AIB Leinster Club SFC Quarter-Final

Shelmaliers 2-6 Naomh Mairtin 1-7

By Dan Bannon at Haggardstown

Shelmaliers came from behind against favourites Naomh Mairtin to claim a famous victory to reach the AIB Leinster senior football championship semi final. Shels become the first Wexford side to do so since Starlights in 2004.

The contest was slow burner but an enthralling contest right to the finish as the underdogs held on after county forward Eoghan Nolan and Ross Banville hit the net either side of half time.

Those goals allowed Shelmaliers to express themselves, and a five point lead to hang dearly on to.

With the semi final in Croke Park adding more motivation to tired legs, the Curracloe based side would not be denied despite Louth and club captain Sam Mulroy making it a one point game with four successive free’s.

The Louth champions Naomh Mairtin lived up to expectations early on and were in complete control for majority of the first half.

The Monasterboice were five points ahead with 28 minutes played. Conor Whelan supplying the goal, when he slipped the ball under Craig McCabe in the Shels goal.

However Louth sides procession to victory was swiftly ended just before half time when the Wexford champions stunned the Monasterboice men to level the game late in the first half.

Glen Malone cut in from the left and Simon Donohoe then set up Nolan at the back post but Malone kicked over a mark surprisingly level the game 1-3 each at half time.

With the expectations weighing heavy Naomh Mairtin never got going in the second period. County goalkeeper Craig Lynch was black carded in the opening goal didn’t help his sides cause at all.

Wexford’s most capped footballer Brian Malone sensed the upset and left his sweeping role at the start of the second half to force the issue for his side. Ross Banville opened the second half scoring in acres of space when buried a low shot to the net.

Aaron Murphy and Glen Malone quickly added two more to cap off a stunning ten point turnaround to make it 2-5 to 1-3 in favour of John Hegarty’s side.

With a mountain to climb Naomh Mairtin, got the perfect start when Shels goalkeepr Craig McCabe was black carded for Sam Mulroy’s first of his second half free’s. McCabe was excellent in open play, a converted outfielder was a huge loss but Shelmaliers dug deep.

With Mulroy piling on the pressure, an equaliser looked likely, but Graham Staples came up from the back with an excellent point after Nolan nearly found the net again by intercepting a Craig Lynch kick out.

Staples would soon see red but the two point gap was crucial. With minutes remaining, the margin menat Naomh Mairtin needed a goal but they could not find the accuracy in added time.

A goalmouth scramble at the death did nothing for the hearts of the Shelmaliers supporters but the final whistle was one to savour.

Scorers for Shelmaliers: Eoghan Nolan 1-1, Ross Banville 1-0, Glen Malone 0-3 (1m), Aaron Murphy, Graham Staples 0-1 each

Scorers for Naomh Mairtin: Sam Mulroy 0-6 (6f), Conor Whelan 1-0 and JP Rooney 0-1

**Naomh Mairtin:**Craig Lynch; Mark Whelan, Thom Sullivan, Conor Morgan; John Clutterbuck, Seán Healy, Conor Healy; Wayne Campbell, Evan Whelan, Val Leddy, Eoghan Callaghan, Stephen Campbell; Sam Mulroy, Conor Whelan, JP Rooney.

Subs: Joe Gordon for Leddy (28), Leddy for Gordon (38), Jack Murphy for S Campbell (46), Gavan Mooney for W Campbell (51), Thomas Clarke for Mooney (58),

Shelmaliers: Craig McCabe; André O’Brien, Simon Donohoe, James Cash; Ross Banville, Graham Staples, Glen Malone; Seán Keane-Carroll, Aidan Cash; Jody Donohoe, Conor Hearne, Aaron Murphy; Brian Malone; Páraic O’Leary, Eoghan Nolan.

Subs: Mark Power for O’Leary (49), Aodhan Foley for Murphy (42), Murphy for Foley (52), Eoin Doyle for A Cash (54), Kyle Roche for Murphy (60).

Referee: Cormac Reilly (Meath)