Vols full value for nine-point victory

VOLUNTEERS GER. O’HANRAHANS 2-12 0-9

VOLUNTEERS WERE full value for their nine-point victory over Geraldine O’Hanrahans in this Joyces Expert Intermediate ‘A’ football championship quarter-final in Taghmon on Sunday.

Volunteers took the step through to the last four in some style as they totally dominated the second period having gone in with a three-point interval lead after playing into the breeze.

The crucial goal came in firsthalf additional time from Luke Dowdall following good approach play from the ever-dangerous David Shannon.

While the Geraldines battled through the opening ten minutes on the resumption, their lack of scoring power came back to haunt them, particularly after they were unable to build on a promising start to the game when they raced into a three-point lead within seven minutes of the start.

The New Ross team got off to a blistering start with two quickfire points from Shane Roche (one ‘45) after Vols ‘keeper John Coady had saved excellently from Seán Culleton, while on seven minutes a fine Pádraig Bailey effort had them in a 0-3 to nil lead.

Volunteers eventually got on the scoreboard through a David Shannon pointed free, with the same player going on to exchange points with Shane Roche, leaving the Geraldines leading by 0-4 to 0-2 at the end of the opening quarter.

After Shane Roche had extended his side’s lead, it was Shannon at the opposite end who kicked over three fine points, one from a free, to tie the sides, but as the game entered additional time, Luke Dowdall’s crucial goal gave his side a deserved 1-5 to 0-5 interval lead.

When a Shane Roche point reduced the deficit within two minutes of the re-start, a big surge from the Barrowsiders was expected, but following a spell of pressure they were unable to add to their tally.

This was in total contrast totheir opponents, who responded with points from Shannon (two) and Ciarán Hillery, before the Wexford town side killed off the game in the 40th minute when wing-back Peter Walsh advanced to crash home a fine goal, leaving his side with a 2-8 to 0-6 lead.

The remainder of the match proved a scrappy affair as there was no disputing the Vols dominance, and they added further points through Shannon, Aaron McGuire and Dowdall.

In between the opposition responded with points from Brian Haberlin and Enda Kelly, but it was the Vols who deservedly go into the semi-final draw.

Volunteers: John Coady; Anthony Walsh, Geoff Scally, Brian Sheridan; Peter Walsh (1-0), Mikey Banville, Cian Brennan; Danny O’Sullivan, Stephen Burke; Ciarán Hillery (0-1), Mikey Lawlor, Luke Dowdall (1-1); Aaron McGuire (0-1), David Shannon (0-9, 3 frees, 1 ‘45), Shane Bates. Subs. Jason Kearns for Bates, Wayne Mallon for Lawlor, Brian Delaney for McGuire, Dylan Carty for Shannon, Jack O’Leary for A. Walsh.

Geraldine O’Hanrahans: David Merrigan; Seán Crowdle, Conor Cleere, Michael Cleere; Pádraig Bailey (0-1), Matt Crowdle, Barry Walsh; Danielius Niekis, Dylan Egan; Diarmuid Kehoe, David Crowdle, Jack Foran; Enda Kelly (0-1), Shane Roche (0-5), Seán Culleton. Subs. - Jake Byrne for Kelly, Brian Haberlin (0-2) for Egan, Ben Walsh for Kehoe, Gerry Cash for S. Crowdle.

Referee: liers). Aidan Foley (Shelma-