Cool-headed Cox helps Rosemount see off St Mary’s

By John Dingle

Rosemount got their championship campaign off to a winning start as a sluggish opening half - which included having a player sent off - proved costly for St Mary’s Rochfortbridge at Páirc Chiaráin, Athlone last Sunday.

With Rosemount having led by 0-7 to 0-2 at the break, four unanswered points on the resumption of play left the ‘Bridge just a point behind, but Des Collins’ men held their nerve in the closing stages to win by two points at the finish.

St Mary’s went all of 28 minutes in the first half without scoring as they left themselves with a huge task. They were not helped by the sending off of Gerry Byrne after 23 minutes for striking an opponent.

Rosemount opened the scoring after 11 minutes through Andrew McCormack who popped over a point from the right. Further points from Sean Pettit and Ben Cox had Rosemount ahead by 0-3 to 0-0 after the first quarter. A close in free from Pettit stretched the lead and then the dismissal of Byrne seemingly had the Saints in trouble.

Another free from Pettit was followed by a similar effort at the other end as St Mary’s finally opened their account through Niall Cully. Liam Maxwell restored Rosemount’s five-point lead but the ‘Bridge were still in contention as Eddie Alford scored only their second point on the stroke of half-time.

With goalkeeper Eoin Gorman frequently employed outfield in moves forward, St Mary’s proved hard to shake off in spite of having a man less. The scoring in the half was completed in the third additional minute as Cox popped over a free to leave Rosemount ahead by five points. It looked like a decent lead in the circumstances but that was to change dramatically after the break.

Everything appeared to be against the ‘Bridge when play resumed. Just two points scored in the first half and a red card meant their prospects of winning looked bleak. Somehow though they staged a comeback that fell just short of gaining some reward.

Alan Gavin got the best possible response from his charges. Three unanswered points in the third quarter had the men in green and white sensing a revival was on the cards. Two frees from Niall Cully either side of a point from play by Alford reduced Rosemount’s lead to just two points.

Rosemount were in trouble as they struggled to maintain a foothold in the contest. The deficit was cut to the bare minimum after 17 minutes, as a Sean Lyster point left it at 0-7 to 0-6.

The eventual winners finally opened their second-half account through Declan Mullen but then had to survive an anxious moment when a shot from Alford came back off the upright after 20 minutes. St Mary’s refused to go down without a fight and again got to within a point when Enda Cully popped over a point after 24 minutes.

Rosemount registered just their second score of the half when Cox pointed moments later. Just one more score was to follow for the south Westmeath team.

The excitement mounted as the game headed towards the closing stages with the outcome still in doubt. St Mary’s once more left it a one-point game after 26 minutes with Niall Cully sending the ball over the bar. It was as close though as they got with Rosemount holding out to record the victory.

The scoring was completed in the penultimate minute when Matthew Cox pointed for Rosemount, who lost Mullen to a black card in the second additional minute.

Although over three minutes more were played, St Mary’s were not able to complete the comeback. Time ran out for the ‘Bridge as they could not repair the damage caused by a dreadful first-half display.

Man of the match: Matthew Cox (Rosemount). Rosemount needed cool heads in the closing stages as St Mary’s staged a remarkable comeback and the final point of the game from Cox gave them some breathing space.

SCORERS - Rosemount: S Pettit 0-3 (2 frees); B Cox 0-3 (1f); M Cox, A McCormack, L Maxwell and D Mullen 0-1 each. St Mary’s: N Cully 0-4 (0-3 frees); E Alford 0-2; S Lyster and E Cully 0-1 each.

Rosemount: Eoin Carberry; Ben O’Brien, Adam Keane, Luke Kelly; Andy McCormack, Boidu Sayeh, Padraig Geoghegan; Cathal Geoghegan, Sean Pettit; Liam Maxwell, Cathal Daly, Matthew Cox; Declan Mullen, Darragh Healy, Ben Cox. Subs: David O’Reilly for Sayeh (half-time); Lorcan Daly for C Geoghegan (37 mins); Cathal Byrne for P Geoghegan (50).

St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge: Eoin Gorman; Eddie Whelehan, Brendan Brady, Peter Lalor; Gerry Byrne, Jake Byrne, Enda Cully; Sean Lyster, Darragh Brunton; Darragh Hall, Eddie Alford, Paul Carey; Niall Cully, Ian Keelan, Kehn Raqueno. Subs: Sean Carroll for Carey (37 mins); Jack Reid for E Cully (57).

Referee: Gary Hurley (Moate).