Danske Bank Forresters Cup
St Mary’s CBGS 1-20-1-09 Rathmore
From Kevin Herron
Pics by Sean Toal
St. Mary’s bounced back from their opening day defeat to St Louis’ Ballymena by beating table-toppers Rathmore in their second Danske Bank Forresters Cup clash on Friday afternoon.
Although the hosts twice lead in the early stages through a Brendan McMorrow point from play and a converted Oisin Boyle free, Rathmore made the most of the first half wind advantage.
Ronan Taylor top-scored in his sides shock win over Ballymena and helped himself to all 1-05 of his sides first half scores.
He initially replied to McMorrow and Boyle’s scores from the placed ball and then opened up a two-point lead with further strikes from frees.
Oisin Boyle landed two in reply to level at 0-04 apiece before Taylor was slipped in and pierced a low shot to the net on the 23rd minute.
He would add a further converted free before the break- sandwiched between two further frees from St. Mary’s free-taker Boyle as the Kingsway outfit held a 1-05-0-06 lead at the interval.
Taylor was first off the mark in the second period from the placed ball, but four unanswered frees from Oisin Boyle brought his tally to 0-09 for the afternoon and edged his side 0-10-1-06 ahead.
Parity was restored when Taylor dropped over his seventh placed ball, only for Boyle to add another and bring his personal tally to double figures.
Rathmore pulled level for the final time in proceedings when Donnacha Laverty found range from a free in his own defensive third.
Thereafter, the hosts took over. Daniel Mulholland popped over, Oisin Boyle converted a further free and then added his first from play.
An angled Odhran McAuley point extended the advantage and first-half scorer Brendan McMorrow then landed three of the next four points that followed.
The St Paul’s native was recipient of a Matthew Murray turnover from the puck-out and he returned the ball over to double his tally. He would clip another two over and in-between turned provider for a Dara Brown point as St. Mary’s powered into a 0-19-1-08 lead.
Donnacha Laverty dropped over another free, which would prove scant consolation as St. Mary’s finished strongly.
Matthew Murray fielded another puck-out and laid off to Daire Jemfrey for a point and there was still time for the Glen Road outfit to find the net before the conclusion.
Cormac Mulligan looked to be struggling with a knock, although he was able to hit the net from McMorrow’s late lay-off to ensure his side ran out convincing 1-20-1-09 winners in the end.
