Davidstown hold status

DAVIDSTOWN-COURTNACUDDY came out on top in the battle of the bottom two in Group A of the Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior football championship in Taghmon on Saturday.

In what was essentially a relegation semi-final, with no hope of progress to the quarters for either side, a hat-trick by Timmy Morrissey proved to be the key salvo between two fairly evenly-matched teams.

Davidstown-Courtnacuddy also had youth and numbers on their side. As the second-half wore on, the victors pushed on, as they had fresh legs and they had a workhorse in David O’Dwyer.

On the other hand, Shamrocks had to deal with an injury to John Dobbs with no replacements available.

The Enniscorthy club did get fine performances from John O’Connor, Podge Doyle and Barry Dobbs but only after they got off to a slow start.

Davidstown-Courtnacuddy led by 1-2 to nil before Shamrocks had a purple patch, with John O’Connor kicking three points and Robert Moorehouse grabbing a goal to ease them 1-6 to 2-2 ahead.

The game was still very much in the balance at half-time but Shamrocks were down Moorehouse after a black card.

Morrissey had two of his majors, and Dylan Martin also hit the net in the first-half, meaning that, despite a late O’Connor penalty, Davidstown-Courtnacuddy led by 3-5 to 2-7 at the interval.

Indeed, Conor O’Neill and Podge Doyle kept Shamrocks in touch early in the second-half but, when they started to struggle physically, Morrissey completed his hat-trick and his side were always able to continue to knock the points over and keep their opponents at arm’s length into the closing embres.

While Davidstown-Courtnacuddy can now concentrate on maintaining their hurling status, Shamrocks face an intriguing relegation final against Enniscorthy town rivals Starlights.

Davidstown-Courtnacuddy: Seán Howlin; Eoin Keane, Mick Power, Danny Delaney; Mark Murphy, Darragh Cooper, Barry Nolan; Pádraig Loughlin, Seán Cooper; James Kelly (0-2), David O’Dwyer (0-1), Dylan Martin (1-3); James Doyle (0-2), Timmy Morrissey (3-1), Stephen Kennedy (0-2, 1 free). Subs. - David Shore for Keane, Kieron McCabe for Nolan.

Shamrocks: Graham Nolan; Conor Kelly, Anthony Wallace, Reece Dunne; Shane Larkin, Podge Doyle (0-2), Conor O’Neill (0-1); John Kavanagh (0-1), Seán Wildes (0-2); Barry Dobbs (0-2), John O’Connor (1-3, 1-0 pen.), Kyle Foley (0-1); John Dobbs (0-1), Robert Moorehouse (1-0), Jamie Dagg. Sub. - Derek Murphy for Moorehouse, black card.

Referee: John Diskin (Bannow-Ballymitty).