Burke snatches late win for Alley with super goal
BUFFERS ALLEY RATHNURE 2-14 3-9 A GLORIOUS late goal from Buffers Alley’s Keith Burke snatched victory away from Rathnure and gave their archest of rivals the spoils in this Top Oil Intermediate ‘A’ hurling championship Group B game in Monageer on Sunday.
The full-forward rose from a throng of players waiting in Seán Nolan’s square for the ball delivered from long range by free-taker Owen Dempsey and converted to the net with one deft flick of his hurl.
It was a win which the Monamolin men looked well capable of securing for long periods but which could all so easily have eluded them thanks to their tendency to concede scruffy goals when in defence.
The Alley gifted Rathnure a dream start when the ball was spilled at the feet of the in-rushing Colin Flynn, who had the simplest of tasks to tap the sliothar over the line unchallenged.
Flynn had slightly more to do to repeat the dose on seven minutes when picked out by Stephen Furlong’s pass to give his side a flattering 2-1 to 0-3 advantage.
The lead was well wiped out and more by the break, with the eventual winners enjoying a spell of domination which lasted for most of the remainder of the half.
Granted, Jason Lawlor added a couple of points and Stephen Furlong also got one for Rathnure during this spell, but their defence was being driven dizzy by the Alley attack, with James Foley prominent.
The lead changed hand thanks to a penalty, awarded after Owen Dempsey created panic in the black and amber rearguard, thrashed low past Nolan by Keith Burke.
Dempsey’s free-taking assisted his side to a healthy 1-12 to 2-5 lead shortly after the resumption but they then went into a mysterious decline, failing to add to their tally for almost 20 minutes.
Rathnure appeared to draw strength from the departure of unfortunate corner-back M.J. Murphy on a stretcher with a serious looking shin injury.
They went back ahead on 50 minutes when Trevor Hogan knew exactly what to do with breaking ball which came his way, notching up their third goal.
A couple of frees from Colin Flynn improved their lot but they were left rueing a string of late wides as Burke’s salmon-like leap at the last move of the day created the dramatic turnaround to which there was no answer.
Buffers Alley: Darren O’Brien; Paudie Kinsella, Thomas Dempsey, Alan Doyle; John Furlong, Domhnall McArdle, Colm Óg Doran; Eoin Whelan, Aaron Redmond; James Foley (0-2), Cormac Foley (0-2), Michael Sinnott; John Moran (0-2), Keith Burke (2-0, 1 pen.), Owen Dempsey (0-8, 6 frees).
Rathnure: Liam Barron; M.J. Murphy, Mick O’Leary, Brendan Flynn; Alan Ronan (0-1 free), Chris Redmond, Eoin Byrne; Eoin Higgins, Teddy O’Connor; Stephen Furlong (0-1), Nigel Higgins, Anthony Westnott (01); Colin Flynn (2-2, 0-2 frees), Trevor Hogan (1-2), Jason Lawlor (0-2). Sub. - Aodhán Foley for Murphy.
Referee: James Owens (Askamore).