Nash strikes late as Monasterevin defeat Sallins
The Auld Shebeen Athy Intermediate Football Championship Quarter Final
Monasterevin 2-8
Sallins 0-11
Monasterevin provided the opening shock of the weekend as a Padraig Nash goal in the 79 minute of injury time saw them advance to the semi final of the Auld Shebeen Athy IFC.
It was a fully deserved victory from a team who arrived as underdogs but left with high hopes of been involved in the destination of the Hugh Campion Cup come mid October.
It was a heroic performance from the underdogs as they saw off their more fancied opponents Sallins in a game that although very defensive minded served up a cracker on a crisp autumnal evening
Monasterevin's victory was built on a well executed team plan a higher work rate and a never say die attitude and togetherness that was refreshing to see.
Sallins huffed and puffed but couldn't break down that solid defensive structure and that late goal they needed never materialised.
Conor Dalton on two and Wayne Fitzpatrick on six swapped the opening points and by the eight minute the same players kept parity between the sides.
Dalton from play and Fitzpatrick with his second free. Both sides were well set up defensively and scores were hard to come by as both sides were forced back and forth across the field as they probed an opening.
A break from Luke Killian into the Monasterevin half was overturned and when Evan Nash was fouled Paul Maloney took the opportunity to hit a long ball in the direction of full forward Ryan Bannon. He tapped the ball down to the waiting Wayne
Fitzpatrick and without hesitation his first time effort was low past Ryan Herbert in the Sallins goal.
Charlie Doyle extended the lead to four after 19 minutes kicking a brilliant score on the turn.
Sallins had gone 13 minutes without a score before Com Dalton pointed his third of the half this time getting a yard of space to reduce the gap to three with twenty one on the clock.
As half time approached Sallins had started to play their best football of the half and when James Dalton pointed on 29.
Monasterevin went to the dressing room 1-3 to 0-4 ahead.
Colm Dalton and Cian Grimes, with a long range effort had the sides level for the first time since the eight minute with 34 on the clock.
Wayne Fitzpatrick and Conor Dalton were scorers in chief for their respective sides and they hit the next three between them.
Fitzpatrick pointing on 36 and 39, firstly from a free after Padraig Nash was fouled and then from a mark after a long Sean Kavanagh pass saw him gather in front of full back Darren Keane.
In between those two Fitzpatrick points Colm Dalton pointed a 38.
A three man move involving Cian Grimes, Luke Killian and James Dalton saw the later force a brilliant save from Adam Forde.
The closing 10 minutes were set up for a tense finish. Colm Dalton, again from a free levelled it on 50.
Sean Kavanagh and Ryan Bannon worked a ball into Padraig Nash and when Aaron Carney committed the foul Nash popped over the free.
Sallins owned the ball for the closing minutes as all 15 of Monasterevin retreated with the hope of holding out. Sallins had possession for over three minutes before Luke Killian got a left footed effort away for the equaliser.
Extra time was on the way. The opening ten minutes were Monasterevin's as Wayne Fitzpatrick and corner back Gary Morrissey pushed the men in blue two ahead.
Heavy legs and tired bodies meant Sallins needed to respond quickly. With mistakes creeping in and players suffering cramp it was inevitable that scoring chances would arise.Sallins took them in the shape of the Daltons,James and Colm with his seventh had us all square and a dreaded penalty shoot out loomed.
With only a minute of normal time remaining Monasterevin struck for the winner. A short kickout towards Luke Killian was intercepted by Ryan Bannon,he fed Wayne Fitzpatrick and he cooly played in Padraig Nash who made no mistake.
No time for a Sallins response as Sallins held out for a 2-8 to 0-11 win that secured their semi final spot.
SALLINS: Ryan Herbert, Aaron Carney, Darren Keane, Luke Kelly, Conor Dalton, Ben Caulfield, Cian Grimes 0-1, Luke Killian 0-1, Sean Conway, Alan Marshall, Colm Dalton 0-7 (5,frees), Daragh Mangan,Paul Farrelly, James Dalton 0-2, Emmet Ralph. Subs: Sean O Domhnaill for Daragh Mangan 38; Kevin Foley for Sean Conway 47; David Cronin for Paul Farrelly 58; Stephen Kelly for Emmet Ralph 72; Rory Gavin for Cian Grimes 77.
MONASTEREVIN: Adam Forde, Gary Morrissey 0-1, Eoin Stapelton, Cormac Stapelton, Michael Donohue, Evan Nash, Cian Harrison, Sean Kavanagh, Paul Maloney, Eric Morrissey, Wsyne Fitzpatrick1-6 (4 frees,1 mark), Dj Earley, Charlie Doyle 0-1, Ryan Bannon, Conor Lonergan. Subs: Padraig Nash 1-0 for Michael Donohue H/T; Adam Kavanagh for Eric Morrissey 43; Eric Morrissey for Conor Lonergan 65; Leonard Havens for Cormac Stapelton 74.
REFEREE: Henry Barrett.