Ferns convincing victors
FERNS ST. AIDAN’S 1-17 OULART-BALLAGH 0-11
FERNS ST. Aidan’s ran out comfortable nine-point winners in this Greenstar Under-20 hurling championship Division 1B game on Wednesday after a powerful second-half showing.
The hosts took a three-point lead into the second period and kicked on thanks to some fine shooting and a goal from midfielder Niall Murphy to beat Oulart-The Ballagh and leave themselves top of the group on six points.
The first-half was relatively even with both sides trading frees. Chris Turner of Ferns St. Aidan’s and Oulart-The Ballagh’s Barry Sinnott were both very accurate from placed balls.
Points from Jeff Tobin and Shane Breen for the home side were cancelled by Robbie Dunne and Barry Sinnott for the visitors, leaving the sides level at 0-3 apiece midway through the opening half.
The Ferns St. Aidan’s attack looked dangerous though, and corner-forward Leo Quigley was only denied a goal after an excellent last-gasp tackle from Oulart-The Ballagh’s Micheál Doyle with 20 minutes gone.
The home side finished the first-half well and led by 0-11 to 0-8 at the break, helped by three points from the excellent Niall Murphy.
The second period was totally dominated by the home side, who outscored the visitors by 1-6 to 0-3 after the break.
Centre-forward Jeff Tobin got the hosts off the mark, with Leo Quigley adding to this with a nice score.
The home side were in total control now and got the all-important goal when midfielder Niall Murphy hit the net, leaving the score 1-14 to 0-10 ten minutes into the second-half and all but killing the game as a contest.
Oulart-The Ballagh could find no response, despite their best efforts. To be fair to the visitors, they were without several starting players due to a crazy schedule which could have seen them play four games in six days had they started.
Ferns St. Aidan’s were full value for their win though, guided by Niall Murphy who finished with 1-4 from play. They look the team to beat on current form.
Ferns St. Aidan’s: James Lawlor (0-1 free); Willie Bolger, Conor Scallan (0-1), Steve Warren; Pádraig O’Toole, Paddy O’Hagan, Brian O’Neill; Niall Murphy (1-4), Rory Scallan; John Sinnott, Jeff Tobin (0-3), Shane Breen (0-1); Leo Quigley (0-1), Chris Turner (0-6, 2 frees, 2 ‘65s), Shane Stafford. Subs. - Kevin Stafford for Warren (44), Tom Browne for S. Stafford (51), Shane Stafford for R. Scallan (58).
Oulart-The Ballagh: Cathal Sinnott; Liam Roche, Darragh Hayes, Niall Nimmo; Jack Rossiter, Billy Dunne, Micheál Doyle; Barry Sinnott (0-7, 4 frees, 1 ‘65) Aidan Murphy; Robbie Dunne (0-1), Murtha Doyle (0-3), Ethan Freeman; Robert Foley, Nathan O’Hanlon, Lee Hore. Sub. - David O’Gorman for O’Hanlon (37).
Referee: David O’ Leary (Rathnure).