Rapparees masterclass
RAPPAREES 1-29 BUFFERS ALLEY 2-9
RAPPAREES PUT on a masterclass in point-scoring whem completely overwhelming Buffers Alley on the way to a commanding 1-29 to 2-9 victory over Buffers Alley in Sunday’s Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship Group A battle of the second strings played at a warm Camolin.
From start to finish, the Bellefield-based men were a cut above their rather limited opponents, and hardly needed to fashion any goal opportunities such was their propensity at knocking over points at will.
In fact, their half-forward line alone had contributed nine such scores by half-time, while a futher 1-3 came off their bench as they sauntered to the victory line.
Nine of the first eleven scores came off a Rapparees stick in the first 16 minutes, with the prominent John Murphy hitting three points in this spell and Joe Cullen striking a brace.
Buffers Alley did pounce for a goal against the run of play though when Colm Og Doran’s shot on 23 minutes had too much venom despite the best efforts of Jim O’Connor in goal.
That helped to leave the difference at 0-13 to 1-2 at the change of ends, but there was no let up to the Rapps’ scoring spree after the break.
Jim Hughes finished as Buffers Alley’s top scorer when compiling 1-4 after being introduced just before half-time, but his side were merely playing catch up against a side brimming with confidence.
Indeed, Peter O’Sullivan twice got his name on the scoresheet in the second-half, as did substitutes Anthony Russell and Tommy Foley, with the latter deftly finding the net two minutes from time for the victors’ only goal to cap off an impressive performance.
On this display the Rapps will be hard to beat.
Rapparees: Jim O’Connor; Declan Courtney, Eoin Quigley (0-1), John Barron (capt); Cathal Ryan, Declan Ruth, Anthony Peare; Peter O’Sullivan (0-2), Anthony Murphy (0-3); Joe Cullen (0-2), Ed Tobin (0-10, 3 frees), John Murphy (0-5); Garry Murphy (0-2), Lee Treacy (0-1), Lee Murphy. Subs. - Anthony Russell (0-1) for Cullen (HT), Mikey Dempsey for L. Murphy (HT), Tommy Foley (11) for Treacy (40), Ryan Hadley for Peare (45), Ronan Kirwan (0-1) for Courtney (50).
Buffers Alley: Tony Doran; Aaron Redmond, Alan Doyle, Matty Cardiff; Paudie Kinsella, Thomas Dempsey, Domhnall McArdle; Jamie DempseyDoyle (0-1 free), Lee Murphy (0-1); Colm Og Doran (1-0), Darragh Butler (capt), Darragh Hammel; Paul Doyle (0-1), Keith Burke (0-1), Paul Doran. Subs. - Jim Hughes (1-4, 1-3 frees) for Redmond (30), Tom O’Leary for P. Doran (41), Cian Fortune (0-1) for Doyle (46), Kevin O’Leary for Murphy (49).
Referee: Pádraig Byrne (Ballyfad).