Sport

Earls seals win for St Patrick's

St Patrick’s (Wicklow) 3-10 Éire Óg (Carlow) 2-11: CARLOW’S ÉIRE Óg, five times winners of the Leinster Club championship, bowed…

Mon Oct 29 2012 - 00:00

St Patrick's (Wicklow) 3-10 Éire Óg (Carlow) 2-11:CARLOW'S ÉIRE Óg, five times winners of the Leinster Club championship, bowed out at the first hurdle yesterday, beaten after extra-time by St Patrick's of Wicklow in a sensational finish to their match at Aughrim.

The sides were level at 1-8 apiece after 60 gripping minutes of football and the Wicklow champions were clinging to a two-point lead (2-10 to 1-11) as the match entered the end of extra time.

Then Éire Óg corner-forward Eric McCormack fired a scorching shot to the corner of the net.

The Carlow cheers had scarcely time to subside when St Patrick’s Paul Earls beat the goalkeeper Robert Moore to the punch to force Donie Fitzgerald’s lofted ball over the line to ensure St Patrick’s became the first Wicklow team to get past the first round of the Leinster Club in nine years.

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Simon Rea capitalised on some mistakes in the home defence to fire home an early goal for the Carlow champions. St Patrick’s were lucky to retire at half-time on level terms with their opponents, 1-4 apiece. Their goal was scored by Austin O’Malley, whose shot from the touchline deceived goalkeeper Robbie Moore.

In injury time Eric McCormack kicked the equaliser (1-8 apiece) for Éire Óg, a pressure free to send the match to extra time.

Dara O’Sullivan set up O’Malley for his second goal and St Patrick’s led 2-9 to 1-10 before the dramatic finale ensued.

ST PATRICK’S: C Byrne; S Murley, P Higgins, R Connolly; P McWalter, C Doyle, D Healy, D McEvoy; N Kennedy; M Byrne (0-4, frees), P Earls (1-2), R Murphy, T Kelly (0-1), A. O’Malley (2-2), D. O’Sullivan (0-1). Subs: D Fitzgerald for Kennedy, A Jameson for C. Doyle

Éire Óg: R Moore; V Kavanagh, C McCarthy, P McElligott; B Kavanagh, D Hayden, A Callinan; S Gannon, M Ware (0-1); B Carberry (0-1), BHennessy (0-1), E Ruth (0-1); E McCormack (1-6, three frees and a 45), K Hession, S Rea (1-0). Subs: J Lowry for P McElligott, D O’Brien for Hession, M Fitzgerald (0-1) for Carberry, C Mullen for Rea, T.Dowling for McCarthy, B Carberry for Fitzgerald, C Blake for O’Brien.

Referee: M Deegan (Laois).