Marshalstown edge it

M’TN-C’DOCKRELL 3-14 GER. O’HANRAHANS 1-18

A LATE rally from Marshalstown-Castledockrell saw them run out two-point winners in the Top Oil Intermediate ‘A’ hurling championship Group B game in Bree on Sunday.

In a tough game of high quality, the Enniscorthy District side claimed the win after a contest which saw both sides produce an excellent standard of hurling.

Marshalstown-Castledockrell burst out of the traps and raced into a five-point lead, helped by an opportunistic goal from full-forward Diarmuid Doyle who buried an early free to put his team 1-2 to no score up after five minutes.

Dylan Egan opened the scoring for the New Ross men but they were hit with a further blow when the evergreen ‘Mitch’ Jordan hit the net when he raced clean through on goal inside ten minutes.

In a barnstorming opening quarter, Geraldine O’Hanrahans got right back into the game when Dylan Egan found the net with a top scorer good strike from an acute angle, leaving the score at 2-2 to 1-5 midway through the first-half.

Geraldine O’Hanrahans were beginning to find their rhythm and rattled off a number of points, including a brace from corner-forward Barry Roche and a score from Dylan Egan to leave two between the sides (1-10 to 2-5) with five minutes to play in the first-half.

Even though Geraldine O’Hanrahans were playing a sweeper, Diarmuid Doyle was proving a handful and he got his second goal in the 28th minute after a nice turn and strike to put Marshalstown-Castledockrell ahead by 3-6 to 1-11 at the break.

The second-half proved to be a less frantic but equally close affair, with both side trading scores as the game wore on.

Eoin Bennett opened the scoring for Marshalstown-Castledockrell, only for Stephen Somers to reply for Geraldine O’Hanrahans.

The impressive Dylan Egan helped himself to another couple of scores but Eoin Bennett was on hand with another for Marshalstown-Castledockrell.

As the game reached its climax, a point from Michael Kinsella and superb sideline cut from Diarmuid Doyle gave Marshalstown-Castledockrell a narrow but deserved two-point win.

Marshalstown-Castledockrell: Michael Kelly; Eoin Ryan, James Finn, Ken Doyle; Conor Hennessy, Michael Morris, James Farrell; Johnny Frayne, Eoin Bennett (0-2); Michael Kinsella (0-1), Micheál Jordan (1-3), Colm Bennett (0-2, 1 free); Colm Quigley, Diarmuid Doyle (2-5, 1-3 frees), Mark Brennan (0-1). Subs. - Mark Morris for Hennessy (45), Tom Bennett for Brennan (50).

Geraldine O’Hanrahans: Brandon Gardiner; Enda Kelly, Gerry Cash, Pádraig Bailey (0-2); Michael Cleere, Dylan Egan (1-4), Conor Cleere; Matt Crowdle, Jack Foran (0-2); Diarmuid Kehoe, Stephen Somers (0-1), Eoin Kelly (0-5, 3 frees); Barry Roche (0-4, 2 frees), David Crowdle, Barry Kelly. Subs. - Kevin Grangel for B. Kelly (35).

Referee: Damien Donovan (Volunteers).