A DISASTROUS start proved to be St Maurs' downfall as their hopes of claiming Division 2 league silverware were shattered in the final at Balgriffin last Wednesday.

Confident after hammering Round Towers Clondalkin in the semi-final three days previously, the physical effects of two games in 72 hours perhaps took their toll – although the nine-point margin of defeat was harsh on the Rush side.

Indeed, delete the opening seven minutes of play and the combatants finished the contest with seven scores apiece – but by the time Maurs troubled the scorers they were already 0-7 to 0-0 in arrears. This game was played at championship pace and fiercely contested, but sensible refereeing from Naomh Mearnóg clubman Tadhg Dennehy kept proceedings under control.

Belatedly, Maurs found their shooting boots in the first half and did enough to suggest they could make a game of it. So it proved in the second half as they kept their foot on the pedal and reduced the deficit to a mere two points at one stage – 0-9 to 0-7. Maurs sensed an unlikely victory, but when a goal attempt was blocked down and Parnells swept downfield to find the net seconds later, the Rush men had nothing more to give and the eventual winners added four more unanswered scores to their tally .

Nevertheless, there was plenty to admire in the way St Maurs out-played their opponents for half of the contest. Julian Sweetman was outstanding at midfield and, on the forty, Chris Moore won the battle against Mark Fitzpatrick hands down and could yet force his way into the intercounty reckoning.

Sadly it wasn't enough on the day and St Maurs must once more ply their trade in Division 2 in 2010.