Gorey complete fine double
Playing against wind proves no impediment to victors
GOREY C.S. F.C.J. (BUNCLODY)
GOREY COMMUNITY School defied conventional wisdom to drive on against the wind in the second-half and take the Top Oil South Leinster Post Primary Schools Juvenile hurling ‘ B’ championship title in Bunclody on Wednesday.
The champions came into the game as favourites but were given a tough battle by F.C.J. (Bunclody). The hosts employed a sweeper from the early stages and made it difficult for Gorey to find the time and space for clear shooting opportunities.
They defended tenaciously from the back and were initially winning the vast majority of the individual battles around the field.
It helped them build a 0-3 to nil lead against the elements, with two Brian Stafford frees added to by a Darragh Farrell point from close range.
However, Gorey reshuffled the line-up, as they brought J.J. Twamley into a deep, central role and pushed Rian Fitzpatrick into full-forward.
In truth, it took a while to bed in and work but when those two started to click there was no way to stop their influence.
Gorey C.S. scored their opening point in the eleventh minute when Fitzpatrick registered, and it was followed by a brace from dead-ball sharpshooter Seamie O’Hagan as their side pulled level with just nine minutes of the half remaining.
With Derry Mahon’s booming puck-outs piercing into the breeze, it looked like Bunclody would hold strong until half-time.
However, Gorey were finding their feet and points from Fitzpatrick, Twamley and an O’Hagan brace ensured they took a 0-7 to 0-3 interval lead.
It was still tight after Fitzpatrick and Stafford swapped points in the first ten minutes of the second-half. Things took a turn in the 41st minute when a powerful Twamley run and ball into the edge of the square was flicked to the net by Cian Hughes.
O’Hagan put Gorey 1-9 to 0-4 ahead, only for Bunclody to have a spell in the ascendancy. Smothered by points from Stafford and Ian Blake was a batted goal from George Warren to leave just three between the sides with eleven minutes left.
At this point, with the momentum in their favour, Bunclody looked to have a great chance of causing an upset.
Yet Gorey are made of strong stuff, and they scored a critical goal when Twamley fed deep down the left, Fitzpatrick took possession, cut inside and fired high past Mahon to the net.
The goal killed the spirited resistance that Bunclody had shown. Fitzpatrick tapped over from a tight angle before his block down on ‘keeper, then defender, saw the sliothar run across goal for Hughes to pillage his second major.
In the end an eleven-point loss was more than a little harsh on the Bunclody boys after their sterling effort and no lack of quality throughout.
However, it was Gorey Community School who took the South Leinster title and advanced as they go in search of a football and hurling provincial double in the coming weeks.
Gorey Community School: Michael Bolger (Ballygarrett); Darragh Fitzpatrick (Naomh Eanna), Conor Jones (Ballinastragh Gaels), Conor Kelly (Naomh Eanna); Gavin McNulty (Liam Mellows), Farrell Doyle (Ballygarrett), Jack Twomey (Buffers Alley); Jack Higgins (Liam Mellows), Rian Fitzpatrick (Naomh Eanna, 1-4); Shane Flood (Naomh Eanna), Seamie O’Hagan (Buffers Alley, 0-5, 4 frees), Thomas Wheatley (Naomh Eanna); Cian Hughes (Ballinastragh Gaels, 2-0), J.J. Twamley (Naomh Eanna, 0-2, 1 free), Scott Murphy (Naomh Eanna). Subs. - Rúairí Martin (Naomh Eanna) for Wheatley (23), Simon Campbell-McCarthy (Ballinastragh Gaels) for Murphy (48), Lee Doyle (Oulart-The Ballagh) for Hughes (60), also Eoin Kelly (St. Patrick’s), Luke Darley (Naomh Eanna), James McGraynor (Naomh Eanna), Shane Meleady (Buffers Alley), Rúadhan Comerford (Naomh Eanna), Mylie Connors (Naomh Eanna), Reece Price (Naomh Eanna), Dylan Cooke-Leonard (Naomh Eanna), Ted Kenny (Craanford), Tiernan Black (Naomh Eanna), Harry McGuckin (Naomh Eanna), Euan Stephens (Ballygarrett), Thomas Mythen (Naomh Eanna), Darryn Pender (Ballygarrett), Dylan O’Brien (St. Patrick’s), Ben Harrison (Naomh Eanna).
F.C.J. (Bunclody): Derry Mahon (HWH-Bunclody); Kyle Foley (Naomh Eoin, Carlow), Ben Martin (HWH-Bunclody), Gavin Roban (Duffry Rovers); Páraic Doyle (HWH-Bunclody), Fionn McCaffrey (Duffry Rovers), Conor O’Toole (Ferns St. Aidan’s); Tiernan Fitzhenry (Duffry Rovers), Brian Stafford (Ferns St. Aidan’s, 0-4, 2 frees, 1 ‘65); Jake Moorhead (Askamore), Darragh Farrell (HWH-Bunclody, 0-1), George Warren (Ferns St. Aidan’s, 1-0); Robert Black (HWH-Bunclody), Ciarán Whiting (HWH-Bunclody), Ian Blake (Duffry Rovers, 0-1). Subs. - Conor Sinnott (Duffry Rovers) for Whiting (41), Adam Somers (Marshalstown-Castledockrell) for Warren (60+1), also Michael Murphy (Duffry Rovers), Josh Doyle (Duffry Rovers), Jack Morris (Marshalstown-Castledockrell), Liam Byrne (Ferns St. Aidan’s), Colm Fortune (Askamore), William Kenny (Askamore), Faolán O Ceallaigh (HWH-Bunclody), Niall Kehoe (Rapparees), Robert Flynn (Duffry Rovers), Cathal O’Gorman (Duffry Rovers), Fionn O’Leary (Marshalstown-Castledockrell), Naoise O’Leary (Marshalstown-Castledockrell), Ciarán Doyle (Duffry Rovers), Darragh Breen (Ferns St. Aidan’s), Liam Redmond (Duffry Rovers), Pa Mahon (Askamore), James Doyle (St. Patrick’s), Jason Ugwuakeka (Ferns St. Aidan’s), Craig Dreelan (Ferns St. Aidan’s), Michael Doyle (HWH-Bunclody), Michael Gregory (Rathnure), James Kinsella (Ferns St. Aidan’s), Ben Rossiter (Monageer-Boolavogue), Conor Burke (HWH-Bunclody).
Referee: Pat Kehoe (Carlow).