Nolan’s fine winner
Ferns avenge 2017 semi-final defeat
FERNS ST. AIDAN’S 3-8
HWH-BUNCLODY 1-9
A GOAL of outstanding quality decided the outcome in rain-sodden Bellefield on Saturday as Ferns St. Aidan’s gained some measure of compensation for last year’s semi-final defeat to close rivals HWH-Bunclody in Group B of the Amber Springs/Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate football championship.
The red and whites were clinging to a 2-8 to 1-9 lead in the last minute of normal time when top scorer Ryan Nolan applied a clinical finishing touch to a glorious move.
It was all about the angles of running and the timing of the passes, with the initial surge made by captain Patrick Breen before he fed Ian Byrne at the perfect moment.
And the ex-county hurler, who exerted a notable calming influence every time he had the ball, delivered an inch-perfect pass over the head of a defender into the path of Nolan who billowed the net with a pile-driving finish.
While that game-clinching strike from Nolan was memorable, his first goal was unusual to say the least.
It arrived in the 39th minute, with Ferns ahead by 1-7 to 1-6, when he was fouled and his subsequent shot appeared to have been saved.
That’s how it looked to referee James Owens who blew for the free as it seemed no advantage had accrued, before John Breen bundled the rebound to the net.
However, animated Ferns appeals that Nolan’s shot had crossed the line prompted the man in black to consult with an umpire, and the green flag was duly raised to stretch the Ferns lead to four points.
They came under heavy pressure midway through the half, with points from Eoin Kelly (free), John Dunne and Kevin Dunne between the 41st and 47th minutes nar-
rowing the deficit to the minimum (2-7 to 1-9).
It looked like HWH-Bunclody had timed their run to perfection and would add the scores needed for victory, but instead they didn’t register again as the Ferns defence excelled.
Pádraig Bolger, who made one spectacular catch, and Declan Byrne were responsible for numerous key interceptions, while young Niall Murphy was composed in everything he did.
Indeed, after more than eleven scoreless minutes when Ferns defended that one-point lead, he kicked a vital point from an Ian Byrne pass after substitute James Lawlor initially intercepted a HWH-Bunclody line ball with a fine catch under the pavilion.
There was no way back for the 2017 beaten finalists after that late Ryan Nolan goal as Ferns repeated their group stage win from last year. And it means that a win will be essential from the losers’ back fixture versus Ballyhogue in St. Patrick’s Park on Sunday.
The scores had been plentiful early on, with eight points shared in the opening eleven minutes.
David Reck and Ferns goal-
keeper Ivan Meegan (free) got their respective sides off the mark before the accurate Peter Atkinson and Colm Farrell left HWH-Bunclody 3-1 clear, but Ryan Nolan registered three of the next four points, two from frees.
Atkinson also added his second in that spell before Ferns had the first big goal-scoring chance in the 18th minute when Chris Turner rattled the crossbar from short range after a high ball in by Nolan.
They made no mistake though three minutes later when Patrick Breen fed John Breen who drilled a low shot across Patrick Kavanagh and into the far corner of the net (1-4 to 0-4).
Nolan left four between the sides, but Peter Atkinson and Cathal Doyle kept HWH-Bunclody breathing down their necks before Ian Byrne converted a beauty from distance.
The Carlow border side levelled (1-6 each) with a fine goal in the 29th minute after Ivan Meegan kicked a ‘45 wide for Ferns.
Seán Kenny claimed a mark from the kick-out and fed Colm Farrell who carved out the opening for Kevin Dunne. His shot was saved by Meegan, but Keith
O’Hara was on hand to finish the rebound to the net.
The lively Ryan Nolan restored the Ferns lead six minutes into the new half, and those two goals from the ex-Wexford Senior and current League of Ireland footballer left his team on five points with one group game to come, against Adamstown.
Ferns St. Aidan’s: Ivan Meegan (0-1 free); Ciarán Roberts, Declan Byrne, Keith Breen; Jonny Dwyer, Pádraig Bolger, Niall Murphy (0-1); Patrick Breen (capt.), Ian Byrne (0-1); Derek Thorpe, Tommy Dwyer, Chris Turner; Ryan Nolan (2-5, 0-2 frees), Christopher O’Connor, John Breen (10). Subs. - James Lawlor for T. Dwyer, inj. (43), Brian O’Neill for Roberts, inj. (48), Jamie Whelan for J. Breen (60).
HWH-Bunclody: Patrick Kavanagh; William Atkinson, Conor Crean, Billy Kelly; Peadair Cowman, John Atkinson (capt.), John Dunne (0-1); Colm Farrell (0-1), Seán Kenny; Cathal Doyle (0-1), Eoin Kelly (0-1 free), Keith O’Hara (1-0); Kevin Dunne (0-1), Peter Atkinson (0-3), David Reck (0-1). Subs. - Eddie Dunbar for Reck (38), Josh Martin for O’Hara (46), Eddie Black for Doyle (46), Mark Sheehan for Dunbar, black card (60+3).
Referee: James Owens (Kilrush).