Duffry Rovers out-point St. Pat’s

DUFFRY ROVERS proved the superior outfit as they eased to a comfortable nine-point victory over St. Patrick’s in this Top Oil Intermediate ‘A’ hurling championship Group A game in St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, on Saturday.

The winners had the forwards that proved the eventual difference between the sides as they showed a greater ability to pick off their scores, particularly at crucial periods of the game.

This was in stark contrast to the opposition, who showed an alarming lack of quality up front, while their last remaining chance of getting back into the game with a realistic chance of victory disappeared at the end of the third quarter.

St. Patrick’s were trailing by 0-12 to 0-5 when they were awarded a penalty, but Dermot O’Leary kept his shot too close to ‘keeper Stephen Watchorn who managed to get his hurl to the ball to deflect it clear.

This left the Duffry to go on and control the closing ten minutes as they fashioned out a deserved and impressive victory.

Duffry Rovers opened the game in impressive fashion, shooting into a 0-4 to nil lead inside eight minutes through points from Cian Fitzhenry (three from frees, while St. Patrick’s had to wait until the twelfth minute for their opening score, a Niall O’Brien point.

Cathal Clince, with a free off the sideline, and Tomás Morris exchanged points, but the Duffry finished the half impressively by adding further points through Clince (free) and a long-range Alan Doyle effort to lead by 0-7 to 0-2 at the interval.

On the resumption, Clince (free) and Michael O’Brien exchanged opening points, and with Gavin Watchorn with a fine individual effort, and a Clince free, moving their side into a 0-10 to 0-4 lead, it was clear that a disjointed St. Patrick’s outfit were left with too much to do.

After O’Leary failed to goal from the penalty they totally lost their way, with the Duffry continuing to fire over some impressive scores through Clince and Gavin Watchorn.

Duffry Rovers: Stephen Watchorn; Craig Casey, Thomas Dunne, Mattie O’Connor; Alan Doyle (01), James Nolan, Johnny Flynn-O’Connor; Liam Pender, Cathal Clince (0-6 frees); Gavin Watchorn (0-2), Seamus Doyle (0-1), Cian Fitzhenry (0-4, 3 frees); Robert Frayne (0-1), Alan O’Neill (0-1), Donie O’Connor.

St. Patrick’s: Stuart Quinn; John Cousins, Richie Flood, Tommy Dunne; Daryl Murphy, Darren Whelan, James Cousins; Michael O’Brien (0-3), Dermot O’Leary (0-1); Stephen Ryan (0-1 free), John Doyle, Niall O’Brien (0-1); Hughie Doyle, Shane Finn, Tomás Morris (0-1). Subs. - Michael Carroll for J. Doyle, Ciarán Murphy for Morris.

Referee: Aidan O’Brien (Cloughbawn).