Cloughbawn aim to atone for last year
TWO ENNISCORTHY District clubs with big ambitions will travel to Innovate Wexford Park on Sunday intent on capturing The Courtyard Ferns Intermediate hurling championship crown.
HWH-Bunclody caused a minor upset when ending the interest of Buffers Alley at the same venue last Saturday, setting up a repeat of last year’s semi-final clash in the process.
On that occasion, it took Cloughbawn all of their time to emerge with a 2-15 to 0-18 victory, before their bid for an immediate return to the top flight was denied by Fethard after a replay.
HWH-Bunclody are likely to be without the services of Seán Kenny for the final after he collected a red card last weekend, but news emerging from their rivals is that Barry Carton could be a serious injury doubt.
It’s believed that long-serving county player
Harry Kehoe is also struggling for full fitness, so both clubs have their issues going into a first decider at this level between Enniscorthy District rivals since Shamrocks beat Duffry Rovers after a replay in 2014.
HWH-Bunclody have lost two finals in the past decade, going down to neighbours Askamore by 1-16 to 0-17 in 2009 before losing to Oylegate-Glenbrien at the second time of asking by the minimum (2-14 to 2-13) in 2012.
The last of their five Intermediate titles was annexed in 2010, adding to previous wins in 1982, 1993, 1995 and 2002, and they will join Ferns St. Aidan’s on top of the roll of honour with six if they can get over the line on Sunday.
Cloughbawn’s sole title arrived in 1973, and they were Senior then until the end of 2017 when they were relegated just one year after contesting the final against Oulart-The Ballagh.
Momentum will be on HWH-Bunclody’s side after their tough game last weekend, whereas their rivals were last in action a fortnight earlier when they defeated Crossabeg-Ballymurn by 2-9 to 1-4 in deplorable conditions.
Connal Flood, Bob Whitty and veteran M.J. Furlong will pose major threats in attack along with Harry Kehoe if he’s fit for the fray, while Barry and Colm Kehoe, Tomás Furlong and James Dempsey are doughty defenders.
Noel Carton offers a lot of leadership and experience from between the posts too, while HWH-Bunclody have a very strong central defensive spine in Colm Farrell and Aidan Nolan.
Billy Kelly and Martin O’Connor form a dynamic midfield pairing, while ex-Wexford attacker Peter Atkinson is as sharp as ever on the edge of the square.
However, if the talented Seán Kenny misses out, it could be enough to tip the scales in favour of Cloughbawn who were bitterly disappointed to come up short against Fethard in last year’s replay.