Goff grabs winning goals
SHAMROCKS ASKAMORE 2-9 1-11 TWO FIRST-HALF goals in the space of four minutes from Harry Goff gave Shamrocks enough of a cushion to hold on for a win over Askamore in The Courtyard Ferns Intermediate hurling championship in Farmleigh on Sunday, a win that sees them take second spot in a very competitive Group A.
The Enniscorthy town side were by far the better side in the first-half, despite giving away a goal after three minutes when Frank Boggan was fouled in the square and punished his opponents by converting the resultant penalty.
Podge Byrne exchanged scores with Bob Jacob before the Shamrocks hit a real purple patch in the twelfth minute.
John O’Connor converted two frees before Maurice Casey added to the tally and Jacob put over a fine long-range effort.
After a brief goalmouth scramble, Harry Goff was in the right place to flick the ball to the net in the 18th minute, and he was on hand again two minutes later after a well-worked move between Casey and Jack Moorehouse saw the ball fall to the expert poacher who calmly finished off the move with a well-taken goal.
Askamore responded well with points from Tom Hayden, Conor Levingstone and Byrne, before O’Connor’s third free left four between the side at half-time.
The second-half was a much tamer affair with most sores coming from placed balls.
O’Connor adding two more to his side’s tally along with one from play from Casey, all being cancelled out by efforts from Ted Kinsella, Martin Hayden, Levingstone and one huge effort by Tommy Devereux from one hundred yards.
Askamore pumped ball after ball into their attack, but too much of it went to waste, bouncing over the end-line and allowing Shamrocks to hold on for a onepoint win.
The winners will meet Ballygarrett next on Saturday week.
Shamrocks: Daithí Murphy; Barry Dobbs, Mick Weafer, Philip Freeman; Podge Dwyer, George Jacob, Emmett Quirke; Bob Jacob (0-2), Seán Wildes; Podge Doyle, Anthony Wallace, John O’Connor (0-5 frees); Maurice Casey (0-2), Jack Moorehouse, Harry Goff (2-0). Subs. - Brandon O’Connor for Quirke, Eddie Weafer for Doyle.
Askamore: Brian Hayden; David Travers, Frank Lancaster, Patrick Nolan; James Lancaster, Tommy Devereux (0-1 free), Tom Kavanagh; Tom Hayden (0-1), Martin Hayden (0-1); Colm Buttle, Conor Levingstone (0-4, 2 frees), Tom Byrne; Ted Kinsella (0-1 ’65), Frank Boggan (1-0 pen.), Podge Byrne (0-2). Subs. - Conor Travers for Kinsella, P.J. Nolan (0-1) for Boggan, Raymond Lancaster for P. Byrne.
Referee: John Tobin (Geraldine O’Hanrahans).