Sam seals the derby honours
Gusserane pip Clongeen
GUSSERANE CLONGEEN
SAM WALL continued his scoring exploits of recent games as he inspired Gusserane to a thoroughly-deserved two-point victory over Clongeen in this Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship Group B game in Horeswood on Saturday.
Wall has proved the scoring inspiration, emerging with 0-14 from their recent Under-21 victory, while he punished Clongeen on this occasion with a personal tally of 0-11, made up of six frees, three ‘65s, and two from play.
And that tally could have been even greater had he not fired three more scoreable frees to the wrong side of the posts, but overall it proved sufficient to give his side two valuable points.
Clongeen, who shocked Faythe Harriers in the previous round with a late scoring surge, looked as if they were about to stage a repeat when, with a storming finish, they reduced the deficit with a late Robert Farrell goal, but on this occasion it arrived too late to alter the result as referee Brendan Holohan called full-time on the puck-out.
The foundations for this Gusserane victory were laid through the opening 30 minutes, a period in which they held control in most sectors, and had it not been for some poor decision-making in front of goal they would have reeled off more scores.
After Sam Wall, with a good effort from play, and Emmet Kent, had exchanged opening points, Seán Ryan saw what appeared a fifth-minute goalbound effort rebound back into play off the crossbar.
After a Wall ’65 had regained his side’s lead, Clongeen struck for the opening goal after seven minutes when Enda Murphy applied the finish to a Paul Curtis cross, giving his side a 1-1 to 0-2 lead.
With Wall firing over three points (two frees and one ‘65), along with Gavin Sheehan and Liam Dillon efforts, they led by 0-7 to 1-1 at the end of the opening quarter, and as they continued to outscore their opponents they went in with an 0-11 to 1-4 interval lead.
Gusserane resumed with two quickfire points from a Sam Wall ’65 and John Roche to extend their lead, but then Clongeen substitute Ger Foxe hauled his side back into the game with a well-finished goal from close range.
But with Wall continuing to find the target with a succession of points, Gusserane had moved into a 0-19 to 2-8 lead as the game entered additional time when Farrell struck for that late goal which was too late to affect the result.
Gusserane: Micheál Ryan; David Browne, Kenneth Cahill, Jack O’Connor; Gavin Sheehan (0-3), Shane Cullen, Paul Wall; Adrian Redmond, Páraic Conway; Fintan Ryan (0-2), Liam Dillon (0-1), Gary O’Grady; Seán Ryan (0-1), John Roche (0-1), Sam Wall (0-11, 6 frees, 3 ’65s). Sub. - Mark Rossiter for Browne.
Clongeen: Ricky Rochford; Dan O’Grady, Anton Stafford, Donal Whelan; Richard Rochford, Barry Foxe, Marty Reville; Paul Curtis, Shane Cahill (0-5, 4 frees); Tom Donovan, Robert Farrell (1-0), Martin Delaney; Donal Murphy, Emmet Kent (0-1), Enda Murphy (1-1). Subs. - Ger Foxe (1-1) for Delaney, Shane Kilkenny for Donovan.
Referee: Brendan Holohan (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown).