Meyler makes a lively debut
Alley claim vital first victory
BUFFERS ALLEY CLOUGHBAWN 1-18 0-18 JOHN LEE Meyler is unlikely to forget his Pettitt’s Senior hurling championship debut in a hurry.
Two first-half points, the game’s clinching goal and a late dismissal for two bookings made it a very eventful Saturday evening for the attacking newcomer in Innovate Wexford Park as Buffers Alley made it third time lucky with their first victory of the campaign against Cloughbawn in this Group B tie which only really sparked to life near the end.
The game bore all the hallmarks of a draw for long periods, with the sides deadlocked no fewer than eleven times (five in the firsthalf and six in the second) before Meyler struck for the match-winning goal.
And to be fair, it wasn’t his intention when he arrowed in a delivery from the right wing in the 56th minute with the teams level on 0-15 each.
However, Cloughbawn netminder Noel Carton must have been distracted by the players around his square as he misjudged its flight path and the sliothar ended up in the net.
It was the lucky break Buffers Alley needed in a game they simply had to win in order to give themselves a realistic chance of a quarter-final spot.
And though a gutsy Cloughbawn narrowed the gap to two on three separate occasions thereafter, thanks to the excellent Connal Flood, Barry Carton and Harry Kehoe (free), their Gorey District rivals replied each and every time courtesy of Andrew Kenny, Tomás O’Leary and Pat Kenny.
They had to endure nearly six added minutes though, with all 15 Alley players in their own half when Barry Carton stood over a late ’65, but the danger was averted and the men wearing their change jerseys of red and gold hoops could finally afford to rest easy.
Cloughbawn had started brightly with the first three points from free-taker Harry Kehoe (two) and Connal Flood, but the Alley drew level for the first time in the twelfth minute at 0-4 each and it was tit-for-tat from then until Meyler’s goal.
The battle between the winners’ half-back line and their immediate opponents was a fascinating one, with both teams deploying heavy hitters in that sector. While Bobby Kenny had a rare off day for the Alley, his cousins Andrew and Ciarán were in the thick of the action as they tried to cope with Colm Kehoe, Connal Flood and, at a later stage, Harry Kehoe who started in the corner.
Colm Kehoe’s first touch let him down and he only really sparkled with one fine second-half point, while his namesake, Harry, made his main contribution from placed balls.
However, the undoubted leader of the pack was talented teenager Flood who finished with four points to his name after a fine display.
In a game of such tight margins, Buffers Alley were also indebted to netminder Oliver O’Leary who made a series of vital saves. He denied Alan Carton in first-half added time before making a smart stop from Flood and an even better one from Barry Carton in the third quarter.
Tomás and Paul O’Leary had both been unable to get a decent connection on the ball when the Alley’s best goal chance arose after 15 minutes, but the latter scored one of the best points of the game early in the second-half from a tight angle before the former fired over the frees regularly coughed up by Cloughbawn.
In the end it took a stroke of good fortune to divide them, and both teams will realise that more will be needed in order to claim a coveted quarter-final place over the next two rounds.
Buffers Alley: Oliver O’Leary; Paudie Reidy, Seán Murphy, Barry Kenny; Bobby Kenny, Andrew Kenny (0-1), Ciarán Kenny (capt.); Kevin Roche (0-1), Pat Kenny (0-3, 1 line ball); Seán Og Whelan (0-1), Willie Doran (0-1), Tomás O’Leary (0-8, 6 frees); John Lee Meyler (1-2), John Farrell, Paul O’Leary (0-1). Subs. - Ross Donohoe for Farrell (46), Robert O’Leary for Bobby Kenny (60).
Cloughbawn: Noel Carton; Gavin Murphy, Tomás Furlong, M.J. Furlong; Barry Kehoe, Páidí Cullen, Johnny Cullen; Barry Carton (0-2), Davin Murphy; Colm Kehoe (0-1), Connal Flood (0-4), Corey Bolger; Harry Kehoe (0-9, 6 frees, 3 ’65s), Alan Carton (capt., 0-1), Bob Whitty (0-1). Sub. - Martin Kehoe for Bolger, inj. (37).
Referee: Seán Whelan (St. Martin’s).