Favourites on steady course
Cloughbawn beat ’Rocks
CLOUGHBAWN SHAMROCKS 3-15 1-10
FAVOURITES CLOUGHBAWN didn’t have matters their own way in the first-half in Bellefield on Saturday, but they pulled away quite comfortably in the third quarter to qualify for the last four of The Courtyard Ferns Intermediate hurling championship at the expense of District rivals Shamrocks.
Leading by 2-6 to 1-6 at the interval, the side relegated from the top flight last year effectively made the game safe by hitting 1-3 without reply in the opening nine minutes on the re-start.
They were never in serious danger from that point onwards, with the third goal killing off the Shamrocks challenge and leaving them with too much ground to make up against a better-balanced team.
Captain Barry Carton had extended Cloughbawn’s lead to four points before that key score arrived in the 33rd minute.
Midfielder Colm Kehoe made a powerful run through the heart of the Shamrocks defence and, although Jamie Dagg saved his shot, veteran M.J. Furlong was following up and swept the rebound to the net for a 3-7 to 1-6 lead.
It was certainly a day of mixed fortunes for Dagg who made some decent saves, but no doubt he will look back with regret on the two first-half goals that left Cloughbawn ahead by 2-6 to 1-6 at the break.
The first came in the twelfth minute when Johnny Cullen sent in a teasing ball from the left. Barry Carton swung at it in the air, and we’ll give him the benefit of the doubt that he got a slight touch to send it into Dagg’s net.
That goal wiped out a narrow Shamrocks lead and left them 1-2 to 0-3 in arrears and, although a Pa Weafer free made it a onepoint game again, Cloughbawn pounced for a very soft second goal in the 16th minute.
Bob Whitty was definitely trying for a point as he hung the ball in the air, but Dagg misread its flight and most onlookers were surprised to see umpire Fintan O’Reilly reaching for the green flag after it dropped into the net (2-2 to 0-4).
In fairness to Dagg, he twice denied Barry Carton goals with fine saves, the first from a 13th-minute pull, and the second when he darted off his line to bravely smother a shot early in the second quarter.
Paul Foley added a point before the town team bounced back, with a strong solo run by Brandon O’Connor leading to a well-taken Pa Weafer goal in the 19th minute.
Their gutsy display ensured that they only trailed by 2-6 to 1-6 at half-time, with Seán Wildes closing the first period scoring after opening it too with a sublime line ball from the left in the fourth minute.
Cloughbawn knew that more was needed to shake off the Enniscorthy men, and they did step it up considerably on the re-start as free-taker Harry Kehoe and Bob Whitty chipped in with points after that third goal.
Three points without reply from Pa Weafer (two frees) and Bob Jacob reduced the gap to 3-9 to 1-9, while Cloughbawn netminder Noel Carton did well to foil an attempt on goal by Jack Moorehouse during that brief productive spell for Shamrocks.
He later saved another shot from the same player, but the last twelve minutes were dominated by the victors as Barry Carton, M.J. Furlong, Harry Kehoe (two), Bob Whitty and substitute Colin Doyle fired over six points on the trot before a late Bob Jacob consolation for Shamrocks who were wearing the Blackwater jerseys.
Cloughbawn: Noel Carton; Gavin Murphy, Tomás Furlong, James Dempsey; Barry Kehoe, Conor Harrington, Johnny Cullen; Páidí Cullen (0-1), Colm Kehoe; Harry Kehoe (0-5, 2 frees), Alan Carton, Paul Foley (0-1); Bob Whitty (1-2), Barry Carton (capt., 1-4), M.J. Furlong (1-1). Subs. - Colin Doyle (0-1) for Foley (55), Joey Lawlor for T. Furlong, inj. (58).
Shamrocks: Jamie Dagg; George Jacob, John O’Connor, Barry Dobbs; Emmet Quirke, Anthony Wallace, Brandon O’Connor; Bob Jacob (03), Philip Freeman; Pa Weafer (1-3, 0-3 frees), Seán Wildes (0-3, 1 line ball), Podge Doyle; Harry Goff, Jack Moorehouse (0-1), Maurice Casey (capt.). Subs. - Jim Jacob for Goff (55), Lar McDonald for Weafer (55), Cyril Thorpe for Moorehouse (58).
Referee: Dan Crosby (Kilmore).