Huge disappointment for Seniors

This afternoon in Nowlan Park, in front of a large crowd, St. Martin’s took on Clara in the St. Canice’s Credit Union Senior County Semi-Final.  In what was dubbed as a local derby, it was John Maher who got St. Martin’s on the scoreboard with a point from play.  His next point was from a free some four minutes later.  In that four minutes, Clara were notching up three points of their own to leave Martin’s trailing by a point.  It was not until the 11th minute that the men from the hills came by their next score.  John Maher laid off a nice pass from the new stand side over to John Mulhall on the far side who finished it nicely over the bar to reduce the deficit to two points.  Coming up to midway through the half, that deficit was quashed as the talented veteran John Maher had the vision to spot Canice Maher running through the middle who took the pass and rattled the back of the net.  John Maher added another pointed free to put two points between the sides.  Martin’s got two chances at goal before the end of the half.  The first came when James Dowling sent a bullet off the crossbar that was gathered up and pointed by David Breen.  The second came when Robert Shore’s shot narrowly went wide.  The half time score stood at St. Martin’s 1-6 Clara 0-8.   Clara came out in the second half with all guns blazing but points from John Maher and John Mulhall who made sure the opponents didn’t get too far ahead.  Points from Robert Shore and John Mulhall levelled the game. (1-11 to 0-14).  However, Clara went 5 points ahead with a goal batted in by James Nolan.  (1-11 to 1-16)  Martin’s battled hard to reduce the deficit with two pointed free’s from John Maher and another by John Mulhall.  Colin McGrath dropped in a free into the square with time almost up but it could not be converted.  Alas, it was all in vein as Clara were victorious on a scoreline of 1-17 to St. Martin’s 1-14.

Team: Colin McGrath, Niall Moran, Ollie Walsh, Shane Cadigan, James Maher, Paddy Nolan, Bryan Byrne, James Dowling, Thomas Breen, Canice Maher (1-0), Brian Mulhall, David Breen (0-1), John Mulhall (0-4), John Maher (0-8), Robert Shore (0-1).

Subs: Jason Shore, Paul Maher, Michael Morrissey, Brendan Maher, Shane Kinsella, Luke Maher, Noel D’arcy, Aidan Murphy, Brian Cadigan, Paddy Dowling, Donal Shore, Eugene Maher, Jack Dowling, Eoin McGrath, Joe Maher, Ronan Maher.

Team Management: Charlie Carter (Manager) Richie McCarthy, Aidan Lawler (Selectors)

Referee: Gavin Quilty

13th October 2013