Strong start and finish vital
Crossabeg-Ballymurn boys deliver U-14 hurling crown
CROSSABEG-B’MURN 3-8 ST. ANNE’S 0-5 CROSSABEG-BALLYMURN both started, and ended, powerfully to secure the New Ross Standard Under-14 hurling Division 3 championship title at the expense of St. Anne’s in Grantstown on Sunday.
In the middle third this was an extreamly competitive game but the Over The Water boys were clinical when they needed to be, building a lead in the first quarter before padding their victory margin in the last few minutes.
It’s easy to pick out the trio operating around the centre of the field, Joe Kelly, Brody Murphy and Cian Kinlough, as being supreme for the victors - after all they did all the scoring and were superb throughout.
However, it was the play of the defence, at stages in the game when St. Anne’s enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, that was absolutely vital. The fact that the Crossabeg-Ballymurn rearguard didn’t allow a score from play accentuated how well that sextet, plus goalkeeper Nick Scallan and substitute Tadhg English, played.
Crossabeg-Ballymurn started on the front foot, registering the opening point from a Kelly free after he was fouled in the sixth minute.
The flow of the game continued with the excellent Jack Donovan making the first of several saves, this time from Kelly, a minute later.
Cian Kinlough registered a fantastic score from right of goal, just inside the ‘45. Kelly made it 0-3 to nil with another dead-ball but better was to soon follow.
Brody Murphy did all the damage for the opening goal himself, driving in 40 metres from the right before smashing to the Anne’s net.
Kelly converted his third deadball in the twelfth minute as Crossabeg-Ballymurn moved 1-4 to nil clear.
Working hard in attack, the Rathangan boys won a free that Cillian Byrne converted but Kinlough soon replied at the other end.
Another Byrne point left his side within six at the interval but only after Donovan made a fantastic save from Kinlough after great work by Paddy Redmond in the build-up (1-5 to 0-2 at half-time).
A Kelly free three minutes after the re-start increased the advantage to seven but two more stunning saves from Jack Donovan to deny Brody Murphy a second major lifted St. Anne’s and they slowly crept back into the game.
Three Byrne frees in a row cut the gap to four with nine minutes remaining and suddenly the destination of the title wasn’t so certain.
Cian Kinlough’s run and tidy point in the 43rd minute seemed to break the St. Anne’s resistance a little.
Murphy registered that second major with a trademark run and rocket finish to the top corner of Donovan’s net.
Kinlough made it 3-7 to 0-5 in the final minute of normal time with a classy low finish and Brody Murphy rounded out a fine team performance with a late point to leave Crossabeg-Ballymurn celebrating.
Crossabeg-Ballymurn: Nick Scallan; Shane Cullen, Josh Waldron, Adam O’Brien; Seán Walsh, Aaron Cummins, Conor Bernard; Joe Kelly (capt., 0-4 frees), Brody Murphy (2-1); Cian Kinlough (1-3), Paddy Redmond, Mark White; Shane Walker, Cian Walsh, Michael O’Connor. Subs. - Tadhg English for O’Connor (26), O’Connor for White (48).
St. Anne’s: Jack Donovan; Ryan Finnegan, Rory O’Brien, Adam Murphy; Jake Walsh, Eoin Ryan, Killian Brennan-Roche; Liam Schokman, Gary Sinnott (capt.); Cillian Byrne (0-5 frees), Justin Moran, Darren Moore; Rory Byrne, Jack O’Brien, Diarmuid Moore. Subs. - Eoin Staples for R. Byrne (26), Michael Cullen for Moore (41), J.J. Harpur for J. O’Brien (49), also Luke Kelly, Liam Whelan, Darragh Brownrigg, Matthew Dayot, Daire Heaney, Greisha Dietvorst.
Referee: Bob Treacy (Clongeen).
WEDS. SEPT. 28 AT ST. PATRICK’S PARK: New Ross Standard Under-14 football Division 3 championship semi-final, Our Lady’s Island/St. Fintan’s v. St. Mary’s (Maudlintown), 6.30 p.m. 7.30 p.m. - Wexford People Minor football Premier championship semi-final, Mogue O’Rahilly’s v. HWH-Bunclody.
THURS. SEPT. 29 AT ST. PATRICK’S PARK: New Ross Standard Under-14 football Division 1 championship final, Ballinastragh Gaels v. Glynn-Barntown, 7.30 p.m. AT TAGHMON: New Ross Standard Under-14 football Division 4 championship final, Bannow-Ballymitty v. Ballyhogue, 6.30 p.m. AT CRAANFORD: Gorey Guardian Juvenile hurling Roinn 1 shield semi-final, Liam Mellows v. Shamrocks, 7.30 p.m.
FRI. SEPT. 30 AT ST. PATRICK’S PARK: Wexford People Minor football Premier shield semi-final, Naomh Eanna v. Shelmaliers, 7 p.m.
SAT. OCT. 1 AT TAGHMON: New Ross Standard Under-14 hurling Division 5A shield final, Cloughbawn v. Davidstown-Courtnacuddy, 11 a.m. 12.30 p.m. - New Ross Standard Under-14 hurling Division 1 championship final, Rathnure v. Faythe Harriers. AT CLONGEEN: New Ross Standard Under-14 football Division 2 championship semi-finals, Horeswood v. St. James’ and Gusserane v. Crossabeg-Ballymurn, 11 a.m. AT TAGOAT: Wexford People Minor football Premier championship semi-final, St. Martin’s v. Glynn-Barntown, 12 noon.
SUN. OCT. 2 AT ST. PATRICK’S PARK: Enniscorthy Guardian Juvenile hurling Premier shield final, St. Martin’s v. Naomh Eanna, 11 a.m. 12.30 p.m. - New Ross Standard Under-14 hurling Division 2 championship final, Blackwater v. HWH-Bunclody. AT BALLYMORE: Gorey Guardian Juvenile football Roinn 1 shield semi-final, Our Lady’s Island/St. Fintan’s v. Shamrocks, 11 a.m.