St. Mary’s hurlers have few answers to Roscrea rivals in B colleges clash

St Mary’s College 1-7

Roscrea CC 1-14

Pádraic Ó Ciardha in Whitegate

ST. Mary’s College were blown away in the second half of this All-Ireland Post Primary Senior B hurling semi-final. The Galway school was unable to keep up with a free-scoring side from Roscrea CC as they registered 1-9 in the second half, compared to St. Mary’s 1-1.

No one could have predicted this outcome at half time when St Mary’s were leading by a point, 0-6 to 0-5, but the Tipperary side dominated the second period. It was the city school who got off the mark first in the game when midfielder Conor Noone fired over a neat  score inside the opening minute.

Roscrea levelled immediately and then took the lead through a free from Jordan Fogarty. Named at midfield, Fogarty was operating in the inside forward line in the early stages and he was causing all sorts of trouble for the St Mary’s defence. After Adam Mooney had brought the Galway side level, a superb run from Fogarty had set up Aaron Kirwan for a goal chance but the corner forward fired over.

Mooney levelled the game, 0-3 each, in the 10th minute and St. Mary’s began to take charge of the contest. Mooney fired over two more scores in quick succession but Roscrea were not lying down and the St Mary’s backs were forced to snuff out two quick-fire goal chances with full back Ronan Higgins clearing off the line on one occasion.

When Mooney converted a superb free, 65m out and on the right touchline, to leave the scores 0-6 to 0-3 it looked like it might be St Mary’s day but Roscrea refused to go away. With three minutes to half time, their full forward Shane Sampson executed a terrific sideline cut before a Fogarty free reduced the gap to a single point, 0-6 to 0-5.

With the match delicately poised, the first score of the second half was going to be vital and it fell to Roscrea when centre back Daniel Doughan levelled the game with a huge free from his own ’65 in the opening minute. Both sides failed to take advantage of chances in the minutes that followed. A

Mooney saw two difficult, long-range, frees drop short of the Roscrea goal while the Munster champions were awarded a penalty in the 40th minute when Evan Fitzpatrick was bundled over by Paul Wynne. Fogarty stepped up but his mediocre effort was well saved by Jack Forde in the St Mary’s goal before Ronan Higgins cleared the ball to safety.

Fogarty went some way to making amends by converting two frees soon after and when substitute Adrian Cleary pointed from 30m out, Roscrea had a three point lead, 0-9 to 0-6. With ten minutes remaining, St Mary’s were dealt a crucial blow.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.