Charlie hits target
Adamstown collect Under-13 shield
CHARLIE PURCELL stormed all over St. Patrick’s as he inspired Adamstown to a decisive victory in their New Ross Standard Under-13 hurling Division 4 shield final in St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, recently.
Adamstown, showing a great strength down the centre, held control of this game for lengthy spells, with Purcell highlighting his scoring abilities with two well-executed goals which laid the foundations for their victory.
St. Patrick’s, to their credit, showed huge improvement on the resumption but came up against a strong opposing defence.
They still managed to haul themselves back into the game, but the inspiring play of attacker Charlie Purcell separated the sides in the end.
St. Patrick’s opened the scoring inside 30 seconds of the start through a Cathal Whelan point, but this was the only time they led in the game.
Adamstown quickly assumed control, with a Purcell pointed free bringing the sides level after four minutes.
Adamstown were leading by 0-3 to 0-2 when they pounced for their opening goal after eleven minutes, with Watt Creane finishing a low delivery from Purcell to the corner of the net.
Purcell added a second goal after 15 minutes which left them leading by 2-4 to 0-4 at the interval.
The opening minutes of the second-half followed much the same pattern as Purcell found the corner of the net with a shot across the face of the goal after just two minutes, in the process giving his side a nine-point lead.
St. Patrick’s went on to enjoy their best spell, culminating in a Cathal Whelan goal from a 20-metre free.
This was followed by an Oisín McDonagh goal to leave just three points (3-5 to 2-5) separating the sides entering the closing seven minutes.
With St. Patrick’s unable to add to their tally, Adamstown closed out the game with a fine goal from substitute Alfie White.
Adamstown: Conall Doyle; Alex
Roche, Philip Wickham, Charles Kent; Martin Sinnott, Matthew Dunleavy, Seán Murray; Richard Whelan, Conor Curtis; Charlie Purcell (2-4), Ross English (0-1), Oisín McManus (0-2); Thomas McDonald, Frankie O’Brien, Watt Creane (1-0). Subs. - Alfie White (1-0), Joe Whelan, Matthew Myers, Paddy Cash, Darragh Guinan, Luke Siggins.
St. Patrick’s: John Maher; Charles Creane, Dylan O’Sullivan, Jack Murphy; Tom Waugh, Angus Byrne, Michael Roche; Cathal Whelan (1-2, 1-0 free), Alex Carton; Noah James, Conall Dunne (0-3 frees), Adam Furlong; Alex Devereux, Oisín McDonagh (1-0), Seán Fitzgerald. Subs. - Eoin Kenny, Joseph Tomkins, Liam Doyle, Leo James, Steve Kavanagh, Aaron Bailey, Sam O’Connor, Noah Byrne, George Murphy, Eoghan Hogan.
Referee: Dan Crosby (Kilmore).