Carey and Carolan goals ease St Mary's to victory

Rochfortbridge power past Maryland men

St Mary's Rochfortbridge 2-26, Maryland 3-13

By Robert Kindregan

A blistering attacking display saw St Mary’s Rochfortbridge claim ACFL Division 3 honours at Cusack Park on Saturday evening, overcoming Maryland by 10 points.

Maryland made the brighter start and led by three points after five minutes, but Rochfortbridge quickly found their rhythm and took complete control of the contest. Their pace and running power repeatedly troubled the Maryland defence as they opened up a 12-point lead by half-time.

Eight players got on the scoresheet for St Mary’s, with Jack Carroll and Shane Cully leading the way with 16 points between them. Both caused problems throughout as Rochfortbridge produced one of their best attacking performances of the campaign.

While Maryland rallied with three second-half goals, the result was never seriously in doubt. Rochfortbridge had already done the damage by then and were deserving winners after a dominant display.

In perfect conditions, the game began with a point off the right foot of George Nugent to give Maryland an early lead, followed by a Ben Martin point after a cross field ball from Callum McCormack. Captain Kieran Martin capitalised on a misplaced kickout from Eoin Gorman to take the easiest score of the match.

After five minutes, Darragh Hall opened St Mary’s account with a point following sustained attacking pressure. Shane Cully converted a close-range free after a foul on Sean Lyster, with Jack Carroll levelling the match after eight minutes with a nice run.

Looking more dangerous by the minute, Rochfortbridge attacked again. Cully hit the post, but St Mary’s won the kickout and worked the ball to Lyster, who raised the first amber flag of the match.

After 15 minutes, Cully split the defence with a good run and was through on goal but opted to take the point. St Mary’s won the kickout again and Liam Carey scored from the centre after a nice dummy created space.

Captain Enda Cully extended the lead to five with a point down the right, followed by another from Kevin Corrigan after good work from Liam Carey.

Carroll received the ball on the left and cut inside after a dummy but settled for a point with the net beckoning.

After 20 minutes, Lyster came under pressure 30 yards out and fed Darragh Hall for a simple point. Carroll was in on goal moments later after Rochfortbridge won the kickout but again opted to take his point.

Cully then showed his skill when Carroll picked him out. Under pressure, he twisted his body and kicked from a difficult angle, straight over the black spot.

Hall added another score before Maryland ended a 20-minute drought with a fine kick on the run from Ben Martin.

Carroll beat two men with a turn of pace and shot from just outside the box, but it struck the black spot and went over. Callum McCormack looked to reduce the deficit with a free outside the arc, but it hit the post and went out before the half-time whistle, with Rochfortbridge leading by 12 points - 0-16 to 0-4.

Maryland started the second half brightly, with Adam Smyth taking a point. Liam Moran searched for a second score, but it was Ben Martin who rattled the net with a fisted effort after the ball dropped short.

At the other end, Darren Kilcoyne looked for a point, but the ball dropped short and Liam Carey was there to punch it over the 'keeper’s head for their opening goal to reinforce the lead.

Darragh Hall darted through the centre past three men and found substitute Oisin Carolan, who sold a quick dummy before burying the ball in the net.

McCormack got one back for Maryland with a score under pressure from 30 yards out. William Reynolds earned a free to reduce the deficit further, which was brought forward for dissent and converted by Martin as six St Mary’s players blocked the net.

An ambitious two-point effort from Sean Lyster, in search of his second, stayed in play and broke for Carroll to clip over his fourth score, while Cully chipped in with a free moments later.

Adam Smyth sent a placed ball over the bar from outside the arc to pull two back, but it was cancelled out with an excellent two-pointer from Cully. Carolan added another point from the bench to cap a fine cameo. Jack Carroll added a two-point free off the ground from the left to extend his side’s lead to 18 points after 50 minutes.

With the game settled, Maryland scored two goals through Smyth and Kieran Martin, either side of a Shane Cully point.

Smyth added a brilliant two-pointer to cap an excellent personal display of 1-5.

Cully clipped over his sixth score after 58 minutes after a cross from Carroll left him in space. McCormack and Martin added consolation points before the final whistle, with St Mary’s 10 points ahead.

Maryland were unable to contain Rochfortbridge’s runners and could not stay in the game after a strong start. St Mary’s deserve credit for a high-class attacking display and looked capable of reaching another level if required.

Scorers - St Mary's: Darragh Hall 0-4 (0-2tp), Shane Cully 0-7 (0-2f), Jack Carroll 0-9 (0-1f, 0-2tpf), Sean Lyster 0-2 (0-2tp), Liam Carey 1-1, Enda Cully 0-1, Kevin Corrigan 0-1, Oisin Carolan 1-1.

Maryland: Kieran Martin 1-3 (0-1f), Adam Smyth 1-5 (0-4tp), Ben Martin 1-2, Callum McCormack 0-2, George Nugent 0-1.

St Mary’s Rochfortbridge: Eoin Gorman, Billy Arthur, Peter Lalor, Eddie Whelehan, Enda Cully (C), Liam Clarke, Tirnan Fallon, Sean Lyster, Darren Kilcoyne, Nathan Hall, Shane Cully, Liam Carey, Kevin Corrigan, Darragh Hall, Jack Carroll. Subs: Oisin Carolan for K. Corrigan 935’), Daibhin Colgan for B. Arthur (48’), Paul Carey for E. Cully (54’).

Maryland: Eoin Moran, Kallum Nugent, Darren Malynn, Kenneth Kincaid, Liam Moran, Cian Rainey, Colm Seery, Conor Lowry, Adam Smyth, Ben Martin, Callum McCormack, William Reynolds, Joseph Harte, Kieran Martin, George Nugent. Subs: Fintan McCormack for C. Rainey (25’), Enda Kincaid for C. Seery (44’), Kevin Dolan for D. Malynn (48’), Keith Malynn for G. Nugent (56’).

Ref: Mick Murtagh (The Downs).