Goals give Ramsgrange edge on 14 men

ST. JAMES’ delivered a goal in each half that helped them to an eventual seven-point victory over a battling Shamrocks outfit in The Courtyard Ferns Intermediate hurling championship Group B opener in Bree on Friday.

Both sets of players were slow to settle which was what one would expect in a first round clash, not helped by the bitterly cold conditions, but once the game warmed up spectators were treated to a teak-tough second 30 minutes.

St. James’ eventually managed to put away their opponents, whose cause was not helped by the 36th minute red-carding of full-back Philip Freeman following a goalmouth incident.

Corner-forward Andrew Walsh had his side’s opening score of the campaign with a fine point inside 30 seconds of the start, while a Shane Murphy second-minute free put St. James’ into a 0-2 to nil lead despite playing into the breeze.

Shamrocks opened their account with a Pa Weafer third-minute pointed free, which helped settle the side, as they followed up with three unanswered points from Weafer (frees) and Bob Jacob from an 80-metre free to lead by 0-4 to 0-2 at the end of the opening quarter.

St. James’ upped the tempo, with Matthew O’Hanlon and Kevin O’Grady particularly prominent, while Darragh Lyons and Robbie Barron were also imposing themselves on the game.

They struck back with points from two Shane Murphy frees to bring the sides level (0-4 each).

With Brandon O’Connor, Bob Jacob and Maurice Casey powering into the game for Shamrocks, they took the initiative, as they added points through corner-forward Anthony Murphy and a fine Casey effort from distance to move into a 0-6 to 0-4 lead after 25 minutes.

However, they were dealt a cruel blow close to the interval when, after Andrew Walsh was fouled, Shane Murphy goaled the penalty.

Shamrocks did launch several attacks in response before a fine Pa Weafer point sent the sides in level (1-4 to 0-7) at the interval.

The expected St. James’ second-half takeover failed to materialise, even when they had that numerical advantage, as Shamrocks battled for every ball, leaving them right in contention until the closing stages.

After Shane Murphy (free) and John Murphy had shared opening second-half points, just two (1-8 to 0-9) separated the sides entering the final quarter.

When a point from substitute Seán Wildes left the minimum separating the teams with 13 minutes remaining, one was set for a tense finish, but the accuracy of Shane Murphy edged the eventual winners into a four-point lead, before an added-time goal from Donal Barron sealed the destination of the points.

St. James’: Graeme Molloy; Daniel Keating, Jason Barron, Brian Molloy; Liam Murphy, Matthew O’Hanlon, Darragh Lyons; Mark Molloy, Robbie Barron (1-0); Alan Walsh, Kevin O’Grady (0-1), Owen Whitty; Donal Barron, Shane Murphy (1-8, 0-7 frees, 1-0 pen.), Andrew Walsh (0-1). Subs. - Michael O’Grady (0-1) for Whitty, Tommy Walsh for Andrew Walsh, David Doyle for O’Grady.

Shamrocks: Jamie Dagg; George Jacob, Philip Freeman, Mick Weafer; Lar McDonald, Brandon O’Connor, Anthony Wallace; Bob Jacob (0-2 frees), John Murphy (0-1); Glen Nolan, Maurice Casey (0-1), Páraic Doyle; Anthony Murphy (0-2), Jack Moorehouse, Pa Weafer (0-3, 2 frees). Subs. - Seán Wildes (0-1) for Nolan, Jim Jacob for Weafer, Ronan Gahan for J. Murphy.

Referee: Shane Quinn (Ballygarrett).