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Duffry Rovers 2-11, Sarsfields 2-6:  

DUFFRY ROVERS outscored Sarsfields by 2-8 to 0-3 from the 23rd minute onwards to register a fully-deserved win in the first round of Group D of the WFC Senior football championship in St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, on Sunday last.

Superior fitness and better use of possession were the two obvious factors in the turnaround as the Enniscorthy District men recovered brightly from a deficit of 2-3 to 0-3, with Eamonn Doyle driving them on from midfield.

Sarsfields had received a significant boost into the wind in the third minute when Jason Murphy picked out younger brother, Paul, with a long delivery, and the skiful corner-forward slotted the ball to the net. And when Jason Murphy then set up Lee Walker for a well-worked second just past the midway stage in the half, the prospects looked bright for the Wexford town team.

A key moment arrived in the 23rd minute when Paul Murphy was only denied another goal by the outstretched boot of Bobby Larkin and, although Jason Murphy tapped over a free to make it 2-3 to 0-3, the Duffry took over in the lead-up to half-time.

Winning every midfield break, they hit 1-3 without reply in six minutes to draw level, and would have led at the break only for a fingertip penalty save by James Roice who turned Micheál Doyle’s effort over after a head-high tackle on Matthew Flynn-O’Connor. Roice had earlier made a good stop to keep out an Alan O’Neill piledriver, while Doyle had shown no mercy in the 26th minute when he was given the time and space to crash a stinging shot to the roof of the net after a Sarsfields kick-out was knocked down into his path.

An early Joe Coleman point on the re-start yielded two replies from Andrew Moore and David Mooney - the only Sarsfields points to come from play. However, they struggled badly after Matthew Flynn-O’Connor was allowed to catch an Eddie Doyle ’45, turn and drive the ball into the corner of the net all in the one movement after 43 minutes, giving his side a 2-7 to 2-5 lead.

The next three points from the goalscorer’s brother Johnny, Micheál Doyle (free) and Paul Nolan effectively wrapped things up before a late exchange between Jason Murphy (free) and Doyle with a fisted effort from play.

Duffry Rovers: Bobby Larkin; Paul Nolan (0-1), Shane Rackard, Donie Doyle (0-1); Aidan Byrne, Ger Coleman, Michael Coleman; Joe Coleman (0-1), Eamonn Doyle (0-2); Matthew Flynn-O’Connor (1-0), Johnny Flynn-O’Connor (0-2), Jim O’Neill; Micheál Doyle (capt., 1-3, 0-1 pen., 0-1 free), Eddie Doyle, Alan O’Neill (0-1).

Sarsfields: James Roice; Fran Cleary, Brendan Mulligan, Enda Whelan; David Gannon, David Mooney (0-1), Shane Barnes; Andrew Moore (0-1), Ciarán O’Leary; Peter Grannell, Kevin Gore (capt.), Seán Ó Corcora; Jason Murphy (0-4 frees), Lee Walker (1-0), Paul Murphy (1-0). Subs. - Noel Walsh for Ó Corcora, Darren Browne for Gore, inj.

Referee: Eddie O’Sullivan (Kilanerin).

Last Updated by
Kevin Carty