Mungret St Paul’s reach Munster Club IFC final with comprehensive win over Roanmore:
By John Keogh Limerick Leader Sport
MUNGERT ST PAUL’S booked their place in the Munster Intermediate Football Championship final with a 1-9 to 0-2 win over Roanmore in Walsh Park, Waterford this Sunday afternoon.
The Limerick city side were dominant throughout and will play Cork’s Cill Na Martra in the final in two week’s time after they saw off Kerry’s Milltown-Castlemaine.
The majority of the damage was done in the first half by Mungret and held a 1-5 to 0-1 at the break with Eoin Ryan getting their goal on 18 minutes.
Jack McCarthy opened the scoring on just three minutes and that was added to soon after by the ever dangerous Shane Barry at full forward.
Eddie Nolan then had a goal chance for the Waterford side but was denied by a stunning low save by Mungret keeper Ronan McElligott.
Dean Reidy eventually got Roanmore on the board with 17 minutes on the clock but they soon were the architects of their own misfortune when Brian Nolan’s sideline ball was intercepted by Brian Barry.
The ball was quickly worked inside to Ryan and he placed the ball beautifully over the advancing Roanmore keeper Josh Sheridan and into the top corner of the net.
Mungret were dominant for the remainder of the half with Shane Barry and Brendan Giltenane sending over points to see them go six in front. Shane Barry’s third of the half then gave them a 1-5 to 0-1 lead at the break.
Roanmore came out with a lot of physicality in the second half but it was Mungret that landed the first blow with Shane Barry again the provider.
The Waterford champions had no answer to Mungret’s organisation in defence and then their problems only intensified when the Limerick side emptied their bench.
Ryan was next on the scoreboard for Mungret as their advantage stretched to nine points. Former Irish soccer international Eddie Nolan landed a mark to get Roanmore off the mark in the second half but that was as good as it got.
Diarmuid Hynes was a thorn in the Roanmore side from the moment he was introduced and he nailed a long range effort to restore their massive lead.
As Roanmore searched for badly needed goals, gaps opened up in their defence but some sloppy attacks from Mungret ensured that their winning margin wasn’t even greater.
They did land a final blow with Darragh Bridgeman slotting a point that sealed a 10-point win and a spot in the Munster final.
SCORERS – MUNGRET ST PAUL’S: Brian Barry 0-4 (0-1 mark), Eoin Ryan 1-1, Jack McCarthy, Brendan Giltenane, Diarmuid Hynes and Darragh Bridgeman 0-1 each.
SCORERS – ROANMORE: Dean Reidy and Eddie Nolan (0-1 mark) 0-1 each.
MUNGRET ST PAUL’S: Ronan McElligott; Brian Treacy, Robert Hegarty, Liam Harrington; Frank Corcoran, Ciaran Deane, James Garvey; Jack McCarthy, Darragh O’Hagan; James Killian, Killian Ryan, Brian Barry; Brendan Giltenane, Shane Barry, Eoin Ryan.
SUBS: Tom Lloyd for Killian (42 mins), Oisin Moss for Giltenane (42 mins), Diarmuid Hynes for Garvey (42 mins), Darragh Bridgeman for K Ryan (47 mins), Michael Lorrigan for Treacy (54 mins).
ROANMORE: Josh Sheridan; Dean Walsh, Emmet O’Toole, Ethan Hayes; Gavin O’Brien, Charlie Chester, Conor Ryan; Frank McGrath, Brian Nolan; Dean Reidy, Billy Nolan, Ethan Flynn; Eddie Nolan, Shane Mackey, Paul O’Sullivan.
SUBS: Cian Wadding for Walsh (h-t), Rory Furlong for McGrath (42 mins), Sam Pender for Mackey (42 mins), Shane Nolan for B Nolan (47 mins), Chris Dempsey for O’Brien (47 mins).
REFEREE: Niall Quinn (Clare).