Hynes and Dillon lead Milltown to semi-final spot

Milltown 2-8, St Mary's Rochfortbridge 0-8

Milltown found another gear when it mattered to score an unanswered 2-4 and overcome St Mary’s Rochfortbridge at Kinnegad on Friday evening, thus securing their place in the semi-final of the Intermediate Football Championship.

St Mary’s Rochfortbridge established a four-point lead after 20 minutes and were still in control until disaster struck in the 38th minute when a short kick-out by goalkeeper Eoin Gorman to Brendan Brady failed to stick, presenting Daire Hynes with a gaping goal - an invitation he didn’t shirk. After that, Milltown pushed on and Rochfortbridge wilted and that has been the narrative all season for a team hit with significant absentees.

In fairness, St Mary’s had nothing but pride to play for, while Milltown were fully aware that a victory could secure second place in the group, so perhaps that fed into the psychology here.

At half-time, St Mary’s led by 0-7 to 0-4 and Peter Tormey’s charges looked the more likely of the two teams at this stage after a largely disappointing show. Things picked up in the second half and there were quality moments, but Michael McNamee will need to get this capable Milltown side playing at a higher level for the full duration if they’re to reach the senior grade this year.

Points from Daire Hynes (a fine score) and Jack Gunning gave Milltown the ideal start in this tie, but they faded and endured 15 scoreless minutes thereafter. In that period, St Mary’s took over and Ian Keelan notched a fine point, before Niall Cully set up wing back Enda Cully for a wonderful score. They played superior football as Eddie Alford teed up Jack Reid for a terrific point in the 17th minute, while Sean Lyster and Enda Cully added further minors.

Lyster did have a sniff of goal with his opportunity and that may well have been a crucial moment as he blazed the shot over.

Jack Duncan took a pass from Ben McGauran and shot a tidy score in response for the Milltown men; a pointed free by Eoin Gorman put four between the teams again and in added time, McGauran converted a free to leave Milltown trailing by three points at the break.

St Mary’s wing forward Eddie Alford picked up a black card three minutes after the interval and his side played with 14 men for a 10-minute spell, but it was the restart error by Gorman (attempting to pick out Brendan Brady) that gifted Milltown’s Daire Hynes a goal and changed the complexion of this match.

McGauran’s 40th minute free saw Milltown regain the lead (the first time since the ninth minute) and emancipation followed: Jack Murtagh kicked a terrific score and Conor Dillon cut through before firing a low shot goalward and the ball clipped the underside of the crossbar and found the net. Fortune favours the brave.

Murtagh and Hynes (with an outrageous effort from over 40 metres) completed an unanswered 2-4 and all St Mary’s could muster in reply was a Ian Keelan free.

Scorers: Milltown: D Hynes 1-2, C Dillon 1-0, J Murtagh, B McGauran (frees) and J Duncan 0-2 each. St Mary’s Rochfortbridge: I Keelan 0-3 (1f), E Cully 0-2, E Gorman (free), S Lyster and J Reid 0-1 each.

Milltown: Alan Geraghty; Gary Byrne, Bernard Kiernan, Diarmuid Maguire; Peter Ballesty, Sean Somers, Matthew Gunning; Jack Murtagh, Conor Dillon; Thomas Lynn, Ben McGauran, Luke Gunning; Jack Duncan, Daire Hynes, Sean Dillon. Subs: Nathan Creagh for Ballesty (h-t), Wayne Smith for L Gunning (47), Conor Gibney for Byrne (52), Anders Kiernan for M Gunning and Paul Mahon for McGauran (60).

St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge: Eoin Gorman; Eddie Whelehan, Peter Lawlor, Brendan Brady; Tiernan Fallon, Jake Byrne, Enda Cully; Gerry Byrne, Sean Lyster; Eddie Alford, Darragh Hall, Paul Carey; Ian Keelan, Jack Reid, Niall Cully. Subs: Cathal Coyle for Fallon, Aidan Robinson for N Cully and Sean Carroll for Carey (52).

Ref: Barry Kelly (Mullingar Shamrocks).

Examiner's Eye on the game

Man of The Match

Conor Dillon (Milltown): Not a straightforward choice as Milltown had some solid performances from Bernard Kiernan, Jack Murtagh and Daire Hynes, but the industrious Conor Dillon gets the nod after another busy performance at midfield and his second half goal was important.

Score of the match

Daire Hynes kicked a magnificent point with the outside of the right boot in the second half. A terrific skill we don’t see enough of as players are too regimental nowadays.

Match officials

A solid job by referee Barry Kelly and it was interesting to see him penalise a player for taking a free from the incorrect position and throwing in the ball. It’s a difficult rule to enforce, generally.

What it means

Milltown are in the semi-final of the championship against Rosemount or St Malachy’s.