Strong finish by Jimmies
ST. JAMES’ 2-15 ADAMSTOWN 0-11
TWO CLUBS moving rapidly in opposite directions met in Group B of The Courtyard Ferns Intermediate hurling championship in O’Kennedy Park, New Ross, on Sunday, with that stark reality reflected in the final scoreline as unbeaten St. James’ reeled off the last seven points on the trot to inflicted a second successive defeat on Adamstown.
It’s only five years since the St. Abban’s men lost their Senior status, with their Ramsgrange rivals winning the Junior crown in the same campaign, and since then the Jimmies have gone on to add an Intermediate ‘A’ title and are now holding their own in the second tier.
The only time the winners looked somewhat uncertain in this clash was during the third quarter when they struggled to push on with the aid of the wind after leading by 2-6 to 0-8 at half-time.
However, any chance Adamstown had of completing an unlikely comeback disappeared in a bizarre sequence when they had three chances to grab a goal from a penalty, only for St. James’ to survive.
The opportunity arose when James Breen was fouled in the 40th minute, with Graeme Molloy diving low to his left to keep out Tony French’s drive.
However, referee Barry Redmond told the netminder he had moved off his line in advance of the shot, and ordered a re-take.
French’s second attempt, directed towards the same corner, was stopped by Molloy in exactly similar circumstances, only for the man in the middle to penalise the former Wexford footballer once more and book him for his troubles.
Incredibly, it wasn’t a case of third time lucky for Adamstown, as French opted to go for the other corner with his final attempt but drilled it wide.
St. James’ were leading by 2-7 to 0-10 at the time and, after free-takers Kevin O’Grady and French swapped points, the John Mullane-trained Adamstown didn’t score again in the last twelve-plus minutes whereas their District rivals drove on to victory with those seven successive scores.
Two lovely points from play by O’Grady created a bit of daylight before Mark Molloy, Shane Murphy, substitute James Walsh, O’Grady (free) and Murphy again all split the posts to leave the victors with ten points to spare.
A brace of St. James’ goals in the 16th and 18th minutes made all the difference, with the first giving them a 1-3 to 0-5 lead when Matthew O’Hanlon drove forward, played a one-two with Shane Murphy, and batted calmly to the net from close range.
Harry Cosgrave did equalise for Adamstown, but they played second fiddle from the moment Liam Murphy’s delivery was broken by Tommy Walsh into the path of Shane Murphy who drilled to the net to make it 2-3 to 0-6.
Seán Barden did pose a threat at full-forward for Adamstown, finishing with three points from play, while they also looked more composed in defence after Shane O’Gorman moved to full-back.
However, St. James’ carried a superior goalscoring threat, with Daniel Keating coming close before that double from O’Hanlon and Murphy gave them a decisive edge.
After being pipped by neighbours Fethard in last year’s semi-final, they are intent on going at least one better this time around.
St. James’: Graeme Molloy; Brian Molloy, Jason Barron, David Doyle; Darragh Lyons, Matthew O’Hanlon (1-0), Liam Murphy; Mark Molloy (0-1), Robbie Barron (0-2); Kevin O’Grady (0-5, 2 frees), Daniel Keating, Alan Walsh; Donal Barron, Shane Murphy (1-5, 0-1 free), Tommy Walsh (0-1). Sub. - James Walsh (0-1) for A. Walsh, inj. (50).
Adamstown: Paul Cooper; John Whelan, P.J. Carroll, Johnny Connors; Brendan Furlong, Shane O’Gorman, Páraic Wickham; Michael Furlong (02), Harry Cosgrave (0-1); Tony French (0-4, 1 free), Lorcan French (capt., 0-1), Seánie O’Neill; Liam Stafford, Seán Barden (0-3), James Breen. Subs. - Michael Curtis for Carroll (HT), Colum Feeney for Cosgrave (44), James Delaney for O’Neill (50).
Referee: Barry Redmond (Na Fianna Clonard).