Aaron Nugent 1-5, Colm Doyle 1-0, Brendan Manning 0-1, Danny Kavanagh 0-1.

St. Pat’s: Conor O’Brien 1-2, Shaun Vickers 1-0, Jordan Pettigrew 0-2, Ciaran McGettigan 0-2, Simon Boucher 0-1.

Ashford: William Hender Philips; Mick Taylor, Conor Dowling, Iarla O’Donnell; Robert Clarkson, Wesley Manning, Danny Kavanagh; Joey Doyle, David Dowling; Thomas Kearns, Brendan Manning, Graham Mooney; Aaron Nugent, Jason Taylor, Mick Dickenson. Subs: Myles Trainor for Robert Clarkson, Dean Mooney for Mick Taylor, Michael Traynor for David Dowling, Colm Doyle for Mick Dickenson and Ross Quinn for Graham Mooney, Ronan Sugrue for Ross Quinn (BC)

St. Patrick’s: David Byrne; Ronan Connolly, Lorcan Smullen, Barry Fitzgerald; Aidan Dunne, Bosco Guinan, Hugh Humby; Joe Quinn, Ciaran McGettigan; Sean Vickers, Jordan Pettigrew, Simon Boucher; Shane O’Dwyer, Conor O’Brien, Jack Kelly; Subs: Paul O’Brien for Shane O’Dwyer (BC), Tommy Dunne for Joe Quinn, Adam Cox for Jack Kelly.

Referee: Damien Byrne.