Shamrocks build on excellent start
SHAMROCKS 1-21 ST. JAMES’ 3-9
SHAMROCKS asserted their superiority in the first-half and never looked back in O’Kennedy Park, New Ross, on Thursday when they accounted for St. James’ by a sixpoint margin in the EEW All-County Hurling League Division 3 final.
The Enniscorthy side looked very impressive as they raced into a commanding 1-12 to 0-5 interval lead, holding their Ramsgrange rivals scoreless from play in the process.
Barry Dobbs, Podge Doyle and Brandon ‘Bull’ O’Connor were all very prominent in a strong defence, and when Philip Freeman pointed in the 29th minute it meant that all eight of their midfield and attacking players had contributed to the scoresheet.
They set out their stall with the first four points in just two and a half minutes from Bob Jacob (free), John O’Connor, the speedy Jack Moorehouse and Emmet Quirke.
Free-taker Shane Murphy got St. James’ off the mark, but Jamie Dagg’s puck-out bounced favourably for his forwards on the hard surface and captain Harry Goff was on hand to dribble the ball to the net (1-4 to 0-1).
Ex-county footballer Graeme Molloy denied John O’Connor a second Shamrocks goal with a smart save, but his side made no inroads against that strong defence and relied on Shane Murphy to convert three more close-range frees while corner-back Jamie Doran landed another placed ball from 85 metres.
Michael O’Grady finally picked off the first St. James’ point from play just 20 seconds into the new half, and the only brief wobble for Shamrocks arrived when they conceded two goals in the 40th minute.
Shane Murphy’s driven shot into the ground deceived Jamie Dagg before Daniel Keating returned the puck-out to full-forward Alan Walsh who cut in from the left and found the net, narrowing the gap to 1-13 to 2-6.
The response from the leaders was excellent though, as six points on the trot from free-taker Pa Weafer (two), Jack Moorehouse, John O’Connor, Bob Jacob and substitute Seán Wildes re-asserted their dominance.
Michael O’Grady did manage a consolation goal from a high ball in by Shane Murphy in the 54th minute, but St. James’ never looked like winning on an evening when their current inter-county duo, Matthew O’Hanlon and Mark Molloy (Louth), were understandably missed.
Shamrocks: Jamie Dagg; Barry Dobbs, Podge Doyle, George Jacob; Lar McDonald, Brandon O’Connor, Anthony Wallace; Bob Jacob (0-4, 3 frees), Cyril Thorpe (0-1); Philip Freeman (0-1), Emmet Quirke (0-1), John O’Connor (0-3); Pa Weafer (0-6, 5 frees), Harry Goff (capt., 1-1), Jack Moorehouse (0-3). Subs. - Seán Wildes (0-1) for Quirke (45), Podge Dwyer for Thorpe (53), Shane Larkin for Weafer (56), Gerry O’Connor for Moorehouse (59), also Jeremiah O’Connor, Maurice Casey, Niall Thorpe, Jim Jacob, Ricky O’Leary, Peter Cullen.
St. James’: Graeme Molloy; Jamie Doran (0-1 free), Jason Barron, Paul Barron; David Doyle (capt.), Liam Murphy, Tommy Walsh; Brian Molloy, Mark Myler; Darragh Lyons, Donal Barron, Daniel Keating; Michael O’Grady (1-2), Alan Walsh (1-0), Shane Murphy (1-6, 0-6 frees). Sub. - John Ryan for Doran (57), also Conor Dalton, Joe Kehoe, Joe Walsh, Niall Kennedy, Robert Murphy.
Referee: Anthony Tobin (Geraldine O’Hanrahans).