Rochfortbridge pull clear after the break to see off Maryland

A slicker Rochfortbridge side produced a dominant second-half display to see off an experienced Maryland outfit in a hard-hitting encounter in Castletown Geoghegan last Saturday evening.

There was little to separate the sides in an evenly contested first half, with Rochfortbridge taking a slender two-point lead into the break. Three well-taken two-pointers edged them in front before a Keith Malynn goal on the stroke of half-time ensured Maryland remained firmly in contention.

Rochfortbridge came out with renewed energy after the restart and, following a heated spell which saw Maryland’s Colm McCormack dismissed, took firm control of proceedings.

Their pace and attacking energy proved decisive as they pulled clear, with the contest petering out in the closing stages as Rochfortbridge secured their second championship victory, leaving Maryland still searching for their first win of the campaign.

Maryland made the brighter start, opening the scoring after two minutes when William Reynolds pointed from play following good build-up involving Keith Malynn and Joseph Harte.

Rochfortbridge responded with an excellent two-point score from Nathan Hall after Shane Cully picked him out, but Maryland soon hit their strongest spell of the opening half.

Keith Malynn delivered another good ball into Colm McCormack, who caught superbly before turning and pointing. McCormack then converted a two-point free to put Maryland back in front.

The lead changed hands again as Enda Cully drove forward to score from play before Liam Carey struck an excellent two-pointer to restore Rochfortbridge’s advantage.

Shane Cully then had a glorious chance to find the net after bursting through the centre, but his effort flashed wide. Rochfortbridge won the resultant kick-out and worked the ball to Oisín Carolan, who made no mistake with a fine two-pointer.

Cully added another point from play as Rochfortbridge continued to dominate the Maryland kick-out.

Maryland regained possession and reduced the deficit when another fine delivery from Malynn found Joseph Harte, who calmly pointed.

Jack Carroll and Kevin Corrigan responded with scores for Rochfortbridge before two frees from Harte kept Maryland within touching distance.

Maryland could have reduced the deficit further when Darren Malynn’s effort was dropping towards the crossbar, but Rochfortbridge goalkeeper Eoin Gorman did brilliantly to prevent it from going over. The save launched a counter-attack which ended with Carroll pointing from play.

Maryland were handed a major boost shortly before half-time when Kevin Dolan found Keith Malynn, who finished emphatically into the bottom corner to leave just a point between the sides.

Rochfortbridge had time for one final attack before the interval, with Cully delivering a good ball into Carolan, who pointed from play to leave the Bridge ahead by 0-12 to 1-7 at half-time.

The Bridge made a fast start to the second half, opening with the first three scores through Cully and John Fallon from play, before Carroll converted a free to stretch their lead to five.

Following a frantic period of play, tempers boiled over in the 35th minute. Colm McCormack was shown a red card for what appeared to be a closed fist strike on John Fallon, who also received a yellow card for his involvement in the incident.

Despite being reduced to 14 men, Maryland responded immediately as Keith Malynn struck a fine two-pointer from play.

Tensions remained high and referee Mickey Dan Murtagh subsequently awarded Rochfortbridge a free from the opposing 21-metre line following dissent towards officials from the Maryland sideline. Carroll made no mistake with the resulting free.

Rochfortbridge took complete control from there, adding four points while also letting a number of goal chances slip by them.

Shane Cully again darted through the centre to score before Carroll added another free. Liam Carey then caught the resultant kick-out superbly and embarked on a powerful solo run before firing over.

Moments later, Tiernan Jessop McCormack delivered a good ball into Carolan, who turned and slotted over to leave Rochfortbridge firmly in command.

Malynn continued his impressive individual display with a two-point free in the 49th minute, but it was quickly cancelled out at the other end.

Enda Cully’s effort dropped short and Darragh Hall gathered before finding Kevin Corrigan, who finished to the net to put the result beyond doubt.

Malynn added two late frees for Maryland, while Enda Cully replied with a point from play as Rochfortbridge comfortably saw out the remainder of the game to claim a convincing 1-21 to 1-13 victory.

Scorers - Rochfortbridge: J Carroll 0-5 (3f), O Carolan 0-4 (1 2pt), K Corrigan 1-1, S Cully 0-3, N Hall, L Carey 0-2 (1 2pt) each, E Cully 0-2, J Fallon, D Hall 0-1 each.

Maryland: K Malynn 1-6 (2f, 1 2pt, 1 2ptf), C McCormack 0-3 (1 2ptf), J Harte 0-3 (2f), W Reynolds 0-1.

Rochfortbridge: Eoin Gorman; Billy Arthur, Peter Lalor, Edward Whelehan; Enda Cully, Samuel Plant, John Fallon; Liam Carey, Darragh Hall; Tiernan Jessop McCormack, Shane Cully, Nathan Hall; Jack Carroll, Oisín Carolan, Kevin Corrigan. Subs: Sean Carroll for Jessop McCormack (48), Liam Clarke for Arthur (57), Darren Kilcoyne for Corrigan (58).

Maryland: Lee Moran; Jake Nugent, Kevin Seery, Kenneth Kincaid; Christy Hermbusche, Kieran Martin, Liam Moran; Colm Seery, Kevin Dolan; William Reynolds, Darren Malynn, Ben Martin; Joseph Harte, Colm McCormack, Keith Malynn. Subs: Adam Nugent for Kincaid (18, inj.), Conor Lowry for Liam Moran (45, inj.), Oisín McDermott for J Nugent (57).

Referee: Mickey Dan Murtagh (The Downs).