Bunclody snatch a last-gasp draw
HWH-BUNCLODY and St. Mary’s (Maudlintown) must lock horns again to decide who will contest the Amber Springs/Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship decider after the Carlow border side snatched a dramatic late draw in Saturday’s highly enjoyable semi-final at a wet Bellefield.
The Wexford town lads looked destined for their first final in this grade since 1984 when a run of 1-3 in a six-minute spell opened up a 3-9 to 1-11 lead with five minutes of regular time remaining. They then went into ball retention mode with a relative degree of success, only coughing up one score through Eoin Kelly’s sixth free as HWH-Bunclody struggled to win possession back.
But with the clock ticking towards the second minute of injury time, one last punt forward saw Seán Kenny gather and feed the onrushing Aidan Nolan, and while his low shot careened off the butt of the post, the ball bounced onto the back of diving goalkeeper Dylan Owens and into the net in the most cruel of late twists for St. Mary’s.
Nolan actually had one last chance to win it for HWH-Bunclody from the penultimate kick, but dragged his shot wide as his side nonetheless breathed a sigh of relief to have another bite of the cherry.
The sides shared the first four points evenly before HWH-Bunclody struck for the first goal on eight minutes.
Nolan was centrally involved too, accepting Martin O’Connor’s pass before forcing a rather comfortable save from Owens, with Byron Byrne sweeping home the rebound.
However, St. Mary’s responded almost immediately when Dermot Flood’s direct ball was flicked by Donal O’Leary into the path of Todd Hynes, and the livewire forward crashed to the roof of the net.
Although the damp conditions put paid to Maudlintown’s usual quick transitions through the lines, they didn’t lose their ability to find the net, with Pierce Dooley thudding home midway through the second quarter after Hynes’ underhit free caused a brief scramble (2-2 to 1-4).
And they maintained the slimmest of advantages right up to half-time as points from Hynes, Christy Lane and Flood (free) were matched by Páraic Sinnott (two) and Kelly (free).
HWH-Bunclody’s full-back line largely nullified the previously rampant O’Leary/Mark O’Connor axis, and continued to take their chances at the other end as they edged 1-11 to 2-6 in front, with Peter Atkinson and Kevin Dunne among the scorers.
Then came that St. Mary’s bright spell that came close to booking their final ticket, with Hynes converting a free via the crossbar, and Flood pinging over off his left for the equaliser.
Substitute Gavin Cullen played a one-two with Jason Swords to chip over the lead point, and when they swarmed the follow-up kickout, Mark O’Connor eventually teed up Swords to palm to the empty net.
HWH-Bunclody: Patrick Kavanagh; Adam Hogan, Colm Farrell (capt.), Conor Crean; Ciarán Kavanagh, John Dunne, Billy Kelly; Martin O’Connor (0-1), Páraic Sinnott (0-2); Cathal Doyle, Aidan Nolan (1-0), Byron Byrne (1-0); Kevin Dunne (0-2), Peter Atkinson (0-1), Eoin Kelly (0-6 frees). Subs. - Keith O’Hara for Byrne (38), Jamie Kavanagh for Hogan (43), Seán Kenny for Dunne (52), Barry Kehoe for Atkinson (60).
St. Mary’s (Maudlintown): Dylan Owens; Alan Lynch, Alex Lynch, Gary Murphy; Warren Broaders, Mark Doyle, Eddie Pitman; Christy Lane (capt., 0-1), Dermot Flood (0-2, 1 free); Todd Hynes (1-4, 0-2 frees), Pierce Dooley (1-0), Martin O’Connor; Mark O’Connor, Donal O’Leary (0-1), Jason Swords (1-0). Subs. - Jamie Thomas for Martin O’Connor (35), Gavin Cullen (0-1) for Murphy (50), Emmett Nolan for Swords (57), Colin Lynch for Mark O’Connor (60).
Referee: James Mullally (Gusserane).