A HOLLOW VICTORY!
Duffry/Marshalstown cruise to title
HOLLOW ROVERS 1-14 R’GAROGUE-C’TOWN 0-8
HOLLOW ROVERS had too many weapons for Rathgarogue-Cushinstown as they eased their way to Wexford People Minor football Roinn 1 shield glory in St. Patrick’s Park on Friday.
While both sides had strength through the spine, it was the exterior weapons that the Duffry Rovers/Marshalstown-Castledockrell combination possessed that really did the damage.
The superb Cian Fitzhenry proved particularly potent, kicking eight points for his side and getting himself involved in most of the dangerous attacking moves that his team produced.
Rathgarogue-Cushinstown were heavily reliant on their midfield, with Tadhg Cody and Eric Cummins superb. In fact, their battle with the industrious duo of Liam Pender and Mark Kehoe was probably the most intriguing aspect of the game.
A couple of Fitzhenry points and a Barry Doyle score helped Rovers into an early advantage, despite a Tadhg Cody free and a nice Patrick Barron raised white flag (0-3 to 0-2).
Soon, the boys wearing the Duffry jerseys began to exert their superiority.
Shortly after Fitzhenry pointed, Mark Kehoe caught a Fionn Slattery kick-out, raced at the Rathgarogue-Cushinstown rearguard and committed defenders.
He fed Colm Redmond at the perfect moment and the Hollow attacker made no mistake with a blistering finish to the roof of the net.
Trailing by 1-6 to 0-2, the New Ross District side did make an impression at the end of the half. More accurately, Eric Cummins did, scoring the first two of four sensational points from longrange.
A third stunning point followed within 60 seconds of the resumption as Rathgarogue-Cushinstown closed to within five (1-7 to 0-5). Yet, despite playing with the driving wind and rain, his side could not get any closer.
Hollow Rovers were able to control the game against the elements. Michael Kinsella kicked a nice point, Fitzhenry popped over his sixth of the evening, and Gearóid Doyle registered as the Enniscorthy District duo moved eight clear (1-10 to 0-5).
The final quarter was pretty much a formality. Cummins flashed over his fourth and Cody added a brace, but scores from Barry Doyle, Diarmuid Doyle and Cian Fitzhenry (two) ensured that there were few nervous moments for Hollow Rovers as the game drifted to a successful conclusion.
Hollow Rovers: Seamus Doyle; Adam Harte, Michael O’Leary, Jamie Roban; John Dunne, Gavin Watchorn, Diarmuid Doyle (0-1); Liam Pender, Mark Kehoe (capt.); Mark Morris, Barry Doyle (0-3), Cian Fitzhenry (0-8, 3 frees); Michael Kinsella (0-1), Colm Redmond (1-0), Gearóid Doyle (0-1). Subs. - Michael Doyle for B. Doyle (55), Eric Nolan for Roban (55), Ken Doyle for D. Doyle (56), Conor Coleman for Redmond (58), also Alan Doyle, Tom Lambert, Jack Foley, Nick Doyle, Stephen Kearns.
Rathgarogue-Cushinstown: Fionn Slattery; Liam Roche, Ricky McGrath, John O’Keeffe (capt.); Darragh Roche, Liam O’Shea, Jack Murphy; Tadhg Cody (0-3, 2 frees), Eric Cummins (0-4); David Thorpe, Patrick Barron (01), Shane Delaney; Shane O’Connor, Jack McGrath, Aodhán Slattery. Subs. - John Forristal for O’Connor (41), Rory Boland for J. McGrath (45), Ben Sutton for A. Slattery (44), Brian Creane for Delaney (51), also Billy O’Neill, Kevin Roberts, Eoin Porter.
Referee: James Mullally (Gusserane).