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CLOUGHBAWN 2-14 BLACKWATER 2-12

A DEFEAT at any time can be disappointing, but Blackwater can rightly feel content with their display before eventually falling to a two-point defeat to their more highly-rated opponents, Cloughbawn, in The Courtyard Ferns Intermediate hurling championship Group B game in St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, on Sunday.

Cloughbawn had the scoring exploits of Harry Kehoe to see them over the line, but they still had to endure many anxious periods.

Blackwater suffered a blow before the game when they were forced to line out without their Senior inter-county player, Darren Byrne, who suffered a recurrence of a groin strain, while they were further depleted with the absence of promising young attacker, Conor Sutton, who was away on a Gaelteacht course in Donegal.

However, the seasiders seemed determined to build on their opening round victory over Adamstown, as they overcame a slow start that saw them fall 0-4 to 0-1 adrift by the fifth minute.

Cloughbawn struck for points through Joey Lawlor, Alan Carton and Bob Whitty (two), while Dean Wright managed a pointed free in between for the opposition.

In a three-minute spell, last year’s Minor star, Tomás Murphy, rocked the 2018 beaten county finalists right back on their heels.

After eight minutes he shook off several tackles before finishing to the net, while three minutes later he once again showed his power and skill to find the net from 14 metres, leaving his side leading by 2-1 to 0-4.

As the teams continued to trade points, Cloughbawn - who had been struggling up front - finally brought their game to life, as two of their better players were involved in the setting up of their opening goal.

Barry Carton picked out Connal Flood who finished with a rising shot to the net, leaving the scoreline 2-3 to 1-5 after 17 minutes.

With Bob Whitty and Harry Kehoe picking off fine individual points, Cloughbawn went in with a slender interval lead of 1-8 to 2-4.

A Paul O’Leary point had Blackwater level within one minute of the re-start, but with Connal Flood and Harry Kehoe finding the target with excellent points, it looked as if Cloughbawn were about to exercise control.

They followed with further points through Kehoe, with a huge effort off the wing, and Whitty, before a superb Connal Flood 44th-minute goal, leaving them with a 2-12 to 2-6 lead to take into the final quarter.

Almost immediately Blackwater were awarded a penalty, but Dean Wright had his shot deflected away by ‘keeper Seán Keating for a ‘65, with Wright pointing from a second successive ’65.

With Paul O’Leary storming into the game in midfield, Blackwater picked off further points through Wright (free), Shane O’Leary and a long-range Ben Redmond effort, to reduce the deficit to two points (2-12 to 2-10) with six minutes remaining.

Wright was wide with two frees which would have brought the sides level, but a huge Harry Kehoe point off the right sideline moved Cloughbawn into a 2-14 to 2-12 lead, just after a Wright free left the minimum separating the sides.

Cloughbawn: Seán Keating; David Doyle-Murphy, Barry Kehoe, James Dempsey; Conor Harrington, Colm Kehoe, Corey Bolger; Páidí Cullen, Barry Carton; Harry Kehoe (0-5, 3 frees), Alan Carton (0-1), Connal Flood (2-2); Bob Whitty (0-4), M.J. Furlong, Joey Lawlor (0-2).

Blackwater: Peter O’Brien; Féidhlim Roche, Eoin O’Neill, Kevin O’Brien; Richard Blake, Aaron Culleton, Ben Redmond (0-1); Diarmuid Murphy, Paul O’Leary (0-1); Dean Wright (0-9, 7 frees, 1 ‘65), Michael Lillis, Seán Purcell; Shane O’Leary (0-1), Tomás Murphy (2-0), Kevin Corrigan. Sub. - Darren Byrne for Purcell.

Referee: Niall McDonald (Crossabeg-Ballymurn).

FOOTNOTE: Given the quality of club grounds, one has to be disappointed with the deteriorating condition of the St. Patrick’s Park pitch. It starts with three large grass-less holes in front of the dressing-room goal out to the 20-metre line, with a similar worn patch at the opposite end, but it’s the uneven bumpy surface that makes it almost impossible for quality hurling. This being a County Board ground, it is now in a dreadful condition for games.