Junior B Football Championship 2011
September 24, county semi-final: Crossabeg/Ballymurn 1-16, Ferns St. Aidans 1-10
CROSSABEG-BALLYMURN powered into the Junior ‘D’ football championship final with a superb team performance against Ferns St. Aidan's in Bellefield on Saturday last.
Following a disappointing result in the Junior hurling the previous weekend, the Wexford District side needed a big performance to put that firmly in the rear-view mirrors, and they did it by brushing aside the talented Gorey District winners.
However, it wasn't exactly plain sailing from the off. Barry Murphy had matched John O'Leary's opening score in a composed start but when Tomás Hawkins was shoved to the ground in the act of shooting, John Diskin awarded the penalty and Edward Cullen steeped up to convert.
Hawkins himself made it 1-2 to 0-2 in the ninth minute but five unanswered Crossabeg points, with Mark Dempsey and Eoghan Kehoe both grabbing a brace, meant the lead changed hands.
That lead was shortlived with Edward Cullen in form from placed balls and, bringing his first half tally to 1-4, he levelled the game at the interval (1-6 to 0-9).
The half-time tie lasted just two minutes as a speedy interchange between Brian Dignam and Mark Dempsey saw the latter force the ball over the line at the second attempt.
Dignam made it 1-10 to 1-6 and despite Ferns halving the deficit by the 39th minute they would not get closer as Crossabeg turned on the style.
Stunning long-range efforts from T.J. Parle and Paul Walsh helped to ease their side into the clear by the start of the fourth quarter, and when Johnny Murphy made the gap six with seven minutes remaining the game was all but up.
Billy Roche almost added a last-gasp goal that would have been tough on Ferns, but the Wexford District winners closed out the game without a scare and will now face St. James' for the county title after the Ramsgrange men beat Starlights by 3-10 to 2-9 in Taghmon on Saturday last.
Ferns St. Aidans: Colin Redmond; Robert Murphy, James Byrne, Patrick Tonks; Theo Lacey, Niall Maguire, Johnny Murphy; Colin Lacey, John O'Leary (0-2); Brian O'Neill, Tomás Hawkins (0-2), Pádraig Bolger; Pat Nolan, Edward Cullen (1-6, 0-5 frees, 1-0 pen., 0-1 '45), Barry Breen. Subs: Anthony Dwyer for R. Murphy, Ciarán Roberts for J. Murphy, Paul Lancaster for Tonks, Paddy O'Connor for O'Neill.
Referee: John Diskin (Bannow-Ballymitty).
CROSSABEG-BALLYMURN powered into the Junior ‘D’ football championship final with a superb team performance against Ferns St. Aidan's in Bellefield on Saturday last.
Following a disappointing result in the Junior hurling the previous weekend, the Wexford District side needed a big performance to put that firmly in the rear-view mirrors, and they did it by brushing aside the talented Gorey District winners.
However, it wasn't exactly plain sailing from the off. Barry Murphy had matched John O'Leary's opening score in a composed start but when Tomás Hawkins was shoved to the ground in the act of shooting, John Diskin awarded the penalty and Edward Cullen steeped up to convert.
Hawkins himself made it 1-2 to 0-2 in the ninth minute but five unanswered Crossabeg points, with Mark Dempsey and Eoghan Kehoe both grabbing a brace, meant the lead changed hands.
That lead was shortlived with Edward Cullen in form from placed balls and, bringing his first half tally to 1-4, he levelled the game at the interval (1-6 to 0-9).
The half-time tie lasted just two minutes as a speedy interchange between Brian Dignam and Mark Dempsey saw the latter force the ball over the line at the second attempt.
Dignam made it 1-10 to 1-6 and despite Ferns halving the deficit by the 39th minute they would not get closer as Crossabeg turned on the style.
Stunning long-range efforts from T.J. Parle and Paul Walsh helped to ease their side into the clear by the start of the fourth quarter, and when Johnny Murphy made the gap six with seven minutes remaining the game was all but up.
Billy Roche almost added a last-gasp goal that would have been tough on Ferns, but the Wexford District winners closed out the game without a scare and will now face St. James' for the county title after the Ramsgrange men beat Starlights by 3-10 to 2-9 in Taghmon on Saturday last.
Ferns St. Aidans: Colin Redmond; Robert Murphy, James Byrne, Patrick Tonks; Theo Lacey, Niall Maguire, Johnny Murphy; Colin Lacey, John O'Leary (0-2); Brian O'Neill, Tomás Hawkins (0-2), Pádraig Bolger; Pat Nolan, Edward Cullen (1-6, 0-5 frees, 1-0 pen., 0-1 '45), Barry Breen. Subs: Anthony Dwyer for R. Murphy, Ciarán Roberts for J. Murphy, Paul Lancaster for Tonks, Paddy O'Connor for O'Neill.
Referee: John Diskin (Bannow-Ballymitty).
