Payne and Twomey power St Brogan’s into Munster final

THE exciting twin strike force of Roy Payne and Danny Twomey shattered Rathmore and powered St Brogan’s of Bandon into the Munster Vocational Schools SFC final at windswept Kilmichael yesterday.

Centre-forward Payne scored 2-4, full-forward Twomey 1-4, as Brogan’s turned a five-point interval deficit into a resounding nine-point victory.

Payne struck for his first goal in the ninth minute, a cracking effort after Rathmore had opened the scoring with early points from their corner forwards Mark Reen and Stephen O’Donoghue.

Payne’s great strike was a tremendous boost for St Brogan’s, who were forced to concede territorial advantage to a wind-assisted Rathmore in the first half.

With midfielder Brian Kelleher an impressive figure at midfield, and O’Donoghue and Reen making their mark up front, Rathmore, spurred by a fine goal from O’Donoghue at the end of the first quarter, led 1-6 to 1-1 at the break. But Rathmore, who kicked nine wides to their opponents two, should have opened up even greater daylight between the sides in this period.

And, as events subsequently transpired after the change of ends, Rathmore were to regret scorning a succession of gilt-edged point-scoring opportunities as St Brogan’s proceeded to turn the tables.

Rathmore maintained their five-point advantage with their last score of the game and their only one in the second half — a point from O’Donoghue in the 33rd minute.

From here on in St Brogan’s, with Payne and Twomey causing havoc, took control and opened the floodgates with impressive finishing power.

Payne scored a delightful second goal and then kicked over the equalising point in the 39th minute. Seconds later Twomey edged St Brogan’s in front for the first time, and with Rathmore’s heads dropping, the Bandon side went from strength to strength.

Twomey scored their third goal in the 47th minute, after a superb attempt by Payne to complete his hat-trick was brilliantly parried by goalkeeper Pat Noonan. There was no way back for Rathmore and St Brogan’s, who had already qualified for the hurling decider, will now be hoping to accomplish the first leg of a possible provincial double when the meet Boherbue in the football final.

Scorers: St. Brogan’s: R. Payne 2-4 (0-1 from free); D. Twomey 1-4; E. Kelly and G. Twomey 0-1 each. Rathmore: S. O’Donoghue 1-3 (0-1 from free); B. Kelleher 0-2 (0-1 from sideline kick) ; M. Reen 0-2 (0-1 from free).

ST. BROGAN’S: C. White; K. Walsh, A. Tobin, D. Murphy; M. O’Leary, L. Long, E. Kelly; P. Daly, D. Creedon; J. McCarthy, R. Payne, R. Crowley; K. O’Donovan, D. Twomey, G. Twomey.

Subs: J. Harrington for Twomey; C. Twomey for Harrington; M. Power for D. Twomey; G. Rice for O’Donovan; M. Muir for Tobin.

RATHMORE: P. Noonan; C. Kelly, D. McCarthy, P. O’Connor; P. Murphy, D. Goulding, Shane O’Donoghue; B. Kelleher, D. O’Sullivan; D. O’Connor, D. Murphy, P. O’Leary; Stephen O’Donoghue, M. Kelleher, M. Reen.

Subs: W. O’Connor for O’Leary.

Referee: J. Masters (Kilmichael).