Last four points steer Ferns home

FERNS ST. Aidan’s scored the last four points to overturn a late deficit against hosts Horeswood and move into the Division 4 final of the All-County Hurling League on Sunday.

The hosts, unbeaten on the field in the round-robin stages, looked to be on their way to an impressive victory as the game moved into the last few minutes. However, the visitors had other ideas.

Without injured talisman and captain Declan Murphy, this was always going to be a difficult task for the New Ross District club against an experienced, talented opponent.

Throw in the fact that Shane O’Hanlon was only fit enough for a bit-part role from the bench, and it was clear that Horeswood were up against it.

And yet they will feel like they didn’t find their best form in this game. Jamie Myler was excellent, Seán Stafford performed really well too, and Mick O’Hanlon had a strong second-half, but Horeswood simply couldn’t put it all together.

Still, they did enough to lead by 0-9 to 1-5 at the interval. Undoubtedly the difference between the teams was the quality of the experienced Jonny Dwyer, and his first-half major was enough to keep Ferns within sniffing distance at the break.

Despite the Gorey District side picking up injuries along the way, they still managed to keep themselves in touch, mostly through Dwyer’s points.

They were also aided by a well-taken Pádraig O’Leary major as they went into the last few minutes 0-18 to 2-10 down.

But much like when these sides met in the Junior hurling championship in April, Ferns finished off on the front foot with a late fourscore salvo to book a spot in the league final opposite Rapparees.

Ferns St. Aidan’s: James Lawlor; Brian O’Neill, Patrick O’Hagan, Peter Nolan; Brian O’Neill (St. Aidan’s), Seán Walsh (0-1), Christopher Davitt (0-1); Niall Murphy (0-2), P.J. O’Neill; Jonny Dwyer (1-8, 0-2 frees), Pádraig Walsh (1-0), Peter O’Toole (0-1); Anthony Dwyer, Eddie Walsh, Derek Thorpe. Subs. - Paddy O’Leary for B. O’Neill (St. Aidan’s), inj., James Whelan for E. Walsh, Ben Cowman for P. O’Leary, Ryan Nolan (0-1) for Thorpe, inj., Jeff Tobin for Davitt, inj.

Horeswood: Wayne Power; Tomás Kent, Eamon O’Sullivan, Brian Kehoe; Eddie Breen (0-1), Barry Hearn, Danny Byrne; David Murphy, Jamie Myler (0-3); Eoin Murphy, Seán Stafford (0-2), Seán Nolan (0-1); Eoin Murphy, John Bradley, Mick O’Hanlon (0-10, 7 frees). Subs. - Damien Hearn for E. Murphy, Shane O’Hanlon (0-1) for D. Murphy.

Referee: Gearóid McGrath (St. James’).