SFC quarter-final: Mary's edge out Geraldines
August 31, 2015
Alan Kirk goes by Paul Clarke (Geraldines) during the SFC quarter final at St Brigids Park
ST MARYS 1-7
GERALDINES 0-6
A second half goal from Darren Clarke helped St Marys make it through to the Senior Championship semi-final after they came through a low-scoring contest against Geraldines.
The four-point win at Dowdallshill on Saturday evening ensured that the Ardee men became the first team to qualify for the last four.
Clarke, who was making his return to action following a facial injury picked up in the last championship outing against the Dreadnots, claimed the all-important goal on 22 minutes. Despite the best efforts of the Gers in the closing stages they were unable to peg back the lead.
Right from the opening whistle, it was Clarke who took centre stage as he opened the scoring inside two minutes before adding the next two points to help his team get off to a flying start.
However, the Gers gradually got into the game and opened their account through Jim McEneaney aft the start of the second quarter. Clarke responded to make it 0-4 to 0-1 but before the break McEneaney was on target again to reduce the gap to just two.
The Haggardstown side came flying out of the blocks in the second half and inside three minutes saw Shane O'Hanlon raise a white flag before Dara Hamill levelled soon after.
It was looking good for the Gers when O'Hanlon sent over another point to put his side in the lead for the first time at 0-5 to 0-4.
There were serious questions being asked of the Marys at that stage and their response was impressive. A pointed free from Alan Kirk restored parity once more before the same player edged his side in front after 20 minutes.
With the game very much in the balance it was the Ardee men who grabbed the initiative when a swift move resulted in Ronan Carroll laying off to Darren Clarke who put the ball into an empty net. Clarke deserved his goal and might have felt a bit aggrieved that he did not get a penalty earlier in the second half.
The Gers gave themselves hope when Matthew Corcoran fired over to cut the gap to 1-6 to 0-6. However, they were unable to get through for the goal they needed to rescue the game and a late point from Ronan Carroll sealed the win for the Marys.
As the game neared the closing stages it was St Mary's who looked the more composed and experienced and will look forward to their first Senior semi final since 2003.
ST MARYS: Peter Duffy; Karl Faulkner, John Bingham, Barry Faulkner; Evan Keenan, Conor Keenan, Niall Eccles; Robert Leavy, RJ Callaghan; Dean Matthews, Alan Kirk 0-2, Paudy Clarke; Niall Carroll, Darren Clarke 1-4, Ronan Carroll 0-1. Sub: Kian Moran for D Matthews BC.
GERALDINES: Nathaniel Cooney, Tiernan Hand, Nicky Mackin, Paul Clarke, Josh Arrowsmith, Gerard Hoey, Dylan Kresa, Michael Rogers, Jim McEneaney 0-2, Stephen Reidy, Paddy Hoey, Shaun Thornton, Dara Hamill 0-1, Shane O'Hanlon 0-2, Conal Hoey. Subs : Kevin Pepper for Josh Arrowsmith, Matt Corcoran 0-1 for M Rogers, Johnny Breen for C Hoey, Gareth Neacy for S Reidy.
