Carroll’s insurance score keeps St Mary’s run intact
Writech IFC: St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge 0-14, Milltown 1-9
John Dingle reports
St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge made it four wins from four games played when they edged out Milltown by two points at Páirc Chiaráin, Athlone last Saturday evening.
The Saints only went ahead late in the opening half to lead by two points at half-time. The lead never increased further as both sides cancelled one another out in the second half with six points scored at either end.
The game was slow to come to life with the opening score coming after 10 minutes, but significantly it was a major one, as the only green flag was raised.
It was Milltown that struck first, as slack Mary’s defending was punished when Ben McGauran set up Conor Dillon, who found the net. Patrick Somers then popped over a point, but the scores from Milltown were too stretched out to give the men in maroon any chance of establishing a comfortable advantage.
St Mary’s grabbed their only score up to the water break when Ned Cully pointed, to leave a goal between the teams after the first quarter. Alan Gavin’s men levelled matters when play resumed with three unanswered points up to the 20-minute mark.
A fisted point from Niall Cully was followed by two from Eddie Alford. McGauran restored Milltown’s lead with a free kick, but St Mary’s then scored four more points without reply.
A close-range free and a point from play by Niall Cully, and two points from Ned Cully (one a free), left a goal in it as the game headed into stoppage time. Conor Dillon grabbed the last score of the half for Milltown to leave just two points between the teams at half time.
There was little between the teams when play resumed as both scored six points apiece. Milltown drew level late in the half, but the Saints held their nerve to squeeze through.
Ian Keelan scored a point within a minute of the restart, but Milltown replied through McGauran. There was still two points between the teams after the second water break as both number 14s were successful from frees.
There was still a difference of two heading into the last quarter, as Wayne Smith pointed for Milltown and Ned Cully also raised a white flag for Rochfortbridge.
An exciting second half continued as Milltown drew level with two points in three minutes through Luke Gunning and Conor Dillon. However, Milltown could not take the lead to put a dent in the Saints’ 100 percent record.
Jordan Ajani restored the Saints’ lead and a further point from substitute Jack Reid left it 0-13 to 1-8 heading into the closing stages. Milltown were proving difficult to shake off however, and fought back once more to leave the margin at just a single point.
Dillon raised the tension further with a point after 56 minutes, but it proved to be Milltown’s last score of the game.
Another sub for the Saints completed the scoring for the Section ‘A’ leaders. Sean Carroll sent over the last score deep into stoppage time to finally end the hopes of Milltown and edge the Saints towards the knockout stages of the intermediate championship.
Scorers – St Mary’s: Ned Cully 0-5 (2f), E Alford and Niall Cully (1f) 0-2 each, E Cully, I Keelan, J Ajani, J Reid and S Carroll 0-1 each. Milltown: C Dillon 1-3, B McGauran 0-3 (2f), P Somers, W Smyth and L Gunning 0-1 each.
St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge: Eoin Gorman; Brendan Brady, Aidan Robinson, Dan O’Sullivan; Peter Lalor, Adam Kavanagh, Jake Byrne; Sean Lyster, Eddie Alford; Jordan Ajani, Paul Cawley, Ned Cully; Niall Cully, Enda Cully, Ian Keelan. Subs used: Kehn Raqueno for Cawley (h-t), Sean Carroll for Keelan (46), Jack Reid for Niall Cully (54), Cathal Coyle for O’Sullivan (60).
Milltown: Damien Byrne; Diarmuid Maguire, Bernard Kiernan, Matthew Gunning; Gary Byrne, Patrick Somers, Conor Dillon; Jack Murtagh, Dylan Murtagh; Ben McGauran, Daire Hynes, John Mulvaney; Anders Kiernan, Luke Gunning, Sean Somers. Subs used: Wayne Smith for Somers (h-t), Brendan Burke for Mulvaney (52).
Ref: Gary Hurley (Moate All Whites).
Man of the match: Conor Dillon (Milltown).