Sheehan puts Wicklow to sword

LONDON’S hurlers are through to the Christy Ring Cup final after the Exiles scored a convincing 14-point win over Wicklow at Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday.

Inspired by left cornerforward Aaron Sheehan, London were never headed.

Sheehan, a Mallow native who plays his club hurling with Kilburn Gaels, was deadly accurate, hitting 13 points – amassed from play, frees and 65s.

Wicklow were thrown a lifeline on 32 minutes when right corner-forward George O’Brien’s goal reduced the deficit to two points – 0-11 to 1-6.

But the Garden County never got any closer, trailing 0-15 to 1-8 at half-time.

Early in the second half Wicklow’s Andy O’Brien saw his shot crash off the crossbar and with it went his side’s chances.

London continued to pick off scores and a brace of Shane Lawless goals killed off the Wicklow challenge, with O’Brien’s late goal merely a consolation.

SCORERS – London: A Sheehan 0-13 (6fs, 2 65s); S Lawless 2-1; H Vaughan 0-3; M Dwyer, J Troy, M Duggan 0-2 each; C Burke, S Conlon, M Ivors, S Lohan, R Murphy 0-1 each. Wicklow: A O’Brien 1-5; (0-3fs, 0-1 65); G O’Brien 1-1; P Doyle 0-3; D Staunton 0-2; R Keddy, S Kelly, E Donoghue 0-1 each. LONDON – J Barrett 6; L Murphy 6, B Regan 6, D O’Regan 6; C McAlinden 7, K Reid 8, C Burke 7; F Collins 7, M Dwyer 7; H Vaughan 7, C Nelson 6, S Conlon 6; M Duggan, 6 S Lawless, A Sheehan 9. Subs: M Ivors for Lawless (56); D Moore for Reid (56); J Troy for Vaughan (58); S Lohan for Nelson (60); R Murphy for Conlon (69).

WICKLOW – R Fitzgerald 6; P Keane 6, S Kelly 6, M O’Brien 6; G Byrne 7, E Kearns 6, W Kavanagh 6; R Keddy 6, P J Nolan 6; D Staunton 7, A Byrne 6, P Doyle 8; G O’Brien 7, A O’Brien 8, M Lee 6. Subs:

E McCormack for G O’Brien (62); E Donoghue for Nolan (62).

REF– J O’Brien (Laois).