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Sarsfields 1-6, Shelmaliers 1-9:
Shelmaliers may have waited ten months
since their Intermediate success to make their WFC Oil
Senior football championship debut, but they didnšt mind in
the least at rain-lashed Wexford Park on Sunday last as
Stephen Banville's 53rd-minute goal powered them to victory
over District rivals Sarsfields in this Group D encounter.
Whether or not the big full-forward really intended going
for glory is a moot point, but his well-struck drive from 25
metres had a lot of momentum behind it and finished in the
far corner of James Roice's net. The goal finally gave
Shelmaliers a lead they had been threatening, and deserved,
since the second-half began (1-7 to 1-5). And substitute
Eoin Doyle - unable to start due to injury - then wrapped it
up for them with a brace of points on either side of a
Philip Cullen free for Sarsfields who only hit the target
twice after the break.
The more experienced town team shaded the first-half
exchanges but were unable to build on their goal which
briefly left four points between them. It took a mere 30
seconds for ex-Fethard and Wexford player, Garret Dunne, to
kick the first-ever Shelmaliers point in Senior football,
but Sarsfields responded well with scores from the lively
Jason Murphy (two) and Ciarán OšLeary to lead by 0-3 to
0-1 after nine minutes. Terry Gainfort hit back for the
Shels, but they shipped a body-blow in the 12th minute when
Jason Murphy and Noel Walsh combined to set up Philip Cullen
for a well-worked goal.
Sarsfields, who lost Emmet Keeling to a broken collar bone
five days earlier, could only manage one further score
before the interval - a Kevin Gore point ten minutes
later.The Shels had pulled back two at that stage thanks to
Stephen Banville and Garret Dunne, and Alan Griffith's
floated effort in the 29th minute left them trailing by a
mere 1-4 to 0-5 at half-time.
The third quarter was a scrappy, stop-start affair as a lot
of names entered the referee's notebook, and the first
chance of note didnšt come until nearly ten minutes in when
Terry Gainfort missed a decent chance. However, the
promptings of county colleagues David Walsh and Brian Malone
further outfield were eventually rewarded when Alan Griffith
and Stephen Banville brought the Shels level by the 42nd
minute. Philip Cullen briefly restored the Sars' lead from
the tightest of angles, but they were always chasing the
game after that Banville goal.
Terry Gainfort picked up a needless second yellow card for
the winners with just over a minute of normal time left for
preventing a quick line ball, but they were celebrating
shortly afterwards - and deservedly so - after referee David
Jenkins called a halt after 38 seconds of added time.
Shelmaliers: Paudie McMahon; Marc Walsh, Colm Tynan, Ciarán
O'Shaughnessy; Thomas Barron, David Walsh, Brian Malone
(capt.); Clive Lawlor, Garret Dunne (0-2); Alan Griffith
(0-2), Aidan Murphy, Colin Redmond; Derek Walsh, Stephen
Banville (1-2), Terry Gainfort (0-1). Sub. - Eoin Doyle
(0-2) for D. Walsh.
Sarsfields: James Roice; Fran Cleary, Michael Hanrahan, Enda
Whelan; Andrew Moore, Shane Barnes, David Gannon; Ciarán OšLeary
(capt., 0-1), Barry Goff; Kevin Gore (0-1), David Mooney,
Donnacha Doyle; Philip Cullen (1-2, 0-1 free), Noel Walsh,
Jason Murphy (0-2). Subs. - Paul Lambert for Doyle, Darren
Browne for Walsh, inj., Lee Walker for Murphy, inj.
Referee: David Jenkins (Gusserane). |
