Rocks rule in District derby
Winners look like contenders
TARA ROCKS 1-23 BALLYGARRETT 0-11
TARA ROCKS laid down an early marker as potential contenders for the Top Oil Intermediate ‘A’ hurling championship with a comprehensive 1-23 to 0-11 Group A victory over District rivals Ballygarrett in Saturday’s disappointing opening round tie at Páirc Uí Shíocháin, Gorey.
While the expected fireworks one expects in a derby between two of the better teams in the grade never quite materialised, the manner in which Tara Rocks soared clear in the second-half was impressive nonetheless, particularly as the sides were deadlocked at 0-8 each by half-time.
The first-half took the shape of a shoot-out between Conor Devitt and Jack Hobbs, with the two former Leinster Under-21 medal winners accounting for ten of the 16 scores in that period between them.
The seasiders had four wides on the board after three minutes as they struggled to settle, while points from Bobby Hughes, Dean O’Toole and Páraic Hughes gave the Rock early ascendancy.
Hobbs punished a technical foul with an eighth-minute converted free, and provided three of the next four scores, including an outstanding effort from distance on the right wing, as Ballygarrett forged 0-5 to 0-3 ahead over the next ten minutes.
Devitt shook off the attention of Eddie Redmond to notch his first score, and he was clearly the main outlet in his side’s attacking blueprint as he picked off three more points from play in a rampant spell before the end of the half, while another Hobbs point from an acute angle brought up that interval parity.
But Hobbs, and indeed Ballygarrett, didn’t register again until he converted another free at the start of the fourth quarter as Tara Rocks really began to prosper.
Dean O’Toole assumed the role of chief marksman after the break, adding four frees, while three successive well-judged long-rangers from Lee Owley, Devitt and Bobby Hughes made it a double-scores game by the 45th minute (0-16 to 0-8).
And while Hobbs supplied his final free, O’Toole and Boland combined to play in Patrick Fortune, who cleverly bounced to the net beyond the near post to add the feather to the cap.
And they picked off six of the last seven points to finish with some target practice, with O’Toole, Fortune, Páraic Hughes and Niall Breen (twice) all scoring from play.
Ballygarrett will hope for an improved showing against Oulart-The Ballagh at the same venue this Saturday, while Tara Rocks will take on Shelmaliers brimming with confidence afterwards.
Tara Rocks: Tom Hughes; Aidan Jones, Peter Hughes, Rhys Owley; Ben Morris, Niall Hughes, Lee Owley (0-1); Niall Breen (0-2), Páraic Hughes (0-2); Bobby Hughes (0-3), Dean O’Toole (0-9, 6 frees, 1 ‘65), Mark Boland; Patrick Fortune (1-1), Ben O’Connor, Conor Devitt (0-5).
Ballygarrett: Shane Quinn; Eddie Redmond, Seamus Doyle, Johnny Sinnott; Tom Sinnott, Darren Morris, John Doyle; Stephen Redmond, Colm Kennelly; Eoin Corcoran, Cormac Moore-Kavanagh (0-1), Jack Hobbs (0-9, 5 frees, 1 ‘65); Harry Byrne, Patrick Naughter (0-1), Killian Doyle. Subs. - Jimmy Murphy for Byrne (43), Adam Fleming for K. Doyle (43).
Referee: Joe Kelly (Naomh Eanna).