Pat’s hold off fine Clongeen revival
Ballyoughter boys in U14 semi-final
ST. PATRICK’S CLONGEEN 3-7 2-7 ST. PATRICK’S withstood a ferocious Clongeen fightback to book their place in the New Ross Standard Coiste na nÓg Under-14 Division 5 13-a-side hurling championship semi-finals in Camolin on Thursday.
The closely-matched sides came into the game sitting beside each other in the table. Fifty minutes later and it was the Ballyoughter boys who had made sure of their last four spot, while Clongeen still have some work to do to join them in the knockouts.
The New Ross District side led just once in the contest, when Seamie Kiely classily flighted over in the fifth minute, and thereafter his side had plenty of defending to do in the first-half. By and large they did it superbly.
One impressive aspect of Clongeen’s defending was their sensational high fielding. From goalkeeper Niall Doherty, to the full-back line of Jack Whelan and Mark O’Grady, they shared a string of clean catches.
They were also successful in preventing several dangerous situations that St. Pat’s created, but they couldn’t stop all scoring drives, particularly when Micheál Rowsome was on the field. The dangerous forward scored three fine points before being forced off with a nasty arm injury.
Darragh Byrne also registered, while Ryan O’Grady was on target at the other end as the hosts moved 0-4 to 0-2 clear. Páuric Doyle hauled in Byrne’s long pass and drilled to the net, and Adam Kavanagh added a point as St. Patrick’s moved six clear.
Deep in first-half added-time, Clongeen gave themselves hope when Brian Culleton’s shot found its way past Andrew O’Brien to the goal (1-5 to 1-2). Whatever was said at the break, it had an adverse impact on the visitors as they started the second-half poorly and seemed to suddenly lack confidence.
In just four minutes Nathan Byrne picked off a nice couple of points and Darragh Byrne’s longrange effort took a wicked bounce to the net. Then, Robbie Rochford came into the game and inspired his side’s fightback.
He registered a brace and Louis Doherty also fired over from long range as Clongeen got some momentum going. That was halted when Adam Kavanagh scrambled a goal in at the other end with six minutes left (3-7 to 1-5).
Clongeen didn’t give up. After Rochford pointed, Kiely fired a sensational shot to the roof of the net. Jack Whelan, who assisted that goal, was a real influence when moved further out the field but time ran out after his point in the final minute.
In the end Clongeen came up a goal short but with a game left against Marshalstown-Castledockrell, the New Ross District club has every chance of joining St. Patrick’s in the final four.
St. Patrick’s: Andrew O’Brien; Jake Kenny-O’Leary, Eoin Curran; Brian Murphy, Cian Byrne, Darragh Byrne (capt., 1-1); Adam Kavanagh (1-1), Marcus Sheridan; Nathan Byrne (0-2), Micheál Rawsome (0-3), Alan Murphy; Max Farrell-McCabe, Páuric Doyle (1-0). Subs. - Colm Kavanagh for Rowsome, inj. (19), Owen Kelly for Farrell-McCabe (35), Craig Blackburn for A. Murphy (50), also Ben Kavanagh, Dylan O’Brien, Adam Goff.
Clongeen: Niall Doherty; Jack Whelan (0-1), Mark O’Grady; Seán Whelan, Michael Dundon, Cathal Murphy; Robbie Rochford (0-3, 1 free), Louis Doherty (0-1); Patrick Finn, Brian Culleton (1-0), Ryan O’Grady (0-1); Seamie Kiely (1-1), Brian Hopkins (capt.). Subs. - Luke Murphy for Hopkins (26), Hopkins for R. O’Grady (45).
Referee: Eddie O’Sullivan (Ballyfad).
TUES. AUG. 2 Under-12 football ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams (all 7.30 p.m., first-named at home): Our Lady’s Island/St. Fintan’s v. St. Joseph’s; Kilmore v. Volunteers; Crossabeg-Ballymurn v. St. Mary’s (Rosslare). Under-12 football Enniscorthy District (all 7.30 p.m., first-named at home): Cloughbawn v. Marshalstown-Castledockrell; Oylegate-Glenbrien v. Shamrocks; Davidstown-Courtnacuddy v. Monageer-Boolavogue. Under-12 football Gorey District (all 7.30 p.m., first-named at home): Kilrush v. Ferns St. Aidan’s; Réalt na Mara v. St. Patrick’s; Craanford v. Castletown. Under-12 football New Ross District (all 7.30 p.m., first-named at home): Rathgarogue-Cushinstown v. St. James’; Gusserane v. Taghmon-Camross; Adamstown v. Geraldine O’Hanrahans. Under-12 football Wexford District (all 7.30 p.m., first-named at home): Our Lady’s Island/St. Fintan’s v. St. Joseph’s; Kilmore v. Volunteers; Crossabeg-Ballymurn v. St. Mary’s (Rosslare). Under-12 football Wexford combined (all 7.30 p.m., first-named at home): Blackwater v. St. Anne’s; Horeswood v. HWH-Bunclody; Fethard v. Starlights. Under-12 football Mixed District (all 7.30 p.m., first-named at home): Ballyhogue v. Clongeen; St. Mary’s (Maudlintown) v. Rathgarogue-Cushinstown; Our Lady’s Island/St. Fintan’s v. Bannow-Ballymitty; Clonard bye.
