St Mary’s 2-11 Cortown 0-13

St Mary’s headed to Paddy O’Brien park last night for their second championship Semi Final in as many years. In last year’s Semi Final St Mary’s were rank outsiders, assumed to be there simply to make up the numbers against a much-fancied Moynalty. However, Mary’s hadn’t read the script and physically dominated Moynalty and gave them one hell of a fright, only losing by 2 points on the day. Yesterday the roles were reversed somewhat, Mary’s were the fancied outfit and according to some would dispose of Cortown with relative ease.

So, had Cortown read the script? Well, it became obvious from the throw in that they hadn’t, they weren’t there to make up the numbers and showed an intensity and energy in the opening exchanges that put St Mary’s on the backfoot. This early dominance was rewarded with a fine point from play, shortly afterwards their effective long early ball earned them a free which was converted well. Then came their second point from play, they were now 3 points to nil up. St Mary’s needed to get to the pitch of this game quickly before they found themselves with a mountain to climb. They eventually got on the scoresheet when Sean Nulty pointed well from play, this was followed up with a second point when having shipped a furious but fair hit Tadhg Dixon steadied and pointed beautifully with his left.

St Mary’s were now starting to get a little more possession around the middle third and were finding Andrew Brien well, one of these attacks left Andy 1 on 1 with his man who he turned sharply only to be denied by a great save from Cortown netminder Colm McGearty. To their credit Cortown prevented St Mary’s from going level and went on to extend their lead to 2 points with another point from play. This was cancelled out when Brien pointed a free from 20 metres out. Then followed another point from play for Cortown, again this was cancelled out by a Brien free, won this time by captain James Lynch. Points were exchanged again, Cortown from play and Brien, this time from play.

Every time the Mary’s men got within a point Cortown would go on to extend the lead to 2, and it looked like Mary’s might need a goal to reign the Cortown lads in. That goal did come, and from who else but Andrew Brien. St Mary’s finally managed to string several hand passes together at pace, with the ball finding its way to Andy from Sean Nulty, who fired to the roof of the Cortown net to put Mary’s up by 1. Cortown didn’t let that phase them and they converted to bring the sides level again, referee Martin then sounded the half time whistle, all square at the break, St Mary’s probably the happier knowing they had failed the reach the levels they know they are capable of.

HT: St Mary’s 1-05 Cortown 0-08

St Mary’s had played into a slight breeze in the first half up and had the benefit of the slight fall into the far end. St Mary’s management would have implored their charges to avoid the sluggish start to the second half that had put them on the backfoot in the first half. But unfortunately, it was Cortown again who started the brighter, monopolising possession in the middle third, this dominance led to a scenario whereby the Marys defence was under pressure, and their forwards were starved of possession. Cortown took full advantage and added 2 points, one from a free and one from play. A flat St Mary’s needed something to spark them into life and this spark came from Caimin Hughes, who struck an outrageous 2 pointer to level things up again. Then came Brien’s and St Mary’s second goal, Hughes found Andy brilliantly who turned at speed and finished early powerful and low into the bottom corner, and in the space of 4 minutes St Mary’s came from 2 down to find themselves 3 up. Cortown didn’t drop their heads and as with the Mary’s first goal they responded positively pulling 1 back from a free. Andrew Brien then scored his 3rd point from a free, the gap was back to 3.

Cortown kept plugging away and were still winning plenty of ball around the middle and were closing the boynesiders down quickly when they were too slow in possession and took unnecessary touches, which led to chances for Cortown, and they scored a fine point. They then went in search of a goal that would restore their lead, St Mary’s defended excellently, however the pressure did yield a 45 which was converted by McGearty, and the gap was now a single point. Thankfully another free from Andrew Brien doubled the lead to 2, St Mary’s won the resultant kick out and a long ball found Cormac Victory inside who off loaded to his brother Sam who bore down on goal only to be denied by McGearty, who came to the rescue again. Cortown fought on and snapped at a few attempts late on, however the final score was a 2 pointer from St Mary’s and was scored by the man who’s 2 pointer had kick started St Marys revival in the second half, Caimin Hughes. The final whistle came, delight and relief for Mary’s and bitter disappointment from an impressive Cortown, who gave it everything, hit hard and fair, and gave the Marys one hell of a battle in the process.

So having doled out a severe fright to Moynalty in last year’s Semi Final, St Mary’s got a real fright in this year’s last 4 clash and were mightily relieved to get the win last night. How will they respond now? St Mary’s are now heading into their first championship final in 13 years, and they will believe there is improvement in them. The question is, will it be enough to bridge a gap of 46 years since their first and only championship in 1979?

St Marys: Adam Byrne; Liam Lynch, John Spain, Conor O’Brien; Maithiu Brien, Dylan Bagnall, AJ. Bradshaw; Joey Greene, Tadhg Dixon (0-1); Ben Loughran, Cathal Sheridan, Caimin Hughes (0-4, 2x2p); James Lynch, Sean Nulty (0-1), Andrew Brien (2-5 4f)
Subs: Cormac Victory for J. Lynch, Sam Victory for Sheridan, Adam Craven for Bradshaw, Andy Everard for Conor O’Brien, Cian O Brien for Nulty, Derek O’Brien, Eoin Jackson, Neil Floyd, Peter Gogan, Kyle Mc Keown, Robbie Callaghan

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