Rapps remain unbeaten
RAPPAREES MADE it two wins from two with a comprehensive victory over Buffers Alley in Group A of the Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship in Camolin on Sunday.
A lightning-fast start from the Enniscorthy men, which saw them score three goals in the opening ten minutes, created a comfortable cushion that they were able to sustain for the remainder for the match.
Neil McCrea and Craig Foley both raised the green flag in the first two minutes as each showed a level of individual skill as they beat Darren O’Brien between the Alley posts.
Despite the Alley pulling a goal back almost instantly through Jim Hughes, the Rapps were able to extend their lead to seven by the tenth minute. A John Ryan pull found the net, while McCrea and Conor Ronan got their side’s first points.
From there on in, it was all about points for the Rapparees. They amassed nine more before the interval, with Ed Tobin and Craig Foley on target most frequently.
Buffers Alley did enough to just about stay in the game, as a treble from Jim Hughes and singles courtesy of Keith Burke and Walter Gahan ensured that they finished the half trailing by twelve points (3-11 to 1-5).
Buffers Alley needed goals if they were to pull themselves back into contention and, despite playing the second-half with a healthy breeze, a second or even third goal never looked likely.
They did surge into a bit of life in the early stages of the second-half when host of Hughes frees brought them to within eight.
But, that was as close as they would get to catching Rapparees who found a second wind, knocking over another ten points in the process.
Tobin, McCrea, Foley, Ryan and Dylan McVeigh were all amongst the scorers as Rapparees ran out comfortable eleven-point winners and continued their perfect start to the championship.
Rapparees: Jim Connors; Cathal Ryan, Tom Wall, Joe Carley; Anthony Peare, Eoin Quigley, Mark Redmond; Conor Ronan (0-1), Peter O’Sullivan (0-1); Craig Foley (1-5), Ed Tobin (0-7, 5 frees), Dylan McVeigh (0-2); Tommy Foley (0-1), John Ryan (1–1), Neil McCrea (1-3). Subs. - Gary Murphy for Ronan (48), William Doyle (48), Christopher Doyle for Carley (50).
Buffers Alley: Darren O’Brien (0-1); Myles O’Connor, Alan Doyle, Paudie Kinsella; Domhnall McArdle, Thomas Dempsey (0-1), Conor Kenny; Adam Byrne (0-2), Colm Og Doran; John Furlong, Walter Gahan (0-1), Darragh Butler; Jamie Dempsey-Doyle, Keith Burke (0-1), Jim Hughes (1-10, 0-10 frees). Subs. - Leonard Lacey for O’Connor (38), Oisín Fortune for Butler (40), Butler for Burke (45), Burke for Kenny (51), O’Connor for Furlong (54).
Referee: Pádraig Byrne (Kilanerin).