Delight for Duffry

DUFFRY ROVERS ST. ANNE’S 1-14 1-11

DUFFRY ROVERS staged a spirited second-half comeback and booked their place in the Permanent TSB Junior ‘B’ hurling championship semi-final at the expense of St. Anne’s in Cushinstown on Sunday.

The Duffry trailed by seven points after a lack-lustre opening half but they came out of the blocks after the re-start looking like a completely different team, and St. Anne’s couldn’t handle the transformation.

The Rathangan side certainly bossed the early exchanges but they only led by one after 20 minutes. Francis Simpson and Dylan O’Brien doubles and a single score from Diarmuid Kelly gave them their slender lead one-third of the way in.

However, they finished out the final ten minutes of the half far stronger. O’Brien gave them a big boost when his penalty bounced past Kaylem Fenlon before he pointed again, and with Simpson and Brian Kavanagh also pointing before the break, St. Anne’s suddenly found they had a substantial lead to take into half-time (1-8 to 0-4).

But, they could not maintain the level of dominance they had in the first-half. They scored just three times in the entire second period, as the Duffry rose from the ashes to claim a meaningful victory.

Matty Flynn-O’Connor and wellknown jockey Barry O’Neill led the charge with five points between them before substitute Michael Coleman found John McCarthy who slotted past the onrushing Paddy Miskella to level the tie on the 50-minute mark.

Rovers kicked on in the final ten, as further points from Michael Doyle, Flynn-O’Connor, Kyle Kavanagh and Glenn Rafter sealed an impressive three-point win and a remarkable comeback.

Duffry Rovers: Kaylem Fenlon; Seamus Breen, Tom O’Connor, Seamus Cullen; Seamus Doyle, Jim O’Neill (0-1 free), Jamie Roban; Alan Doyle (0-1), Glenn Rafter (0-1); Barry O’Neill (0-2), Kyle Kavanagh (0-1), Ted O’Brien; Matty Flynn-O’Connor (0-5, 4 frees), John McCarthy (1-0), Michael Doyle (capt., 0-3). Subs. - Michael Coleman for T. O’Brien (40), Jack Bates for M. Doyle (64).

St. Anne’s: Paddy Miskella; Gavin O’Brien, Rob Byrne, Vinny Carroll; Mikey O’Brien, Niall Doyle (capt.), Paul McDonnell; Joe O’Connor, Jim Ryan; Brian Kavanagh (0-1), Diarmuid Kelly (0-1), Kevin White; Dylan O’Brien (1-4, 0-3 frees, 1-0 pen.), Francis Simpson (0-5), David Kavanagh. Subs. - Barry Roche for B. Kavanagh (39), Phillip Rawson for Ryan (50), Conor Ryan for M. O’Brien (53), Andrew Walsh for D. Kavanagh (56).

Referee: Fintan Whyte (St. James’).