Rub of green goes the way of St Vincent’s
SEMI-FINALS are all about winning, little else matters and that is what St Vincent’s did as they caused a surprise in this JFC semi-final at Ashbourne on Friday evening.
Indeed the Ardcath men have probably played much better and lost, but for once they had luck on their side and who could deny them that after the cruel fate they have endured in crucial matches over the last few seasons.
Dunsany, who lost out following extra-time at the semi-final stage last year, had chances in the closing minutes to at least force the game to extra-time, but they spurned them all as St Vincent’s held on by their fingertips.
There was also a slice of good fortune about the game’s only goal, scored by Thomas Field early in the third quarter. Field sent a delivery towards goal that seemed to be going over for a point, but it dipped under the bar despite the best efforts of keeper Cian O’Neill to keep it out. O’Neill crashed against a post in the process and had to be replaced.
It was the Ardcath men who settled best at the start, where scores were at a premium in what was an exciting contest, and points from Nigel Hand, Eric Callaghan and Conor Harford opened up a 0-3 to 0-0 lead.
It took Dunsany 24 minutes to open their account but they were back in contention by half-time as they trailed by the minimum, 0-3 to 0-4. Patrick McGill accounted for St Vincent’s other point of the half, while keeper Evan Connor made a crucial block to deny Dunsany a goal.
Dunsany drew level shortly after the restart before that fortuitous goal from Field gave St Vincent’s
some breathing space. The gap was reduced to the minimum by the second water break, but St Vincent’s went two clear following an excellent score from Ryan Hand.
On two further occasions Dunsany reduced the deficit to a single point, but scores from Patrick McGill and Nigel Hand in the
closing stages proved vital for St Vincent’s.
ST VINCENT’S: Evan Connor; Ciaran Brangan, Davy Tallon, John Corry; Conor Harford 0-1, Niall Tallon, Leo Corry; Bob Tallon, Ryan Hand 0-1; Martin Fox, Tommy Field 1-0, Paddy Arnold; Patrick McGill 0-2, Nigel Hand 0-2, Eric Callaghan 0-1. Subs: Jack Byrne for Fox (23), Eoghan Corry for Callaghan (47), Adam Tuite for Arnold (54), Gary Tuite for J Corry (59).