Early goals sink Rathvilly
Colin Byrne (Rathvilly) is tackled by Páraic McKenny (Ardee St. Marys) as he tries to pass out of defence Photo: Ken Finegan/Newspics Photography
Two goals in the opening ten minutes was the platform for a home victory in this Leinster club senior football quarter-final at Ardee on Sunday. Within a minute, St Mary’s pounced when Rathvilly were turned over and Donal McKenny found the net from close range. After Ed Finnegan and Eric Molloy hit back with a point a piece for Rathvilly, the Carlow champions were opened up once more and Tom Jackson raised a green flag.
At the interval, the eventual winners led 2-4 to 0-4 and it was a case of just ensuring they kept their nerve and shape to ensure they progressed.
Rathvilly upped the intensity in the second half and on a number of occasions they forced a succession of frees as their opponents overcarried into contact. It was a small victory on the day for the visitors where they struggled after the early three-pointers. Rathvilly finished strongly with a point a piece from Liam Gavin and Molloy but at that stage it was crumbs from the Master’s table.
D McKenny, T Jackson 1-2 each, T McDonnell 0-2, J Commins, K Moran, R Carroll 0-1 each.
E Molloy 0-3 (1f), K Murphy 0-2 (fs), E Finnegan, E Finnegan, C Byrne 0-1 each.
Tiernan Markey; Tadgh McDonnell, Karl Faulkner, Éimhin Keenan; Jonathan Commins, Donal McKenny, Andy Murphy; RJ Callaghan, Sean Callaghan; Ciaran Keenan, Liam Jackson, Kian Moran; Paraic McKenny, Tom Jackson, Ronan Carroll. Subs: Tiernan Corrigan for Keenan (43), Robert Leavy for Carroll (46), Conor Gillespie for Commins (57), Evan Malone for Murphy (57), Jay Crawley for L Jackson (61).
Robbie Molloy; Colin Byrne, Dara Curran, Paraic Deering; Padhraig Bolger, Josh Moore, Eric Molloy; Brian Smith, Adam Burgess; Brandon Kelly, Conor Doyle, Ed Finnegan; Darragh Murphy, Kevin Murphy, Keith Curran. Subs: Regan Murphy for Molloy (24), Barry John Molloy for K Curran (36), Liam Gavin for Smith (39), Jake Elliot for Bolger (43), Robbie Ryan for D Murphy (47).
Fintan Pierce (Offaly).
