Dunbrody take third
DUNBRODY GAELS 1-15 C’BEG-B’MURN 2-10
DUNBRODY GAELS withstood a ferocious comeback by hosts Crossabeg-Ballymurn to take victory and third spot in Group B of the Wexford People Minor hurling Roinn 1 championship on Wednesday.
The result means the Horeswood/St. James’ combination will face Hollow Rovers (Duffry Rovers/ Marshalstown-Castledockrell) in the quarter-finals at Farmleigh tomorrow (Wednesday).
However, they were made to work for their win. Leading by 1-12 to 1-4 ten minutes into the second-half, the New Ross District side seemed to be on the way to a fairly straightforward victory, in what was their third Minor game, between football and hurling, in four days.
The home side were having none of it. The Crossabeg-Ballymurn boys may only have one win from their seven games but they’ve played, and lost, a lot of close contests. They slowly grew in confidence, pulling within one with three minutes to go.
In the end Dunbrody hung on but keep an eye on this Crossabeg-Ballymurn side in the shield. If they can get a victory in their quarter-final against the Rapparees, with the confidence they would gain they could easily go on a run to that title.
Dunbrody went 0-5 to nil up in the opening quarter on the back of five points from their dynamic midfield duo of Andy Walsh (four) and Seán Nolan. The hosts had just a Luke Redmond free on the board when Tommy Walsh’s booming placed ball landed in the goalmouth and Seán Hunt swept home.
A couple of Nolan points made it 1-8 to 0-1 in the 22nd minute. Slowly Crossabeg-Ballymurn got going as Dylan Ring and Redmond (two) both grabbed scores before, with the last action of the half, Lorcan Murphy latched onto a breaking ball, after perseverance by Fionn Griffin, to pull to the Gaels net.
From 1-9 to 1-4 at the break, Dunbrody looked to have halted the comeback before it started with points from Andy Walsh, Nolan and Jamie Myler within eight minutes of the re-start. But once the Crossabeg-Ballymurn momentum started, it was hard to stop.
Chipping away, scores from Redmond (three), Ring and Mark Byrne closed the gap to four. Their second goal, coming from super-sub Byrne after more fine work by Redmond, suddenly left just the minimum between the sides (1-13 to 2-9).
A frantic five minutes ensued. Seán Nolan established a twopoint lead almost immediately, only for Redmond to respond in kind. After Nolan’s shot was brilliantly saved behind by Robert Cullen in added time, Andy Walsh converted the resulting ‘65.
With two points in it again, and one attack remaining, the hosts’ Ronan Devereux won a free that was moved in close to the ’20. Redmond stepped up to wallop it but the sliothar whizzed wide of the goal, ending a fantastically entertaining contest.
Dunbrody Gaels: Tommy Walsh; Dylan Whitty, Eamonn O’Sullivan, Conor Dalton; Seán Costello, Danny Byrne, David Murphy; Seán Nolan (0-5), Andy Walsh (capt., 0-9, 4 frees, 1 ‘65); Seán Hunt (1-0), Jamie Myler (0-1), James Fitzgerald; James Walsh, Aaron Mythen, Martin Kinsella.
Crossabeg-Ballymurn: Robert Cullen; Lorcan Cummins, Conor Barlow (capt.), Steve Cullen; Robert Murphy, Ronan Devereux, Conor Murphy; Tommy Ring, Luke Redmond (0-7, 6 frees); Dylan Ring (0-2), James White, Evan Kinlough; Fionn Griffin, Lorcan Murphy (1-0), Lorcan Lacey. Subs. - Jack Fortune for Griffin (33), Mark Byrne (1-1) for Lacey (38), Robert Scallan for C. Murphy (43), Cathal Byrne for S. Cullen (45), Michael Cullen for Cummins (49).
Referee: Barry Redmond (Clonard).