Adamstown lose to the far more accurate outfit
OULART-BALLAGH ADAMSTOWN 2-15 1-11 THE DIFFERENCE between these teams was Oulart-The Ballagh’s ability to turn their chances into scores, a factor that eventually helped them to a comfortable seven-point victory over Adamstown in this The Courtyard Ferns Intermediate hurling championship Group A game at St. Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, on Saturday.
The biggest question of all is if either side had their sights on ultimate glory given the many changes from the teams listed in the programme. Indeed, even when the Oulart-The Ballagh side was provided, it still had two changes in personnel which were not signalled before the game, only picked up by this reporter once the game began.
The Adamstown side bore no resemblance to that which appeared in the programme, making it a nightmare for the paying public as they also failed to play to the numbers allotted which was very poor form.
So little was expected of the game and that is how it transpired as the hurling was dull, lacking skill and little championship bite.
With former Senior custodian Ben O’Connor pointing the way, helped by a Craig Davitt seventh-minute goal, the eventual winners went on to lead by 1-11 to 0-6 at the interval, with Lorcan French points along with efforts from Michael Furlong and Barry Power responding for the opposition.
Adamstown did show improvement on the resumption, but they lacked scoring power despite having their share of possession. While the eventual winners could only manage three points through the third quarter, the Adamstown scoring response was feeble with only points from French and Johnny Connors to show for their efforts.
The only sparkle of the entire 60 minutes arrived on full-time. Adamstown launched an attack and the ball dropped into the goalmouth where there was a tussle for possession.
The dust rose, followed by fists, eventually leaving Joe Kelly to brandish a straight red card to Adamstown substitute Paudie Barden. One minute later Barry Power goaled, but in the fourth minute of additional time, Cathal Kenny hit the net to embellish the Oulart-The Ballagh victory.
Oulart-The Ballagh: Michael O’Dowd; Richard Doyle, Dennis Morton, Kevin Sinnott; David Rossiter, Colin Sunderland, Cathal Kenny (1-0); Gary Murphy (0-1), Anthony Storey (02); Eamonn Murphy (0-1), Ben O’Connor (0-9, 8 frees), Peadar Mythen (0-1); Seán Murphy (0-1), Craig Davitt (1-0), Niall Redmond.
Adamstown: Paul Delaney; Vinny Doheny, Ian Bradley, Johnny Connors (0-1); Tomás Harrington, P.J. Carroll, Shane O’Gorman; Tomás French, Lorcan French (0-3 frees); Michael Furlong (0-3), Eamonn Lawlor, Liam Stafford (0-2); Seán Barden, Barry Power (1-1), Harry Cosgrave. Subs. - Paudie Bardn for Cosgrave, M.J. Cooper for Lawlor, John French (0-1) for T. French.
Referee: Joe Kelly (Naomh Eanna).