Gorey gut Ferns
Surprising 15-point margin at the end
NAOMH EANNA 3-22 FERNS ST. AIDAN’S 0-16
A FULL 15 points separated an impressive Naomh Eanna from struggling Ferns St. Aidan’s in this surprisingly one-sided Pettitt’s Senior hurling championship Group B clash in Bellefield on Sunday.
Just a couple of seasons ago, when they were the new kids on the block, any win in the top tier was something to celebrate for the Gorey gang. However, the professionalism with which they swatted away Ferns suggested they have bigger fish to fry.
This game takes on a different perspective, depending on which colours you wear. Gorey did look slick, as they’ve made some positional changes, tinkered a bit and the result looks like a potential challenger.
Naomh Eanna are not going to be too many observers’ choice to go on and win it all but, flying under the radar, in the middle of the pack in terms of bookmakers’ favourites, is going to sit just fine with them.
They produced nine different scorers, as all six starting forwards hit the target and midfield even chipped in with a healthy four scores. It suggests that they are tough team to pin down and Ferns certainly struggled.
Cathal Dunbar has carried plenty of pressure into this season but his second goal in two championship outings showed a glimpse of what he’s capable of. That’s exactly why others should be wary of this Gorey side.
Dunbar was influential in patches, while Conor McDonald impressed but is capable of taking over a game. Darragh Hughes was a tricky opponent for Ferns to deal with but he didn’t get everything his own way. Gorey were good but they can be even better.
For Ferns, things are getting worrying. They were out of this game midway though the second-half and now have two losses on the board.
With a wounded Oulart-The Ballagh on the horizon, it looks likely that they will need to beat both Rathnure and Glynn-Barntown to avoid a relegation play-off.
They struggled to compete against Naomh Eanna’s powerful middle eight. It was hugely telling that when they moved Benny Jordan into that section of the field, he quickly flashed over three points and made his presence felt.
The loss of Paul Morris was somewhat tempered by the availability of Ian Byrne, but no team can lose a player of that calibre and not feel the effects. Byrne scored their first point, and added another two in the opening half, but Ferns didn’t get enough out of the strong breeze at their backs and trailed at the break.
There was only two points in it (1-9 to 0-10) but it felt like more. Aodhán Doyle scored a nice brace for Gorey early on but it was Dunbar’s brilliant goal - he had two men to beat, jinked past them and flashed across goal to the net - that proved particularly important to their confidence levels.
Things were going so well for Gorey that when Conor McDonald was surrounded by four Ferns players just before the half-time whistle, he sent a backwards handpass to Gary Molloy and with the Ferns players looking around in disbelief the midfielder drilled it over.
Not scoring in the first twelve minutes of the second-half simply wasn’t going to get it done for Ferns.
By the time Jordan had been dragged out and scored his first point, Naomh Eanna had built a ten-point advantage.
It could have been worse. Michael Walsh, who made a stunning save from Aodhán Doyle in the first-half, made another almost as good to prevent a Pádraig Doyle goal.
However, there was nothing he could do to deny Darragh Hughes when he won a long ball close to goal and audaciously scooped a shot into the net.
With Ferns all at sea, Jack Cullen started a move that flowed through Conor McDonald and Pádraig Doyle before he picked out David O’Brien for a clinical, swatted finish (3-18 to 0-14).
Dunbar continued the tricks with a classy line ball score as Naomh Eanna purred away from their weary opponents.
While Ferns will need serious improvement to test Oulart-The Ballagh, Naomh Eanna will be hoping to maintain their momentum by overcoming a tricky Glynn-Barntown test next time out.
Naomh Eanna: Barry Kinsella; Eoin Molloy, Brendan Travers (capt.), Peter Travers; Seán Doyle, Jack Cullen (01), Eoin Conroy; Aodhán Doyle (0-3), Gary Molloy (0-1); Charlie McGuckin (0-1), Pádraig Doyle (0-11, 10 frees), Darragh Hughes (1-1, 0-1 free); David O’Brien (1-1), Conor McDonald (0-2), Cathal Dunbar (1-1, 0-1 line ball). Subs. - Jack Cushe for S. Doyle (31), William Cullen for O’Brien, inj. (52), Lee Kinsella for B. Travers (56).
Ferns St. Aidan’s: Michael Walsh; Conor Scallan, John Breen, Declan Byrne; James Tonks, Gavin Bailey, Ciarán Roberts; Tommy Dwyer, Niall Murphy (0-1); Jonny Dwyer (0-2), Ian Byrne (0-3), James Lawlor (0-1); Brendan Jordan (0-3), Chris Turner (0-4 frees), Christopher O’Connor (0-2). Subs. - Eoin Murphy for Lawlor (44), Brian O’Neill for Bailey, inj. (45), Patrick Breen for Turner (56).
Referee: James Owens (Askamore).