Nolan gives an exhibition

HORESWOOD 0-17 FERNS ST. AIDAN’S 0-10

AN EXHIBITION of point-taking from Seán Nolan helped Horeswood to a seven-point victory over Ferns St. Aidan’s in Group B of the Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship in a sun-scorched Bree on Saturday.

Although the talented midfielder contributed almost half of their scores, it was far from a one-man show as they looked capable of picking off points from all angles.

Ferns were reliant on Anthony Dwyer frees for scores, however, and it was telling that their first, and only, point from play didn’t come until deep into second-half injury time, when Christopher Davitt’s long-range effort crept over the bar.

Two Dwyer frees gave Ferns an early advantage, but the New Ross District outfit weren’t long about finding their stride, with two eye-catching Nolan points drawing them level before a brace of placed balls from Michael O’Hanlon and scores from Seán Stafford and Declan Murphy gave them a fourpoint lead by the 13th minute.

That lead was stretched to 0-12 to 0-6 by the interval, with the impressive Nolan adding another three more to his tally and Michael O’Hanlon (free), Jamie Myler and Declan Murphy also chipping in with points, while Dwyer frees just about kept Ferns in the contest.

Scores were scarce in a stopstart second-half, with the irrepressible Nolan picking off two more points for the winners and Eamonn O’Sullivan, Jamie Myler and Michael O’Hanlon also keeping the scoreboard ticking over.

Ferns rarely threatened from play and their misery was compounded in the 50th minute when Pádraig Walsh was shown a straight red card as the contest became a bit fractious, although they did at least manage to get a score on the board when Christopher Davitt found the range in the sixth minute of injury time.

Horeswood have built the perfect platform for when the action resumes, having made it two wins from two, while Ferns, having lost both their games, face an uphill task.

Horeswood: Eoin Mythen; Gavin Murphy, Shane O’Hanlon (capt.), Brian Kehoe; David Murphy, Danny Byrne, Eamonn O’Sullivan (0-1); Jamie Myler (0-2, 1 free), Seán Nolan (0-7); Seán Hunt, Seán Stafford (0-1), Eoin Murphy; Declan Murphy (0-2), Michael O’Hanlon (0-4 frees), Craig Murphy. Subs. - John Chapman for C. Murphy, inj. (44), Dean Roberts for Kehoe, inj. (47), Barry Hearn for Byrne, inj. (51), Eddie Breen for M. O’Hanlon (55), Craig Collier for Declan Murphy (58).

Ferns St. Aidan’s: Michael Walsh; Peter Nolan, Patrick Breen, Brian O’Neill (Clone); Christopher Davitt (01), Brian O’Neill (capt.), Jack O’Hagan; Willie Bolger, P.J. O’Neill; Derek Thorpe, Pádraig Walsh, Ciarán Doran; Anthony Dwyer (0-9 frees), Jeff Tobin, Shane Breen. Subs. - Lee Quigley for S. Breen (35), Ben Cowman for Tobin (39), Shane Stafford for Doran (52)

Referee: Barry Redmond (Na Fianna Clonard).