Hall double ensures facile win for superior St Mary’s

St Mary's, Rochfortbridge 2-17, Killucan 1-8

A superior St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge side comfortably qualified for the Westmeath U20 Division 2 football final with a 12-point victory over Killucan at Rochfortbridge on Saturday.

Two goals from Darragh Hall propelled the home side to an emphatic win in a game in which they never once trailed and led by three points at half-time (1-5 to 0-5). Killucan got the perfect start to the second half when Mark Doherty slotted over, but it was not the precursor to a dramatic comeback. In fact St Mary’s piled on the pressure thereafter and were six points clear entering the final quarter before a stunning second goal from Hall in the 50th minute dispelled any lingering doubts.

Conditions were fine for mid December and apart from a chilly breeze, it was ideal for football. Watching Westmeath U20 football manager Kenny McKinley won’t have unearthed much in terms of new talent, but he will surely have been impressed with the quality of scoring from St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge in the second half.

There were wasted Killucan chances early on before Finian Carroll had a tepid shot for gaol easily saved by Ciaran Kavanagh. There were only two points in it when Liam Carey pointed on 18 minutes before Winston Larkin McHugh and Jayden Hill, who converted a free, brought the sides level after 27 minutes.

Darragh Hall’s first goal on 29 minutes gave the home side an edge; despite a partial block the ball found its way to the Killucan net. Considering the home side played against the breeze, they would have been satisfied.

It was a pretty mundane first half overall but the game took off in the third quarter when St Mary’s notched five points without reply, the pick of which came from Finian Carroll after Jack Carroll and Darragh Hall made the incision.

The Rochfortbridge side almost had a second goal when Tiernan Fallon and Nathan Hall combined, but the latter’s ball across the face of goal was turned wide via the post by Finian Carroll. They continued to put pressure on the Killucan kickout and points by Jack Carroll, Kevin Corrigan, a mark, gave them a big advantage, before Hall’s second major put the game to bed.

Some of the scoring quality was top drawer and when St Mary’s turned the screw, with their opponents tiring, they looked quite impressive. Killucan did feel they were entitled to a penalty when Cormac McKeogh was fouled in the 41st minute but a 13-metre free was the outcome and in truth they needed a goal at that stage to have any chance. When it did arrive it was a case of too little, too late - Cian Weir threading a lovely pass inside for Cormac McKeogh to find the net in the 53rd minute, cutting the deficit to nine points.

The victors responded well with the final three scores from Darragh Hall, Jack Carroll and Liam Carey to put the seal on a fine victory.

Scorers - St Mary’s Rochfortbridge: D Hall 2-2, J Carroll 0-5 (1f), L Carey 0-4, F Carroll 0-2, N Hall, S Cully, K Corrigan (m) and T Fallon 0-1 each.

Killucan: Cormac McKeogh 1-2 (0-1f), J Hill 0-4 (3f), W Larkin McHugh and M Doherty 0-1 each.

St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge: Darragh Weblin; Danny Hyland, Kian Ennis, Dara Fagan; Kevin Corrigan, Tiernan Fallon, Nathan Hall; Tiernan Jessop, Pierce Fox; Shane Cully, Darragh Hall, Finian Carroll; Aaron Scott, Liam Carey, Jack Carroll. Subs: Dylan Mulvin for D Hyland (45), Dylan Jessop for A Scott (46), Sean Corrigan for F Carroll (55), Regan Boyne for K Ennis (59), Jason Gavin for K Corrigan (60+2).

Killucan: Ciaran Kavanagh; Ryan Murphy, Sean Magee, Adam Smith; Oisín Flanagan, Matt Shaw, Adam Smyth; Callum McKeogh, Winston Larkin McHugh; Mark Doherty, Eoin Briody, Joe Mulvaney; Cian Weir, Jayden Hill, Cormac McKeogh. Sub: Declan McGrath for A Smyth (58).

Referee: Mick Gordon (Shandonagh).