St Marys 1-17 Donaghmore/Ashbourne 2-13

A goal from Sean Nulty in the last kick of the game secured both points for a resilient and dogged St Marys side in Donore on Sunday morning. 

Due to a combination of injuries, work commitments and holidays, the home side were severely depleted and togged out with only 16 players on the day. Despite these challenges, Marys were determined not to let this affect their rhythm. They were quickest out of the blocks and built up an early lead through a couple of Cormac Victory frees in addition to a free from Liam O’Brien. The away side were dangerous on the counter attack, and tagged on a couple of points early on also. 

Marys were playing some excellent football, on the front foot in both attack and defence. Scores were coming from all over the field, Centre Back Dylan Bagnall pushed forward to kick a couple of impressive scores, with arguably the score of the half coming from wing back Adam Craven after a superb solo run. Donaghmore/Ashbourne tagged on 3 more scores over the remainder of the half, with an extremely hard working St Marys defence working overtime to limit scoring opportunities. Additional scores from Ronan Everard and Joey Greene meant the Donore/Rosnaree men went in at the break with a 5 point cushion, 0-10 to 0-5.

Marys started the second half on the front foot with another well worked score from the industrious Greene. Don/Ash had made a few positional switches at half time and this was starting to work dividends in the early exchanges of the second half, following the opening score of the half with four of their own to leave it a 2 point game. Marys tagged on another score to leave a goal between the teams, before the away side capitalised on some sloppy errors from the home side to hit 2 goals in a 5 minute period. All of a sudden Don/Ash were up 2-9 to 0-12 and the home side were under immense pressure. 

To the Marys credit, they did not give up in the face of adversity, with points from Craven, Nulty (2) and Maithiu Brien keeping them in the game. In this period, the visitors reeled off some excellent scores of their own from play and frees. Marys were continuing to play some excellent football and were able to bring on some experience in the shape of Garda Cathal Sheridan, not long off a night shift and functioning on two hours sleep. Heading into injury time a Paddy Owens point brought the gap down to 2, but as the seconds ticked by a miracle was looking less likely. Don/Ash went on the attack, which was brilliantly broken up by full back Liam Lynch. Marys worked the ball forward and into the 21 yard line. Possession was lost and then regained, falling to the feet of Eoin Kelleher who had a shot blocked before the ensuing chaos seen the ball land at the feet of Sean Nulty, who sent the ball to the back of the net to spark wild scenes for the sideline and supporters watching on. 

Referee Hugo Whoriskey sounded the final whistle on the next kickout, giving the home team the result their excellent performance deserved. A great show of fight from the young Marys team, lining out at an average age of just over 19. Donaghmore/Ashbourne will find the last minute loss a hard one to take, but having suffered the exact same fate against St Colmcilles in round 3, St Marys will take the rub of the green this time around. Attention now turns to a Division 10 fixture against St Vincents on Tuesday night.  

St Marys: Adam Byrne, Tadhg Lynch, Liam Lynch, Tadhg McLaughlin; Adam Craven 0-2, Dylan Bagnall 0-2, Maithiu Brien 0-1; Sean Nulty 1-2 Joey Greene 0-2; Cormac Victory 0-4 3f, Tadhg Dixon, Ronan Everard 0-1; Liam O’Brien 0-2 1f, Paddy Owens 0-1, Eoin Kelleher. Subs: Cathal Sheridan for Everard, Everard for Tadhg Lynch. 

Referee: Hugo Whoriskey

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