RAMSGRANGE RULE
First silverware of Coiste year won
THE FIRST silverware of the Coiste na nOg season was handed out in St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, when St. James’ surged to the Féile Peil Division 2 title with a commanding double scores dismissal of Kilrush.
The south county side never looked back after captain Jayden Cheevers won the toss, dominating possession to lead by 4-6 to 1-1 at the interval.
And although Kilrush competed on a much more even footing after the break, that big gap was never really under threat as the Ramsgrange boys became the first Wexford club to qualify for the All-Ireland event which will be held in Connacht during the summer.
The accurate Cheevers set the tone with the first two points, with Josh Doyle-Delaney denied a goal in between by an excellent save from Kilrush netminder Conor Dillon.
However, the New Ross District lads did rattle the net for the first time courtesy of targetman Paul Walsh in the third minute, although their rivals from north of the county reacted in fine style.
A free taken by Seán Kenny was lobbed in and ended up in the net, and the margin was down to the minimum when the same player split the posts less than 40 seconds later.
Those scores served as a wakeup call to St. James’ who realised that they weren’t making the most of wind advantage, but they made amends in the remainder of the 20-minute half by chalking up 3-4 without reply to lead by 4-6 to 1-1 at the break.
Paul Walsh’s second goal was set up by Josh Doyle-Delaney before he turned provider at the end of a piercing solo run, picking out All-Ireland winning athlete Myles Hewlett who widened the gap to 3-2 to 1-1 in the 13th minute.
Doyle-Delaney and Cheevers added a brace of points apiece before half-time, while the fourth goal arrived when centre-back Cosmo Hewlett won a Kilrush kickout, played a one-two with Walsh, and thundered down the middle before driving the ball beyond Conor Dillon.
Cheevers added a pointed free on the re-start, but the Gorey District boys settled into the game and David Kirwan was unlucky to send a shot on goal wide.
Dean Black and Robert Quinn did pick off points before a Josh Doyle-Delaney free was bettered by a brace at the other end by Seán Kenny to reduce arrears to 4-8 to 1-5.
St. James’ remained in control, though, with midfielder Eoin Shannon joining the list of marksmen with a point before their fifth and final goal was scored entering the last five minutes by Doyle-Delaney, who was denied his second shortly afterwards by another Conor Dillon save.
Jayden Cheevers closed their scoring from a well-taken free on the right before the persistence of Kilrush was rewarded with a late consolation goal from long range by joint captain Niall Mimnagh.
St. James’: Ronan Shannon; Danny Costello, Joseph O’Brien, Liam Walsh; Caolan Costello, Cosmo Hewlett (1-0), Dan Nolan; Myles Hewlett (1-0), Eoin Shannon (0-1); Sam Foley, Jayden Cheevers (capt., 0-6, 2 frees), Josh Doyle-Delaney (1-3, 0-1 free); Finn O’Connor, Paul Walsh (2-0), Aaron McPhillips. Subs. - Danny McPhillips for O’Connor (36), Lincoln Walsh for A. McPhillips (36), Darren Walsh for L. Walsh (39), Arran Whelan for Foley (40), also Seán Dunne.
Kilrush: Conor Dillon; Páiric Guinan (joint capt.), Brian Kirwan, Calum Ryan; Niall Mimnagh (joint capt., 1-0), Seán Kenny (1-3 frees), Darragh Dee; David Kirwan, Ben Walsh; Adam Donohue, Robert Quinn (0-1), Oisín Farrell; Dean Black (01), Cian Lancaster, Robert McCrea. Subs. - Tom Mackey for Ryan (24), Michael Kinsella for Farrell (26), Ryan Bailey for Walsh (32), Conal Butler for Lancaster (32), Mark Devereux for McCrea (33), Shay Doran for Black (35), also Thomas Kirwan, Rian Buttle.
Referee: Matty Kinnaird (Starlights).