Horeswood in full command
Rathcline next in last eight
HORESWOOD 3-14 MULLINAVAT 1-5
WEXFORD VICTORS Horeswood cantered into the AIB Leinster Club Intermediate football championship quarter-finals with victory over Mullinavat in O’Kennedy Park, New Ross, on Saturday.
The Woodies are looking to follow Kilanerin’s lead in this competition, and they showed why they have the potential to match those achievements with a clinical dispatching of the Kilkenny Senior champions.
In truth, the game was almost over as a contest after a first-half in which Horeswood took advantage of the elements without ever really hitting top form.
However, the level they found was too hot for Mullinavat to handle as they smoothly sauntered away from their challenge.
The eventual winners had two very early goal chances as they looked to put down a marker in the opening minutes. Declan Murphy sliced a lunging effort wide with the goal at his mercy in the second minute, and Michael O’Hanlon had a shot blocked moments later.
Experience can mean a lot in these situations, so it was no surprise when P.J. Banville nabbed possession away from Killian Dunphy and poked home off the deck to give Horeswood the early major they deserved.
Not for the first time, Banville was the key figure in the Horeswood attack, with the Mullinavat full-back dragged all over the place trying to keep tabs on his movement, particularly when he was playing inside in the first-half.
Ian Duggan scored the only point for the Kilkenny side in the first period, but Horeswood didn’t let that slow them down.
Banville knocked over a trio of frees and Seán Nolan opened his account to make it 1-4 to 0-1 after 20 minutes. Things soon got better for the New Ross District side, as David Larkin slid home from the deck after Declan Murphy’s punch came back off the post.
Three minutes later they netted for a third time - a second composed finish from Banville and another assist for Murphy.
Jamie Myler pointed soon after and Banville kicked a couple more as Horeswood moved into a 3-8 to 0-1 interval advantage.
Mullinavat are used to winning games so it was no surprise that they gave it a better go in the second-half.
Indeed, if winning the half is any consolation, they were able to achieve that, largely with what they did in the third quarter. Duggan knocked over a couple of frees but Nolan and Banville replied at the other end.
Jamie Fennelly scored Mullinvat’s first point from play in the 40th minute, and they followed it with an Adam Mansfield goal four minutes later after he was found by Jim Culleton’s ball from deep.
Duggan’s fourth point in the 46th minute was his side’s final score as Horeswood coasted home. Banville added a couple of late dead-balls to bring his tally to 2-8 and Darren Shannon wrapped up the win with a point in additional time.
Given that Longford opposition Rathcline were probably the weakest side Kilanerin faced last season, the sight of the same team making the long trip to the south-east shouldn’t exactly fill Horeswood with fear. That game takes place on Saturday week, with full details to be confirmed.
Horeswood: Conor Swaine; Kevin Parker, Leigh O’Brien, Seán Stafford; Eddie Shiely, Johnny Keating, Barry Hearn; Colin Nolan, Shane O’Hanlon; David Larkin (1-0), Jamie Myler (0-1), Michael O’Hanlon; Declan Murphy (01), P.J. Banville (capt., 2-8, 0-5 frees), Seán Nolan (0-3). Subs. - Ciarán Deely for M. O’Hanlon (44), Darren Shannon (0-1) for Keating (48), Gavin Murphy for Stafford (52), David O’Shea for Shiely (54), Eoin Murphy for Hearn (58), Eamonn O’Sullivan for Myler (58).
Mullinavat: Killian Dunphy; Michael Jones, Simon Aylward, Darren Kenneally; Liam Fennelly, Ger Malone, Joe Fennelly; Jim Culleton, Michael Malone; Ian Duggan (0-4, 3 frees), John Walsh, Conor Duggan; Adam Mansfield (1-0), Jamie Fennelly (capt., 0-1), Brian Phelan. Subs. - Paudie Gahan for C. Duggan (55), Ryan Bland for Jones (57).
Referee: David Hickey (Carlow).