February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Sean O’Reilly
St. Barnabas 2-11; Rockland 1-13
Early arrivers at Gaelic Park weren’t disappointed with the first junior ‘B’ quarterfinal of the season going right to the wire. St. Barnabas can thank all their lucky stars that they held on for the narrowest of wins against Rockland.
In the final frantic five minutes, the St. Barnabas defense may have creaked, but it never buckled. Up front, they picked off the all-important scores. With Dave O’Halloran hitting 0-5, they had a real hero.
Beside him Jonathon Daly was alert and active. Darren Meaney at full forward never stopped trying.
Rockland were unlucky not to steal a draw. Tommy Fennell and substitute Paul Rowley played an excellent game. St. Barnabas led 1-7 to 0-8 at the interval with Jonathon Daly hitting the net for a great goal in the first quarter.
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O’Halloran was deadly accurate from play and with points from Ronan and Dave Garvey an early lead was stolen. Rockland were very lively in attack, however their defense was not as resolute. Sean Roche, Rowley and Fennell all managed points in the opening period, but St. Barnabas lead had two points to spare at the short whistle.
The second half produced pulsating football. Both sides threw caution to the wind and attacked at will.
The winning score arrived via the penalty spot. Ronan Garvey buried his shot in the net and the local boys were home and dry.
Rockland, to their credit, never stopped trying and a goal from Danny Leddy and good points from Paul Rowley and Mike Prendergast reeled in the opposition. Time was out and the Bronx boys were celebrating at the finish.
St. Barnabas; Owen Killeen, Joe Fitzgerald, Pat Lyons, Brendan Sullivan, Tony Nolan, Ed. Greenan, Brian Montgomery, Pat Flynn, Dave Garvey 0-1, Ronan Garvey 1-2, Dave O’Halloran 0-5, Kieran Moyles 0-1, Jonathon Daly 1-2, Darren Meaney, Barry Sherry.
Rockland, Tom Furlong, Martin Flynn, Dermot Yorke, Ray Lannon, Donal Cassidy, Barry Woods, Sean Roche 0-1, Billy Horan 0-2, Jim McGovern, Tom Fennell 0-5, Kevin Wrafter, Mike Prendergast 0-1, Emmett Woods, Danny Leddy 1-0, Subs: Paul Rowley 0-4.