Penalty proves the winner in close encounter at Oxfield
A second- half penalty from Shamrock Gaels wing forward Darragh Hailstones proved to be the decisive score at Oxfield last Sunday afternoon as Shamrock Gaels collected their second win of their Furey’s Coaches Senior Football League Division 1 campaign thanks to a two- point victory over Drumcliffe/ Rosses Point.
This was the Gaels’ second victory against North Sligo opposition in recent weeks, with John McPartland Snr’s side accounting for St Molaise Gaels on the opening day of the league season.
Here, there was little between the teams for most of the hour with Drumcliffe/ Rosses Point, who were without team captain Neil Ewing for this match, leading by 0- 5 to 0- 3 at the interval.
The freetaking of Paul Logan accounted for 0- 3 of the home side’s first half tally while, at the other end, frees from Keith Candon and Joe Quinn and a point from play by Daire Kearns helped keep the visitors in touch.
Drumcliffe/ Rosses Point continued to hold a slender advantage in the second- half with Jamie Gillen supplying two points from wing half- back. Shamrock Gaels had a wider range of scorers in attack with the impressive Darragh Hailstones, Candon, Quinn and Gavin McMorrow all contributing. Drumcliffe might feel they had the winning of this match but they were unable to pull clear on the scoreboard and they were dealt a setback on 46 minutes when Niall Canning was sent to the line after picking up a second yellow card. With the extra man, the Gaels grew in confidence in the final quarter and, with ten minutes remaining, they were awarded a penalty which Hailstones converted with aplomb. The goal moved Shamrock Gaels in front for the first time in the match - and there they stayed until the end. The same player ( Hailstones) would add two further points and the Gaels finished the stronger and more assured team to win by 1- 10 to 0- 11. DRUMCLIFFE/ ROSSES POINT: Ronan McCormack, Aaron McCormack, Dara Long ( Capt), Jude McGarry, Jamie Gillen ( 0- 2), Seán Power, Stephen Regan, Brian Óg Murphy, Cian Lally, Niall Canning ( 0- 1), Paul Logan ( 0- 5f), Philip Gallagher, Kevin Davey, John Hester ( 0- 1), Niall Collery ( 0- 2) SHAMROCK GAELS: Donal Tuohy, Gavin McMorrow ( 0- 1) Declan Willis, Andrew Flynn, Ciaran O’Connor, Frank Quinn, LIAM Tuohy, Joe Henry, Liam O’Connell, Darragh Hailstones ( 1- 3), Luke Flynn, Eoin O’Connell, Daire Kearns ( 0- 1), Keith Candon ( 0- 3), Joe Quinn ( 0- 2). REFEREE: G Cawley.