Rapps have no worries
RAPPAREES BANNOW-B’MITTY 1-10 1-2
RAPPAREES COMFORTABLY overcame Bannow-Ballymitty in a low-scoring encounter in Group A of the Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship in the Ferns Centre of Excellence on Sunday.
It took twelve minutes for the opening score as both sides struggled to get into the game, when a Gary Jordan free for Bannow-Ballymitty was straight away pegged back by the lively Neil McCrea.
McCrea then hit two close range frees as the Enniscorthy men led by 0-3 to 0-1 in an uneventful opening 20 minutes. The strong breeze blowing across the field did make it difficult for both sides as they hit four wides each in the first-half.
The Rapps took control in the latter stages of the half as points from Anthony Peare and an excellent effort from wing-back Ryan Hadley from a fine set-up by Tommy Foley saw them stretch their lead to four, before Peter O’Sullivan added a ‘65 to leave the town team ahead by 0-6 to 0-1 at the break.
The second-half continued in the same manner, with some poor shooting from both sides. Bannow-Ballymitty’s first score from play came in the 40th minute as corner-forward Micheál Murphy split the posts from his left side as they looked to spring into action, but their lack-lustre attack failed to register any more scores from open play.
The Rapps then took control as Neil McCrea registered his second point from play before a fine strike from the ground by Lee Treacy just blazed over the bar from close range as they led by 0-9 to 0-2 with 15 minutes remaining.
The opening goal of came on 47 minutes as Peter O’Sullivan’s long-range free dropped into the net off Bannow-Ballymitty netminder Kevin Doyle’s hand, a real dent for any hope of a late fightback.
Neil McCrea added a closerange free to extend the lead to eleven, before Bannow-Ballymitty substitute Pat Fitzharris got the final score as he buried a late consolation goal from a close-in free.
Rapparees: Jim Connors; Gary Murphy, John Barron, Cathal Ryan; Tommy Foley, William Dunne, Ryan Hadley (0-1); Peter O’Sullivan (1-2, 1-1 frees, 0-1 ‘65), John Murphy; Lee Treacy (0-1), Joe Cullen, Anthony Peare (0-1); Aaron Ronan, John Ryan, Neil McCrea (0-5, 3 frees). Subs. - Anthony Russell for J. Murphy (5), Michael Dempsey for Cullen (20).
Bannow-Ballymitty: Kevin Doyle; David White, David Currid, John Mernagh; Art Sweetman, Gary Morton, Pádraig McCormack; Nicky Doyle, Mark Wallace; Philip Murphy, Mark Colfer, Conor Furlong; Gary Jordan (0-1 free), Alan Barden, Micheál Murphy (0-1). Subs. - Robert Cogley for P. Murphy (50), Pat Fitzharris (1-0) for Wallace (54).
Referee: Jack Stafford (Clongeen).