Honours even in schools derby
GOREY C.S. ENNISCORTHY C.B.S. 1-12 2-9 SIXTY MINUTES failed to separate these evenly-matched sides in their contest to emerge as the leader of the group in the South Leinster Colleges Juvenile (Under-14) hurling championship.
They met in Gorey on Thursday on a wet, soggy pitch but it didn’t prevent them serving up a highly-entertaining and strongly-contested match which ended all square.
It is likely that both will progress to the play-off stage of the South Leinster region, either the semi-final or quarter-final, with score difference between them being the deciding factor in the placings.
The sides were level on five occasions, starting with their 1-5 each at half-time. Gorey’s early two points outshone St. Mary’s until Darren Kelly soloed up the wing and crossed to the centre, where full-forward Brody Murphy got in a touch with his hurl, resulting in the ball nestling in the back of the Gorey net.
The resulting two-point lead was added to with three unanswered points for Enniscorthy, courtesy of Paddy Redmond, Brody Murphy and Matt Kinnaird, leaving C.B.S. comfortably in the lead midway through the half.
However, Gorey knuckled down to the task and, hurling with spirit and determination, they dragged themselves back into contention. Two points from their deadly-accurate free-taker, Micheál Rowsome, plus 1-1 from their speedy and skilful corner-forward Seán O’Brien-Murphy levelled the game on the stroke of half-time, Enniscorthy’s Darren Kelly having pointed for his side in the meantime.
The sides were level at the re-start and they were in that position four times during the second-half. An early exchange of a point each left it all square, but three unanswered points from Gorey’s Geoffrey Lande and Micheál Rowsome (two frees), seemed to indicate a Gorey victory was on by the 40th minute.
However, the quick reaction of Enniscorthy’s Matt Kinnaird, to a good save by the Gorey goalie, Jack Fleming, yielded a rewarding major, bringing the sides level again midway through the half.
The remaining 15 minutes did nothing to yield a winner as a triple exchange of points couldn’t separate the contestants and so it ended level.
If the sides meet again later in the competition, it will be a match to see as both are well capable of serving up an open and skilful hour of good, fast, entertaining hurling.
Gorey C.S.: Jack Fleming; Kevin Hyland, Cillian Byrne, Seán O’Hagan; Ryan Connolly, Cormac Doyle, Brian Cushe; Kyle Moore, Geoffrey Lande (0-1); Joe Curtis, Micheál Rowsome (0-10, 7 frees), Conor Kinsella; J.J. Twanley, Jack Twomey, Seán O’Brien-Murphy (1-1). Subs. - Ross Arnold, James Barrett, Simon Campbell-Carty, Eoin Coleman, Lee Cushe, Eric Dignam, Michael Dineen, Farrell Doyle, Seán Egan, Darragh Fitzpatrick, James Higgins.
St. Mary’s C.B.S.: Conor Murphy; Dara Casey, Sam O’Brien, Ronan Kervick; Aaron Byrne, Josh Waldron, David Hennebry; Fionn Walsh (0-2), Shane Kehoe; Darren Kelly (0-1), Patrick Redmond (0-2), Conal Kervick; Oisín Pepper (0-1), Brody Murphy (1-2), Matt Kinniard (1-1). Subs. - Aidan Denton, Stefan san Angustin, Pierce Redmond, Ger Kennedy, Aaron Wallace, Cian McCormack, Jack Kehoe, Mickey McVeigh, Seán Fitzpatrick, Darragh Kehoe, Ryan Quigley.