Oulart the Ballagh find their feet
OULART THE BALLAGH NAOMH EANNA
THEY may have been slow to get going, but Oulart the Ballagh eventually found their groove to secure a comprehensive 4-18 to 1-12 victory over Naomh Eanna in the opening round of the Greenstar Under-20 Division 1B hurling championship played at a summery Oulart on Sunday evening.
Despite the idyllic conditions, both sides endured teething problems up front, and would share no less than 16 wides between them by the end of the first half (nine for Oulart).
That said, as soon as the locals scored their first goal on 19 minutes, the confidence began to soar and they were an entirely different animal thereafter.
That goal was a rather scruffy ground finish from Robbie Dunne that edged Oulart 1-5 to 0-4 in front following some close early exchanges during which Sean Delaney impressed for Naomh Eanna.
And the Gorey lads scarcely had time to absorb that set-back when they were rocked again a minute later as Billy Dunne done well to collect the ball in his stride before he gracefully flashed to the top corner to stretch the gap to 2-5 to 0-5.
The hosts may well have netted again before half-time when Daryl Grey fired just over for a point that ensured that they sat comfortably ahead by 2-7 to 0-6 at the break.
And the victors sprinkled points to their tally at will on the resumption, with Murtha Doyle (2) and Billy Dunne (2) particularly prominent during this spell.
Things completely unravelled for Gorey when Oulart pounced for two close-range goals in the space of a minute, with Adam McRedmond and Robbie Dunne doing the needful. Those pair of green-flags saw the gap extend to 4-18 to 0-11 with five minutes left, although Gorey picked off 1-1 in injury-time courtesy of Jack Cullen- who had long since moved to the edge of the square in a tactical alteration- to at least finish the game in positive fashion.
Oulart the Ballagh: Darragh Hayes; Liam Roche, Aidan Murphy, Niall Nimmo; Ethan Freeman, Sean Murphy, Conor Lawless; Cathal Kenny (0-1), Billy Dunne (1-2); Daryl Grey (0-4), Murtha Doyle (0-4), Barry Sinnott (0-4, one free, one ‘65); Robbie Dunne (2-1), Jack Roche, Adam McRedmond (12). Subs: Lee Hore for McRedmond (55), Michael Doyle for B.Dunne (55), Jack Rossiter for Grey (56).
Naomh Eanna: Aaron Byrne; Sean Dowling, Seamus O’Donnell, Martin Kavanagh; Nathan Byrne, Jack Cullen (1-5, three frees, one ‘65), Darragh Canavan; Charlie McGuckin (0-1), Evan O’Dwyer; Larry Cullen (0-1), Jack Cushe (0-1 free), Jack Doran; Sean Delaney (0-4), Tiernan Doyle, Jordan Nolan.
Referee: Eddie O’Sullivan (Ballyfad)