Rosslare in total control
ST. MARY’S (R’LARE) 1-17 FERNS ST. AIDAN’S 1-7
ST. MARY’S (Rosslare) were simply too strong for Ferns St. Aidan’s in this Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship Group B encounter, as the seasiders completely dominated proceedings throughout to record a comfortable victory in a wet and windy Ballymurn on Sunday.
This St. Mary’s side lost out at the semi-final stage last season and, although it was difficult to gauge on this occasion alone, they look like a side that will be well capable of progressing through the knockout stages again this year.
Led by the energetic Tiarnan Rossiter in midfield and with dangerous forwards like Lee Devereux and Rees Broaders, they will be a match for any team in the competition.
They showed this in the opening half as they raced to a four-point lead early on, with the aforementioned trio getting on the mark along with Cian Boggan.
The greasy conditions were not exactly conducive to hurling as both sides struggled to convert scoring chances, with the wind most likely playing a role when Ferns eventually opened their account as Edward Walsh’s high delivery deceived three players and went all the way to the net in the 19th minute
But the eventual winners were coping that bit better, and Rossiter and Devereux added a brace of points each before Devereux and Pat Moroney obliged to give their side a nine-point lead at the break.
If Ferns were to have any hope of troubling their opponents, they needed a good start, but instead Rosslare were quickest off the mark once more with three points in as many minutes as Boggan, Rossiter and Devereux increased their lead to twelve.
There was little Ferns could do now, but Edward Walsh did his best to make things look more respectable with three points.
Devereux traded scores with Peter O’Toole and Walsh did so with Rossiter before Michael Walsh sent a huge free between the posts to leave eight between them with nine minutes left.
This was as close as it got however, as Rosslare finished out the half with scores from Rees Broaders and Pat Moroney before Tiarnan Rossiter capped off a fine display with his sixth point to leave Ferns trailing in their wake.
St. Mary’s (Rosslare): Larry Morrissey; Emmet Byrne, Naomhan Rossiter, Conal Grant; Richard Bent, David Murphy, Shea Boggan; Tiarnan Rossiter (0-6), Gearóid Byrne; Cian Boggan (0-2), Robert Butler, Lee Devereux (0-5, 2 frees); Kevin Power, Pat Moroney (0-2), Rees Broaders (1-2). Sub. - Séamus Sinnott for Power (56).
Ferns St. Aidan’s: Michael Walsh (0-1 free); Peter Nolan, Patrick Breen, Willie Bolger; Brian O’Neill, Declan Byrne, Jack O’Hagan; Christopher Davitt, Peter O’Toole (0-1); Shane Breen, Pádraig Walsh, Jeff Tobin; Anthony Dwyer, Edward Walsh (1-4, 0-2 frees), Ciarán Doran. Subs. - P.J. O’Neill for O’Neill, inj. (9), Ben Cowman for Dwyer (HT), Derek Thorpe (01) for Tobin (39), Brian O’Neill (Clone) for Doran (45), Steve Warren for P.J. O’Neill, inj. (49).
Referee: Seán Whelan (St. Martin’s).