FOLEY POINTS WAY
Deserved success for Horeswood
HORESWOOD OYLEGATE-G’BRIEN
THE SCORING exploits of the excellent Conor Foley helped Horeswood to a deserved five-point victory over Oylegate-Glenbrien in this excellent New Ross Standard Under-14 hurling Division 3 championship final in Taghmon.
Foley’s scoring was immaculate throughout as he contributed 0-11 of his side’s final tally in a display that saw him control this game, as his contribution in general play throughout was immense from the centre-forward position.
While he emerged with a man of the match performance, one also had to be impressed with the overall Horeswood display which was composed and free-flowing right through the 50-odd minutes.
While Horeswood took the cup at the end, one would also have to commend Oylegate-Glenbrien. They battled right to the final whistle but lacked a player with the scoring power of their opponents which was a crucial factor in their eventual defeat.
Still, they can feel well satisfied with the impact they had on this game as they were within striking distance right up to the final minutes.
Both sides opened with early wides before a Josh Shannon fourth-minute point had Horeswood in front. Within a minute the opposition were back level when corner-forward Seán Rowley scored a beautiful equalising point from an acute angle.
While Foley began to pull the strings with two excellent longrange points, one from a free, very little separate the sides through the opening 20 minutes, at the end of which they were deadlocked (0-4 each).
An Adam Roche point put Oylegate-Glenbrien in front, but Foley closed out the half with two further points, one from a free, from midfield to leave his side leading by 0-8 to 0-6 at the interval.
Oylegate-Glenbrien got the start they required as within one minute Seán Rowley pointed to leave the minimum separating the sides.
But Foley galvanised his team with four successive points, all from frees, to stretch them into a 0-12 to 0-7 advantage after 37 minutes.
Despite this, Oylegate-Glenbrien to their credit battled back to reduce the deficit through points from Andrew Fitzhenry and Conall Byrne (free) to leave just three points separating the sides entering the closing eight minutes.
Somehow, Horeswood managed to lift the siege and it was fitting that it was Foley who finished out the game with two points, one ’65 along with a free, to give his side a deserved title.
Horeswood: William Foley; James Dempsey, Ryan Mylett, James Rice; Andrew Crosbie, Alan Kehoe, James Murphy (capt.); Cathal Parker, Ewan Russell (0-1); Shane Rowe, Conor Foley (0-11, 9 frees, 1 ’65), Josh Shannon (0-1); Liam Sinnott, Tom Dempsey, Adam Harris. Subs. - Lee Kent for Sinnott, also Dmitry Murphy-Zagaynov, Conor O’Leary, Cormac Shannon, Cian Crosbie, Rory Hunt, Robert Foley.
Oylegate-Glenbrien: Conor Murphy; Ned Maher, Cameron Clarke, Jack Hennessy; Richard Fortune, Adam Roche (0-2 frees), Mikey Doyle; Ryan Cullen, Andrew Fitzhenry (0-1); John Fortune, Darragh Casey (0-1), Conall Byrne (0-3 frees); Seán Rowley (0-2), Aaron Quigley, Paul Burns. Subs. - Adam Nolan for Fortune, also Graham Curran, Darragh Harris, T.J. Frost, Cian Cullen, Conor Somers.
Referee: Brendan Holohan (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown).