Rathnure top table
Clongeen victims for third win on trot
RATHNURE 1-19 CLONGEEN 2-11
RATHNURE HIT nine points with just one in reply between the 40th and 60th minutes in O’Kennedy Park, New Ross, on Sunday to preserve their unbeaten record in Group B of the Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship, inflicting a third successive defeat on fast-fading Clongeen in the process.
In terms of scoring, it was a battle between rival midfielders Syl Barron and Shane Cahill for the most part, although the victors weren’t as reliant on their main marksman as the opposition.
And after being level at the break (1-8 each), and again deadlocked on 1-9 and 1-10 apiece respectively, Rathnure started to motor near the end of the third quarter as points from Barron (free), Nigel Higgins, Mark Boland and James Flynn opened up a gap of four.
Shane Cahill, impressive from play and frees, pulled one back for Clongeen, but a barren 17-minute spell followed before substitute Collie Byrne got the final touch for a consolation goal after a scramble in added time.
In between, Rathnure had made the points safe, with Ben Ronan, Barron (free), Mark Boland, Stephen Martin and another Barron free responsible for five vital scores without reply.
Boland and Shane Cahill (free) had traded early points before Rathnure goaled in the fifth minute, with James Flynn forcing the ball home from close range after a defender struggled to clear his lines.
The accuracy of Cahill helped Clongeen to settle, and he picked off all of their opening seven points including one 20th-minute beauty from near the sideline as they trailed by 1-6 to 0-7.
Syl Barron and Stephen Martin widened the gap to four, but Clongeen finished the half on a high as the scoring burden was finally taken off Cahill by the Foxes.
Ger picked off a point to make it 1-8 to 0-8, and Barry then crashed home the levelling goal in the 30th minute after a long Donal Murphy free landed around the square.
Free-takers Barron and Cahill shared the first four points on the re-start, but Rathnure were always looking the more likely winners once they opened up that 1-14 to 1-10 advantage with 20 minutes left.
They are now through to the quarter-finals regardless of how they fare in their remaining group games against St. Martin’s and St. Mary’s (Rosslare) respectively.
As for Clongeen, their game against Davidstown-Courtnacud- dy will probably be crucial in determining which of the two teams avoids a relegation decider, given the lack of points for both in the first three rounds.
Rathnure: Seán Nolan (capt.); Philip Redmond, Teddy O’Connor, Dylan Hogan; Ben Ronan (0-1), Alan Ronan, Seán O’Neill; Syl Barron (0-11, 8 frees), Cameron O’Leary; Mark Boland (0-3), Michael Martin, Aodhán Foley; Nigel Higgins (0-1), James Flynn (1-1), Stephen Martin (0-2). Subs. - Micheál O’Connor for M. Martin, temp. (11-14), O’Connor for Foley (41).
Clongeen: Ricky Rochford; Danny O’Grady, Anton Stafford, Donal Whelan; Tom Donovan, Donal Murphy, Martin Delaney; Richard Rochford, Shane Cahill (capt., 0-10, 7 frees); Ger Foxe (0-1), Enda Murphy, Jim Bennett; Paudie Cahill, Barry Foxe (1-0), Jamesie Rochford. Subs. - Paul Delaney for J. Rochford (38), Collie Byrne (1-0) for P. Delaney (50).
Referee: John Tobin (Geraldine O’Hanrahans).