Slick Alley march on to glory
Fethard/Clongeen combination out-pointed in decider
BUFFERS ALLEY 0-16 MOGUEGEEN GAELS 0-9
A HUGELY impressive Buffers Alley outfit claimed the Wexford People Minor hurling Roinn 1 championship title in St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, on Sunday.
The Monamolin boys were full value for their victory, strangling the life out of Moguegeen Gaels’ attacking threat in the first three-quarters while building a lead they were well able to defend when the legs got heavier.
Not only was it a suffocating defensive performance from a rearguard in tip-top form, those further up the field led by example in that regard, never giving the Fethard and Clongeen combination a single easy stroke.
There were exceptional performances all over the field for the Alley, and a full-back line that kept Cian Byrne and company at bay were exceptional. Jack Twomey was powerful at number six, and the midfield worked their socks off.
All of the forwards contributed in the attacking third, but Cormac Walsh was the pick of them.
Whether coming short or dropping in behind his man, the corner-forward scored from an array of positions which is the mark of a forward with real star potential.
It was nip and tuck after the first 18 minutes, with the Gorey District club leading by 0-4 to 0-3.
Byrne had the three for the Gaels and ended with all nine of their scores, while along with a Walsh score, Michael Butler nabbed a trio at the other end before his side took control.
Shamey O’Hagan, Walsh and a brace from Jack Redmond helped the Alley into a 0-10 to 0-4 lead at the break, but in truth it could have been worse for the New Ross combo as their opponents missed several decent goal chances.
Byrne scored the opening point of the second-half but Buffers Alley were ready for the response.
Butler notched three and Walsh added a brace as the lead swelled to 0-15 to 0-5 by the 41st minute. At that stage it would have been hard to believe they would add just one more point, but Moguegeen had plenty of fight left.
Their problem was that only Byrne’s brilliance could find the space to score against the Alley rearguard.
He chipped away in the final quarter but frustration eventually told as both he and Michael Dundon were dismissed in added-time as the Monamolin boys repelled their onslaught to take the title.
Buffers Alley: Cian O’Connor; Oisín Tyrrell, Dave Meleady (joint-capt.), Owen McNulty (joint-capt.); Edward Harney, Jack Twomey, Seán Kirwan; Adam Doyle, Shamey O’Hagan (0-1); Eoin O’Meara, Michael Butler (0-8, 6 frees, 1 ‘65), Pádraig Kinsella; Cormac Walsh (0-5), Jack Redmond (0-2), Cillian Larkin. Subs. - Thomas Whelan for Larkin (55), James Reilly for Kirwan (60+4), also Tristan Walsh, Oisín O’Hagan, Jamie Corrigan, Cian Dobbs, Jack Fanning, David Hearne, Stephen Furlong, John Burke, Darragh Prendergast, Bobby Brady, Kevin O’Connor, Adam Back, Brian O’Meara, Shane Meleady, Dan Doyle, Dylan McEvoy.
Moguegeen Gaels: Robbie Rochford; Paddy Finn, Richard Liu, Louis Doherty; Eoin Whelan, Michael Dundon, Harry Nunan; Dylan Whelan (capt.), Seamie Kelly; Cathal Murphy, Cian Byrne (0-9, 5 frees, 1 ‘65), Oggie Doyle; Kevin Wallace, Adam O’Grady, Seán Nunan. Subs. - Jake Molloy for H. Nunan (31), Jack Whelan for O. Doyle (51), also Niall Doherty, Robbie Molloy, Mark O’Grady.
Referee: Justin Heffernan (Blackwater).