Martin's dump Rathnure
Tuesday August 31 2010
ST. MARTIN'S showed that their desire to repeat the Pettitt's Senior hurling championship win of 2008 is strong as they dumped fellow big-hitters Rathnure out of the race at the quarter-final stage in Wexford Park on Sunday last.
The men in maroon made full use of the strong wind in their favour in the opening half, and they defended resolutely after the break to book a place in the last four with an impressive display.
Indeed, they now look like the only one of the three teams capable of really giving Oulart-The Ballagh a rattle, with all six forwards scoring from play and their backs doing well in the face of that heavy pressure after the break.
Páidí Kelly was the stand-out performer in the attack as he finished with 2-2 to his credit, while the more experienced Barry Lambert posed a constant threat too on a night when Eoin Quigley worked valiantly at midfield.
St. Martin's meant business from the off with quick points from Mark Maloney and Lambert (free) before John O'Connor got Rathnure off the mark in the sixth minute. However, they conceded the first goal shortly afterwards when Páidí Kelly controlled a high delivery and connected with it on the ground to direct it to the net.
Robbie Codd and Barry Lambert (free) swapped points before the on-fire Kelly showed great skill to flick the sliothar over an advancing defender, regain possession and strike between the posts.
Rathnure showed they wouldn't lie down easily though when Dermot Flynn raced in for a welltaken goal at the start of the second quarter following a crucial block by Francis Murphy.
The response from the saints was very positive, as Mark Maloney and Eoin Quigley picked off points prior to the arrival of their second goal in the 28th minute.
Rathnure were slow to deal with a ball near the goalmouth, and Richard Devereux directed it into the path of Páidí Kelly who didn't need a second invitation in sending it to the net, leaving his side ahead at the break by 2-10 to 1-5.
Barry Lambert (free) widened the gap on the re-start before Rathnure were thrown a lifeline with a bizarre refereeing decision.
Joe Kelly signalled for a free out to St. Martin's which Mark Butler and Ken Furlong moved towards, only for the man in the middle to realise he had made an error and point again in favour of Rathnure.
Rather than giving St. Martin's time to re-adjust, he then allowed a quickly-taken free by Paul Codd to his unmarked brother Robbie who rattled the net, making it 2-12 to 2-5.
Gradually Rathnure whittled the lead down to four points with Dermot Flynn, Nigel Higgins and Paul Codd (free) all on target, and St. Martin's faced the stiffest test of their mettle when the latter won a penalty with 14 minutes left.
However, Codd's effort was saved and cleared, giving the leaders a huge lift at a critical time.
Rathnure came again and narrowed the gap to two points courtesy of Michael Redmond, John O'Connor and another Codd free, but the siege was lifted near the end when Daithí Waters finished off the scoring for the deserving victors.