WEDS. AUG. 3 Wexford People Minor football Premier championship (all 7.30 p.m., first-named at home): Munna-Abbain Gaels v. Mogue O’Rahilly’s (John Diskin); St. Martin’s v. HWH-Bunclody (Francis Neville); Glynn-Barntown v. Dunbrody Gaels (Noel O’Connor); Shelmaliers v. Naomh Eanna (Brendan O’Brien). Wexford People Minor football Roinn 1A championship (all 7.30 p.m., firstnamed at home): Castle-Craan Gaels v. Shamrocks (James Owens); Starlights v. Monageer-Boolavogue (Brendan Martin); Ballinastragh Gaels v. St. Patrick’s (Paddy Brady); Hollow Rovers v. Macamore Gaels (Patrick Kehoe). Wexford People Minor football Roinn 1B championship (all 7.30 p.m., first-named at home): Our Lady’s Island/St. Fintan’s v. Sarsfields (Aidan Foley); Crossabeg-Ballymurn v. Rathgarogue-Cushinstown (Seánie O’Shea); Volunteers v. Ballyhogue (Philip Murphy); Oylegate-Glenbrien v. Blackwater (Dickie Murphy).
THURS. AUG. 4 New Ross Standard Under-14 football Division 1A championship (both 7.30 p.m., first-named at home): Sarsfields v. Naomh Eanna (Pádraig McMahon); St. Martin’s v. Ballinastragh Gaels (Billy Dodd). New Ross Standard Under-14 football Division 1B championship (both 7.30 p.m., first-named at home): St. Anne’s v. Glynn-Barntown (Brendan O’Brien); Shelmaliers v. Rathgarogue-Cushinstown (Philip Murphy). New Ross Standard Under-14 football Division 2 championship (all 7.30 p.m., first-named at home): Buffers Alley v. St. James’ (David Owens); Blackwater v. Horeswood (Niall McDonald); HWH-Bunclody v. Starlights (Paul Foley); Crossabeg-Ballymurn v. Castletown (Ger Lynch); Gusserane bye. New Ross Standard Under-14 football Division 3 championship (all 7.30 p.m., first-named at home): Craanford v. Our Lady’s Island/St. Fintan’s (Paul Browne); Taghmon-Camross v. Fethard (Fintan Whyte); St. Mary’s (Maudlintown) v. Monageer-Boolavogue (Stephen Burke); Kilrush v. Ferns St. Aidan’s (Seán O’Brien); Duffry Rovers bye. New Ross Standard Under-14 football Division 4 championship (all 7.30 p.m., first-named at home): St. Mary’s (Rosslare) v. Kilmore (Martin Conway); Bannow-Ballymitty v. Ballyhogue (Noel Stafford); Adamstown v. Davidstown-Courtnacuddy (David Jenkins); Geraldine O’Hanrahans v. Oylegate-Glenbrien (Pat Kehoe). New Ross Standard Under-14 football Division 5 championship (all 7.30 p.m., first-named at home): Marshalstown-Castledockrell v. St. Joseph’s (John O’Loughlin); Volunteers v. Cloughbawn (Barry Redmond); Clongeen v. Shamrocks (John Tobin); St. Patrick’s bye.
MON. AUG. 8 Enniscorthy Guardian Juvenile hurling Premier championship (all 7.30 p.m., first-named at home): Oylegate-Glenbrien v. Rapparees (Ian Plunkett); Faythe Harriers v. Glynn-Barntown (Ger O’Reilly); Naomh Eanna v. Bann Gaels (Shane Quinn); St. Martin’s v. Oulart-The Ballagh (Brian O’Leary). Enniscorthy Guardian Juvenile hurling Roinn 1A championship (all 7.30 p.m., first-named at home): Askamore v. Liam Mellows (Patrick Kennedy); HWH-Bunclody v. Monageer-Boolavogue (David O’Leary); Ballinastragh Gaels v. Ballygarrett (David Owens); Hollow Rovers v. Ferns St. Aidan’s (Patrick Kehoe). Enniscorthy Guardian Juvenile hurling Roinn 1B championship (all 7.30 p.m., first-named at home): Rathnure v. Dunbrody Gaels (John Carton); Geraldine O’Hanrahans v. St. Anne’s (Gearóid McGrath); Rathgarogue-Cushinstown v. Shelmaliers (Michael Gannon); Shamrocks v. Blackwater (Cathal Ffrench). The annual Tony Doran Under-17 hurling tournament was held in the Ferns Centre of Excellence yesterday (Monday), with the Wexford Purple and Wexford Gold teams facing opposition from Dublin, Waterford, Kilkenny, Cork and Kildare after their recent double Celtic Challenge finals success in Divisions 2 and 3.