Rathnure goals vital
Davidstown undone by neighbours
RATHNURE D’TOWN-C’CUDDY
IF GOALS win games, then their concession can lose campaigns. For Rathnure, their ability to pounce for three first-half majors proved decisive as Davidstown-Courtnacuddy found to their cost in this hugely exciting Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship Group B game in O’Kennedy Park, New Ross, on Sunday.
Davidstown-Courtnacuddy were left to rue the concession of those goals, two of which arrived in a four-minute spell.
Apart from those mistakes which were clinically punished, they matched their opponents with some quality hurling inspired by the accuracy of centre-forward Mark Byrne, whose personal haul deserved more at the finish.
With Davidstown-Courtnacuddy having to line out minus their star inter-county attacker, David Dunne, who was togged out on the sideline but decided against testing his injured ankle, they were very much reliant on Byrne for their scores.
Still, they received the ideal start, racing into a 1-2 to 0-1 lead inside the opening five minutes.
The goal was knocked home by Stephen Dunbar who took advantage of a breaking ball on the edge of the square, while Byrne and Johnny Delaney contributed the points, as Syl Barron replied with a pointed free in between.
With Barron continuing to pick off points from frees, very little separated the sides, and at the end of the opening quarter, Davidstown-Courtnacuddy still led by 1-5 to 0-5.
However, two minutes later, Seán O’Neill broke inside the defence onto a long delivery inside to find the net, while on 23 minutes Brendan O’Leary eluded his marker to finish clinically to the corner of the net.
And when O’Neill once again found the net by booting the ball home, Rathnure led by 3-5 to 1-8 at the interval.
With Mark Byrne and Syl Barron continuing to dominate the scoring, Rathnure were still ahead by 3-10 to 1-13 entering the closing seven minutes.
With five minutes remaining, Mark Boland cut open the defence with a fine run before finding the corner of the net with an explosive finish, leaving his side leading by 4-11 to 1-13.
And while the losers battled to the end, it was Rathnure’s day after a very entertaining contest.
Rathnure: Seán Nolan; Philip Redmond, Dylan Hogan, Alan Ronan; Ben Ronan, Mick O’Leary, Seán O’Neill (2-0); Micheál O’Conor (0-1), Michael Martin (0-2); Denis Maher, Fran Murphy, Syl Barron (0-6 frees); Mark Boland (1-1), James Flynn, Brendan O’Leary (1-2). Subs. - Anthony Westnott for Flynn, Teddy O’Conor for Ronan, inj., Aodhán Foley (0-1) for O’Connor, inj.
Davidstown-Courtnacuddy: Seán Cooper; Ger Martin, Darragh Cooper, Kevin Keane; Donal Delaney, Mark Murphy, Barry Nolan; Michael Murphy, James Doyle; Donal O’Shea, Mark Byrne (0-14, 9 frees), Billy Martin; James Kelly, Johnny Delaney (0-2), Stephen Dunbar (1-0). Subs. - Kieran McCabe for Dunbar, Philip Murphy for Martin.
Referee: Fintan Whyte (St. James’).