Prendergast turns on power as Ardmore stay in top flight

Ardmore 1-16 Roanmore 2-9

The win ensures the Seasiders remain in the top flight next season, but Roanmore must play Ballyduff Lower on Saturday to decide who drops to intermediate.

Roanmore threatened to overwhelm Ardmore in the early stages with goals from Aidan Burns and Laurence O’Neill pushing them nine points clear after 16 minutes. The winners’ opening score came when Seamas Prendergast pointed a 65’ and it was to be the first of a dozen points by the irrepressible county star. They were six points adrift, 2-5 to 0-5, at the interval and when the excellent Colm Burke stretched the Roanmore lead to seven from an early second half free things were looking good for the city outfit.

But with Declan Prendergast thundering into the game and brother Seamas finding his range from placed balls, Ardmore then dominated.

Substitute Billy Harty went through for a great goal in the 37th minute to narrow the deficit to two points, and when they levelled five minutes later there was almost an inevitability about the outcome.

Scorers for Ardmore: S. Prendergast (0-12, 0-5 frees, 0-2 “65s’); B. Harty (1-0); J. O’Donnell (0-2); J. Hennessy, G. North(0-1) each.

Scorers for Roanmore: C. Burke (0-5, frees); A. Burns (1-0); L. O’Neill(1- 0); D. Byrne(0-2); K. Gentleman, K. Kennedy(0-1) each.

ARDMORE: Clinton Hennessy; A. O’Donnell, M. Hennessy, N. Hennessy; A. North, DS. Prendergast, R. Hennessy; Cathal Hennessy, W. Hennessy; J. O’Donnell, J. Hennessy, G. North; E. Foley, S. Prendergast, D. Hennessy.

Sub: B. Harty for D. Hennessy.

ROANMORE: B. Brannigan; S. Cowman, D. Ryan, C. O’Byrne; C. Burke, E. Carew, P. Murphy; S. Flynn, D. Murphy; D. Byrne, K. Gentleman, K. Kennedy; A. Burns, M. Mackey, L. O’Neill.

Sub: S. Murphy for Flynn.

Referee: Pat Casey, (Cappoquin).