Two late goals sees Jude’s take down St Mark’s in inter c’ship
By Hayden Moore
TWO late goals from St Jude’s substitute Lee Kelly put daylight between his side and St Mark’s in their triumphant 4-16 to 1-18 return to the Intermediate Hurling Championship last Saturday.
The Templeogue outfit were relegated to the Junior ‘A’ Championship in 2018 and upon reaching the tournaments showpiece last year, they secured promotion back into the Intermediate Championship for 2020.
Jonathan Bryan of St Mark’s and Colm Hayes of St Jude’s battle it out in Tymon Park
As mentioned in a promotional video for the match on social media beforehand, club stalwart John Ryan was entering into his 31st year in the sky blue and navy jersey and he started it in style.
Deployed at centre-forward, Ryan made headway early on when his shot on goal squeeze past Mark’s goalkeeper Karl Lanney.
The travelling Springfield team struggled to find their range throughout, with a large proportion of wide balls leaving the opposing ‘keeper to penetrate their backline with his rangy puckouts.
It was through Walsh’s puckouts that Jude’s initiated many of their advances, several of which to great effect.
In one instance, corner forward Stephen Dowling came charging out the meet Walsh’s ball in the air before charging at goal and splitting the posts.
Former Dublin hurler David O’Callaghan was a key driving force for the black and amber outfit – his meandering runs proving difficult for Jude’s to keep up with.
It was O’Callaghan who pointed the way for Mark’s but Jude’s midfielder James Nugent kept his team in front, 1-12 to 0-8, at the break.
2018 finalists, St Mark’s rallied the troops at the interval and came flying out of the blocks with corner forward Joey Cannon and O’Callaghan getting on the scoresheet.
Ciaran McInerney’s composure on the ball and Minor player Luke Doyle’s vigorous efforts in midfield spurred Mark’s on.
Akin to his Dublin days, O’Callaghan was fouled after twisting and turning his way towards goal just after the restart and he buried the resulting 20-metre free through the packed box into the net.
Wing-back David Glynn won the resulting puckout for Mark’s and the gap was reduced to the minimum when O’Callaghan coolly slotted over.
But Jude’s responded immediately when Paddy Kavanagh’s long delivery found corner forward Michael Brislane, he beat his marker and fired the sliotar under the bar.
Full-forward Colm Hayes kept the scoreboard ticking over with his seven-point return, five of which came from frees, before Lee Kelly replaced him with eight-minutes on the clock.
Kelly did not take any time getting to work, getting on the end of a Kevin Roberts ball for his first goal, before blocking down a clearance from the goalkeeper and tucking away into an open net.
St Jude’s, who play a division lower than marks in the league, will take on another higher-ranked side when they travel out to Portmarnock to play Naomh Mearnog on Wednesday evening.
Meanwhile, St Mark’s will host the Ryan O’Dwyer managed Fingallians in McGee Park on the same day.
St Patrick’s Palmerstown, who were beaten 2-19 to 0-15 by Naomh Olaf last weekend, will welcome Erins Isle to Glenauline Park on Wednesday in Group Three.
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