Taghmon pay the penalty

ANDREW KENNY goaled a 54th-minute penalty in a dramatic late show to hand Buffers Alley an eventual three-point victory over Taghmon-Camross in this exciting The Courtyard Ferns Intermediate hurling championship Group A game in Hollymount on Saturday.

Kenny’s magic from close in coupled with the fine performance of Pat Kenny at midfield inspired the Alley to the points as they commence their bid for an immediate return to Senior ranks having been relegated last season, but they will be the first to admit that they will need to show huge improvement in the rounds to come.

Taghmon-Camross, playing in this grade after an absence of many years, will see this as an opportunity lost, as they failed to take advantage of the elements in the opening half.

While they improved considerably on the resumption, inspired by Ian Carty at centre-back, they lacked the forward power to pull off what would have been a huge morale-boosting victory.

While Buffers Alley played into the strong wind in the opening half, they dictated the early exchanges with Andrew Kenny pointing them in front after just 60 seconds.

However, they followed with a series of wides, before Taghmon-Camross got back level through a superb Stephen O’Gorman point off the wing.

After five minutes a Luke Sinnott free pointed them in front, but the Alley response was immediate with a Willie Doran leveller.

Taghmon-Camross spurned a great goal chance after seven minutes.

A long delivery out of defence broke into the path of Stephen O’Gorman who found a clear path to goal, but he kept his low shot too close to ‘keeper Oliver O’Leary who got down to save and clear.

The sides continued to trade points with the Alley leading by 0-5 to 0-4 at the end of the opening quarter, but five unanswered points from Luke Sinnott (three, two frees), Mick O’Gorman and a long-range Ian Carty effort had the south county side leading by 0-8 to 0-5 after 29 minutes.

As the game moved into additional time, the Alley received a tremendous boost when a Kevin Roche effort found the net, which left the sides deadlocked (1-6 to 0-9) at the interval.

While Buffers Alley continued to have the better of things early in the second-half, edging in front through a Ross Donohoe pointed ‘65, they spurned further opportunities with wayward finishing.

Taghmon-Camross, to their credit, battled for every ball, with Chris Cullen and Ian Carty (free) edging them into an 0-11 to 1-7 lead as the game moved into the final quarter.

But Carty’s long free into the wind proved his side’s final score, as a Pat Kenny point had the sides level (1-8 to 0-11) with ten minutes remaining.

With six minutes to go, Andrew Kenny was brought down as he moved in on goal.

Having picked himself up, he slotted a powerful shot to the left of ‘keeper Jack Dunne and into the net, leaving his side on the way to victory.

While Ian Carty and Kenny exchanged pointed frees, it was the experience of the Alley that helped them prevail through the tense closing minutes.

Buffers Alley: Oliver O’Leary; Paudie Reddy, Seán Murphy, Barry Kenny; Bobby Kenny, Ross Donohoe (0-1 ‘65), Ciarán Kenny; Pat Kenny (0-3), John Farrell; Ciarán Murphy, Willie Doran (0-1), Kevin Rcohe (1-0); Liam Walsh (0-1), Andrew Kenny (1-2, 1-0 pen., 0-1 free), Paul O’Leary (0-1 free). Subs. - Robert O’Leary for P. O’Leary, Shane Grannell for Doran, Páraic Roche for K. Roche.

Taghmon-Camross: Jack Dunne; Shane Doyle, Robbie Nolan, Mark O’Gorman; Chris Cullen (0-1), Ian Carty (0-3, 2 frees), Alan Nolan; Stephen Stafford, Darren Carty (0-1); Luke Sinnott (0-4, 3 frees), Barry O’Gorman (01), Stephen O’Keeffe; Mick O’Gorman (0-1), Stephen O’Gorman (0-1), Shane Lacey. Subs. - Richie Comerford for Sinnott, David O’Keeffe for Cullen, Adam Sinnott for Mick O’Gorman.

Referee: James Flood (St. Mary’s, Maudlintown).