Jack points the way
Ballynastragh win Gorey District battle
CONDITIONS DICTATED a lot of what happened in this New Ross Standard Under-13 hurling Division 2 championship final, but there was no denying that Ballynastragh coped best on their way to an impressive success.
In rainy, heavy conditions at St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, recently, the Tara Rocks and Kilanerin combo managed to nab five of the six scores, and it was enough to see them past a gutsy Buffers Alley outfit.
They didn’t have it all their own way, as the Monamolin side had two goal chances in the second-half that Conor Grannell repelled, and they could never quite get the better of some sensational Gaels defending.
It was almost ten weeks since Ballynastagh lost an entertaining Division 1 football final against Shelmaliers, but the disappointment of that evening must have been burning bright as the champions took to the field and were determined not to let this one get away.
It was evident in every line of their team, as the defence proved almost impenetrable, the midfield drove their side forward, continuously running at the Alley defence, and the forwards were able to do enough to earn frees and drag their side over the line in squalid conditions.
As both sides tried to come to terms with the challenge, scores were hard to come by.
After he was fouled, the excellent Jack Gethings popped over the opening free in the tenth minute.
He added another when the dynamic Eoin Hughes was impeded moments later to make it 0-2 to nil.
Under intense pressure to the left of the posts, Marin Kisov pulled a point back for Buffers Alley early in the second quarter.
However, the best move of the match resulted in a Ballynastragh goal in the 25th minute as Hughes and Max Buggy combined to release Patrick Rooney, and he thumped his shot past Callum Whelan-Byrne.
Whelan-Byrne went on to make several sensational saves to keep his side in contention, including one from Cathal Fitzpatrick just before the break.
Leading by 1-2 to 0-1 at the start of the second period, the Gaels added another Gethings free seven minutes in.
After Grannell denied James Kavanagh a goal, Jack Gethings made the lead six with his fourth free after a push on Ciarán Gethings.
Buffers Alley battled hard in the last quarter but just couldn’t find a way past an inspired Ballynastragh defence as they held on to take the title.
Ballynastragh Gaels: Conor Grannell; Jack Ryan, Morgan Timmons, Aaron Gethings; Ben Mordaunt, Mikey Hughes, Fergal Noctor; Vincent Higgins (capt.), Jack Gethings (0-4 frees); Cathal Fitzpatrick, Eoin Hughes, Max Buggy; Darragh Gethings, Cody Lawless, Patrick Rooney (1-0). Subs. (rolling) - Ciara Gethings, Charlie Fleming, Ben Hughes, Rory Cooper, Ben Furlong, Niall Harnett, Darragh Forde, Olan Tighe, Harry O’Sullivan, Sam Gregory, Jamie Hughes.
Buffers Alley: Callum WhelanByrne; Billy O’Leary, Ciarán Murphy, Bill Fanning; Kevin Doran, Niall Furlong (joint capt.), Ríoch Fortune; James Kavanagh, Sebastian Veale; Ben Fanning, Tomás Walsh (joint capt.), Páuric Kirwan; Seán Kavanagh, Marin Kisov (0-1), Oisín Kirwan. Subs. (rolling) - Alex Hickey, Gearóid Kirwan, Cian Meleady, Owen Breen, Eoghan Redmond, Dylan Keegan.
Referee: Michael Gannon (Horeswood).