O’Grady grabs clinching point for St. James’

ST. JAMES’ 3-13 M’GEER-B’VOGUE 1-17

ST. JAMES’ held off the stern challenge of Monageer-Boolavogue to make it two wins from two in Group A of The Courtyard Ferns Intermediate hurling championship in Bree on Saturday.

The Ramsgrange men looked to have the points safely in the bag when a Donal Barron goal gave them a six-point advantage with five minutes of normal time remaining, but Pádraig Flynn knocked over a succession of placed balls to get their opponents back to within one, before Michael O’Grady grabbed the insurance point in the eighth minute of injury time.

Monageer-Boolavogue couldn’t have asked for a better start, with a Pádraig Flynn effort at a point deceiving goalkeeper Graeme Molloy and dropping into the net inside the first minute.

However, the New Ross District men responded well and a Michael O’Grady goal had them 1-2 to 1-1 to the good by the fourth minute.

Shane Murphy picked out Matthew O’Hanlon with a pinpoint pass and the county man handpassed to O’Grady, who finished with aplomb.

St. James’ were never headed thereafter, although they did find it difficult to shake off the stubborn attentions of Monageer-Boolavogue, with Niall O’Reilly popping over a couple of nice scores for the Enniscorthy District side, while Stephen Murphy also kept the scoreboard ticking over.

Having given as good as they got, they were hit by a real sucker-punch in first-half injury time, when St. James’ pounced for their second goal.

Donal Barron blocked down an attempted clearance and kept his cool to fire past Seán Murphy, helping his side to a 2-8 to 1-7 half-time advantage.

Cathal Walsh and Mick Sweeney pared a couple of points off the lead after the turnaround, but St. James’ looked to always have them at arm’s length, with Mark Molloy, Brian Molloy and Daniel Keating knocking over eye-catching scores.

It really seemed like it was game, set and match in the 55th minute when Donal Barron got the green flag waving again, to give St. James’ a 3-12 to 1-12 advantage.

A Mark Molloy effort at the posts dropped short and Barron got the faintest of touches in front of the goalkeeper to divert the ball to the net.

Monageer-Boolavogue didn’t let their heads drop though, and two frees and three ‘65s from Pádraig Flynn brought them back to within a point in the sixth minute of injury time, before Michael O’Grady had the final say to the relief of the St. James’ contingent.

St. James’: Graeme Molloy; Paul Barron, Jason Barron, Tommy Walsh; David Doyle, Liam Murphy, Darragh Lyons (0-1); Brian Molloy (0-2), Mark Molloy (0-1); Alan Walsh, Donal Barron (2-0), Daniel Keating (0-1); Shane Murphy (0-5, 4 frees), Matthew O’Hanlon (0-1), Michael O’Grady (1-2). Subs. - Mark Myler for A. Walsh (HT), Jamie Doran for T. Walsh (60).

Monageer-Boolavogue: Seán Murphy; Patrick Walsh, Chris Daly, Liam Gahan; Seán McCabe, Tommy Breen, Niall O’Reilly (0-2); Stephen Murphy (0-4, 3 frees, 1 ‘65), Ian Hawkins; Pádraig Flynn (1-9, 0-5 frees, 0-3 ‘65s), Damien Fenlon, Shane Gahan; Mick Sweeney (0-1), Cathal Walsh (0-1), Matthew Dunne. Subs. - Micheál Gahan for P. Walsh (HT), Diarmuid Fenlon for Tommy Breen, inj. (38), David Mernagh for Damien Fenlon (48).

Referee: Seán Whelan (St. Martin’s).