St Patricks 1-11 St Marys 3-11 

St Marys ran out winners over the host side St Patricks on Thursday night in Stamullen, in the process sealing their place in the Division 6 final and securing promotion with a game to spare. 

In the opening quarter of the game, it was a strong Pats side who started the livelier, winning the first few kickouts and getting a few shots off at the target, but to the relief of the away side were finding the opening score hard to come by. Marys were first to trouble the scoreboard, Tadhg Dixon firing over after good work from Cormac Victory and James Lynch. Pats equalised before Dixon got his second of the game, fisting over from close range after a good turnover from Marys on their own 21 and quick counter. The home moved into the lead through two close range frees from Conall O’Fuirsuige before St Marys responded with 2 in a row of their own from Andrew Brien, one from a free and a well taken score from play after good work in the build up from AJ Bradshaw. Pat’s pointed again with a free before J Lynch and Dixon with his third of the half after a jinking run from Victory sent Marys in front again. From the resultant kickout Ben Loughran reacted quickest to a stray ball and sent Brien clear. With work still to do he finished low and hard to the net to send Marys 4 clear. This was then followed by another free from Brien to leave the half time score 1-7 to 0-5 in favour of the visitors.

The home side drew first blood in the second half through a Neil O’Flaherty point. Both sides tried to work further scoring opportunities in the opening stages of the half before the defining moment of the game arrived. Half time substitute Niall Mooney took advantage of a lapse in concentration at the back and found himself 1 on 1 with Marys netminder Adam Byrne. He chose to square it to team mate Cian Murphy, and with the goal at his mercy drew an inspirational point blank save from Byrne to deny a certain goal to bring it back to a 1 point game. Marys broke down the field at pace, and a Cathal Sheridan pass was intercepted on the 14 yard line. As Pats tried to break out, the industrious Loughran made a brilliant turnover and fed Brien through on goal. He slipped it under the onrushing keeper to turn what looked like a 1 point game 30 seconds previous into a 7 point lead.

Pat’s didn’t give up to their credit, and despite a couple of wides forced another top class save from Byrne minutes later. Brien pointed another free after a foul on J Lynch, which Pats replied to with a couple of points of their own. Marys needed to try and close the game out, and effectively put the icing on the cake soon after. After good defensive play from John Spain, Joey Greene gathered possession in his own 40 yard line. After some neat intricate play involving Greene, Dylan Bagnall and Sean Nulty, Greene found himself baring down on goal and rifled home for the visitors 3rd goal of the night. The home side and Dixon making it 4 from play for the night traded scores. Pats scored another point before being awarded a penalty for what seemed like minimal contact inside the area. This was duly dispatched to the net by O’Fuirsuige to reduce the margin to 6. Brien and Bagnall swapped points with their counterparts to round out proceedings, and with a game to spare next week away to Donaghmore/Ashbourne, the win sees the Donore/Rosnaree men into a league final against either Drumconrath or Summerhill. 

St Marys: Adam Byrne; Liam Lynch, John Spain, Conor O’Brien; AJ Bradshaw, Dylan Bagnall, Adam Craven; Joey Greene, Tadhg Dixon; Ben Loughran, Cormac Victory, Caimin Hughes; Andrew Brien, James Lynch, Cathal Sheridan. 

Subs: Sean Nulty for Sheridan, Maithiu Brien for Victory, William McSweeney for Craven, Neil Floyd for Dixon. Tadhg Lynch, Eoin Kelleher, Peter Gogan, Andy Everard.

Referee: Stephen Murphy 

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