Rowley rampage downs Bunclody
Sean’s hat-trick seals semi-final spot
A fantastic second-half performance from Sean Rowley turned this New Ross Standard Under-13 Hurling Championship Division 2 quarter-final in Oylegate-Glebrien’s direction in Bunclody.
The game was finely balanced after a competitive first half but Rowley scored a three goals in twelve minutes and saw another shot deflected to the net by a quick-thinking Scott O’Connor to put his side on the road to the semi-final.
It was always going to be a tough battle between two evenly matched teams. The boys in blue were competitive in a tricky Division 1 round-robin stage and that tough competition stood to them in this game.
On the other hand, HWH-Bunclody came into the game on a high, having won six of their seven Division 2 games. They were led admirably by the superb Jimmy Connors but came up against a side determined to reach the last four.
A couple of Darragh Harris frees, plus points from Rowley and Kyle Curran bettered minors at the other end from Connors and Andy Moorhouse as the visitors lef 0-4 to 0-2 after the opening quarter.
However, Thomas Cowman grabbed an Oylegate clearance and rattled the net from twenty metres out to give Bunclody an edge. Connors kept the points coming but their opponents slowly recovered, minors from Jack Nolan, Harris (2) and Rowley (2) left their side 0-9 to 1-5 up at the interval.
Things heated up as soon as the second half started. Within fifteen seconds Rowley rushed clear and drilled home his first goal, yet, Bunclody’s own star full-forward immediately replied in kind with a classy batted goal from close range.
After Shane Doran and Connors traded points, Oylegate started their goal blitz. Rowley flashed home his second before his next shot was flicked to the net by Scott O’Connor. He completed the treble and left his side ten points up with another blistering finish low past Sam Lonergan with eighteen minutes left (4-10 to 2-6).
To their credit, Bunclody picked away, despite seeing Rory Raleigh dismissed. Miley Moorhouse and Desmond O’Connor got on the scoresheet but the hosts couldn’t get the goals they needed to stop
Oylegate-Glenbrien from booking a semi-final with Duffry Rovers.
HWH-BUNCLODY: Sam Lonergan; Sean Dunbar, Rory Raleigh (0-1free), Hugh Byrne; Tadhg Byrne, Desmond O’Connor (0-1 free), Miley Moorhouse (0-1 free); Thomas Cowman (1-0), Sam Black; Oisin O’Leary, Andy Moorhouse (0-1), Paddy Scott; Larry Connors, Jimmy Connors (1-7, 0-4 frees), Aaron Whiting. Subs. (rolling) - Adam Dunne, Ryan Kavanagh, Luke Burke, John Cash, Paddy Cash, Páiric Cahill.
OYLEGATE-GLENBRIEN: Daniel Cosgrave; T.J. Frost, Adam Nolan, Jack Kavanagh; Sean Doyle, Jack Hennessy, Conor Somers; Shane Doran (0-1), Darragh Harris (0-4 frees); Mikie Reck, Kyle Curran (0-1), Jack Nolan (0-1); Danny Fortune, Sean Rowley (3-3), Scott O’Connor (1-0). Subs. (rolling) - Niall Byrne, Cathal Murphy, Sean Downes, Tomás Foran, Cian Cullen, Cian O’Brien, Andy Byrne.
REFEREE: Roland Buckley (Ballyhogue)