Podge pounces late to put Alley in dire straits
FAYTHE HARRIERS 1-22 BUFFERS ALLEY 2-17
A LAST gasp goal from Podge Farrell saw Faythe Harriers snatch victory from Buffers Alley in this crucial Pettit’s Senior hurling Group A tie in Bellefield on Sunday, as his side came from twelve points behind early in the second half to stun the Alley, hitting 1-2 in added time.
The defeat now sees Buffers Alley pit into a relegation battle as they can only finish level with the loser of Faythe Harriers and St. Anne’s, both of whom will prevail on a head-to-head.
The opening exchanges were evenly contested with Buffers Alley a point ahead after five minutes with Paul O’Leary looking good from placed balls and Willie Doran helping out from play.
They were then given a great boost when Andrew Kenny gathered possession on the twenty-meter line and buried the ball to the bottom corner with a cracking finish.
Kenny, in sensational form, struck another killer blow midway through the half hitting the roof of the net after the ball broke behind the Harriers defence.
This spurred on his side and they finished out the half strongly, dominating proceedings and with points from Kenny and Paul O’Leary, they went in at the break with a ten-point lead.
That lead increased to twelve eight minutes into the new half as points were added by Cormac Foley and Paul O’Leary.
However, Buffers Alley wouldn’t score again for fifteen minutes as Lee Chin stood up to the mark and almost single-handedly dragged Faythe Harriers back into things with a match-winning performance.
Now operating at midfield, Chin was winning possession and running at the Alley defence, winning and converting frees, the Harriers were suddenly only three behind with nine minutes remaining.
Buffers Alley responded with two points from O’Leary but that would be their final say as Chin added four more points as the game went into added time.
Then, Faythe Harriers got exactly what they needed when substitute, Podge Farrell, won the ball in the square and found the net.
Chin had the last say with a strike from distance which sets his side up for possible qualification in the final round, and at the same side pits Buffers Alley into the relegation play-off.
Faythe Harriers: James Henebery; Colm Heffernan, Brendan Mulligan, Alex Lynch; Ciaran Kirwan, David Mooney, Wayne Mallon (0-1); Stephen Kearney (0-2), John Bridges; Mikey Hanrahan, Jim Berry (0-1 free), Eoin Roche; Conal Clancy (0-2), Lee Chin (0-16, 10 frees, 1 ’65), Ross Lynch. Subs: Conal Crowley for R. Lynch (42), Cormac Byrne for Bridges (44), Podge Farrell (1-0) for Kearney (54), Fiach Crowley for Roche (62).
Buffers Alley: Darren O’Brien; Paudie Reidy, Ciarán Kenny, Barry Kenny; Ciarán Murphy, Ross Donohoe (0-1), Kevin Roche; Seán Murphy, Robert O’Leary; Pat Kenny, Willie Doran (0-2), Paul O’Leary (0-10, 4 frees, 1 ’65); Paraic Roche, Cormac Foley (0-2), Andrew Kenny (2-2). Subs: John Lee Meyler for P. Roche (39), John Farrell for B. Kenny (47), Bobby Kenny for K. Roche (53).
Referee: James Owens (Askamore).