GOH leapfrog the Alley
GER. O’HANRAHANS BUFFERS ALLEY 1-19 1-8 GERALDINE O’HANRAHANS got the win they required in their final game in Group B of the Top Oil Intermediate ‘A’ hurling championship in Oylegate on Saturday, to avoid the nerve-jangling prospect of a relegation final.
The New Ross outfit earned their first victory of the campaign, and in the process leapfrogged their opponents to leave the Alley languishing at the foot of the table and facing Our Lady’s Island in a showdown to avoid the drop.
A win was a must for Geraldine O’Hanrahans and they played with the vigour and verve of a side needing victory, building up an 0-11 to 0-2 advantage by the 22nd minute, and although Buffers Alley rallied before the end of the half, they left themselves with too much work to do.
Eanna Martin, Gary Hill, Jack Foran and Anthony Purcell were all to the fore for the New Ross men during that opening blitz as they all showed their scoring prowess by slotting over points from all angles.
All Buffers Alley had to show for the first third of the game was an Owen Dempsey free and a Ciarán Murphy point, but they sprang to life on 23 minutes when Keith Burke blasted home a penalty.
Colm Og Doran floated a delivery into the danger zone and Cormac Foley was dragged down after he plucked the ball from the air, with Burke doing the rest.
O’Hanrahans responded well with points from Eanna Martin and Anthony Purcell, but Owen Dempsey (free) and Darragh Butler cancelled out those efforts to leave the Monamolin men trailing by six (0-13 to 1-4) at the break.
Buffers Alley were quickly back within four points after the re-start, with Owen Dempsey and Cormac Foley splitting the posts, but after Eanna Martin had done likewise at the other end things took a real turn for the worst for the Monamolin men when Michael Sinnott was shown a red card.
Geraldine O’Hanrahans tightened their grip on the game with impressive duo Gary Hill and Anthony Purcell adding further points, and sharp-shooter Eanna Martin continuing to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
The New Ross outfit put a further gloss on the scoreline in injury time, when a penalty was awarded after David Crowdle had been fouled and Martin rifled the ball to the net.
Geraldine O’Hanrahans: Mark Purcell; James Ryan, Tony Murphy, Enda Kelly; Eoin Kelly, Conor Cleere, Ronan Carroll; Matt Crowdle, Eanna Martin (1-9, 0-4 frees, 1-0 pen., 0-1 ‘65); Dylan Egan, Gary Hill (0-4), Jack Foran (0-2); David Crowdle, Anthony Purcell (0-4), Danny Conway. Sub. - Stephen Somers for Ryan.
Buffers Alley: Darren O’Brien; Paudie Kinsella, Thomas Dempsey, Alan Doyle; Eoin Whelan, Domhnall McArdle, Colm Og Doran; Ciarán Murphy (0-1), Robert Donnelly; Gearóid O’Connor, Darragh Butler (0-1), Michael Sinnott; Cormac Foley (0-1), Keith Burke (1-0 pen.), Owen Dempsey (0-5 frees). Subs. - Lar Gahan for Kinsella, Paul Doran for McArdle, Paul Doyle for Butler, John Furlong for Donnelly (temp.).
Referee: Francis Neville (Shelmaliers).