Quigley keeps his cool
FERNS ST. AIDAN’S 0-19 FAYTHE HARRIERS 1-16
THERE WAS nothing to separate Ferns St. Aidan’s and Faythe Harriers after 60 minutes of action in this Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship Group A clash in Bree on Sunday.
A free with the last puck of the game from Ferns’ Lee Quigley ensured the spoils were shared after a hard-fought game in which both sides will feel that they should have won.
The first-half was all Faythe Harriers who were helped by in-form full-forward Con O Donnagáin as he hit 1-3 from play in the opening 15 minutes.
The Wexford town men were totally on top and were ahead by 1-7 to 0-3 at the end of the opening quarter, helped also by a brace from Jack O’Leary.
Jeff Tobin, Pádraig Walsh and Seán Walsh did their best to kickstart the Ferns challenge with scores, and at half-time it was 1-8 to 0-6 in favour of Faythe Harriers.
The interval team talk seemed to work wonders for Ferns because they were a different team right from the off in the second-half.
A Peter O’ Toole free was followed by a smart Derek Thorpe score to reduce the deficit to three points early in the second period.
Ferns had all the momentum now and rattled off another three points without reply including a fine score from centre-back Seán Walsh.
At the midpoint in the second-half Ferns were ahead on a scoreline of 0-15 to 1-10 and were doing all the hurling.
To their credit, Faythe Harriers rallied. Centre-forward Shane Howard was accurate with a couple of frees before they were awarded a penalty which Howard drove over.
The Faythe Harriers captain then scored an excellent individual point and, going into injury time, the sides were level (1-15 to 0-18).
Wing-back Fran Cleary thought he had won it for the Harriers with a fine point before Quigley’s late free ensured the game ended all square. Ferns are unbeaten after one win and two draws.
Ferns St. Aidan’s: Niall Byrne; Willie Bolger, Peter Nolan, Patrick O’Hagan; P.J. O’Neill, Seán Walsh (02), Christopher Davitt; Peter O’Toole (0-6, 2 frees, 1 ‘65), Brian O’Neill; Ben Cowman, Pádraig Walsh (0-2), Derek Thorpe (0-2); Anthony Dwyer, Jeff Tobin (0-2), Lee Quigley (0-4 frees). Subs. - Ryan Nolan (0-1) for Nolan (17), Paddy O’Leary for P. Walsh, inj. (30), Walsh for Cowman (53).
Faythe Harriers: Adam McDaid; Stephen Gannon, Cillian Gahan, Dáire Reville; Fran Cleary (0-1), Alan Lynch, Ryan Furlong; Dean Walsh (0-1), Jack Murphy (0-1); Conall O Crualaoich, Shane Howard (0-7, 4 frees, 1 pen.), Fiach O Crualaoich; Jack O’ Leary (0-3), Con O Donnagáin (1-3), David Gouldson. Sub. - Paul Gannon for Gouldson (30).
Referee: Roly Buckley (Ballyhogue).