Bunclody hold on for victory
Spirited fightback repelled
HWH-BUNCLODY C’BEG-B’MURN 2-14 2-10
HOSTS HWH-Bunclody showed considerable resolve to repel a spirited Crossabeg-Ballymurn fightback and book their place in the All-County Hurling League Division 2 final on Sunday.
There was nothing easy about this game for the Enniscorthy District side. They probably had less of the play but what they did have was a bang in-form Billy Kelly and a defence that never gave their opponents an easy score.
Eighteen wides says a lot about Crossabeg-Ballymurn, and it was one of those days.
Yet defences don’t always get the credit they deserve for forcing miscues and Bunclody deserve plenty for their high intensity hooking, blocking and harrying in scorching conditions.
The teams felt each other out for most of the first-half. However, Bunclody did manage to find the net in the seventh minute when Tadhg Kelly picked out Eoin Kelly on the run and the speedy centre-forward did the rest, dispatching high past Mark Dempsey.
Crossabeg-Ballymurn had just two scores on the board, from corner-back Bill Eviston and wingback Conor Devereux, after 23 minutes. At that stage they trailed by 1-3 to 0-2 and had hit seven wides.
Things improved slightly towards the break. Kelly (two) and Cathal Doyle raised white flags for Bunclody, while the two midfielders and Declan Byrne registered at the other end, as four points separated the sides at the break.
The second-half produced much more enthralling fare. Quick points by Colm Farrell and Billy Kelly were countered by a pulled major from the only starting Crossabeg-Ballymurn forward to score - Shane O’Rourke.
HWH-Bunclody managed just one score in the ten minutes after that 32nd-minute goal but it was a crucial one.
Kevin Dunne flicked home from Eoin Kelly’s blocked shot as the home side held onto their advantage.
Needing a spark, Crossabeg-Ballymurn got it from Sam Kelly. He had three points on the board just five minutes after he was introduced and it was enough to pull the Wexford District club within one (2-8 to 1-10).
At that stage it seemed like the visitors would push on and win it but they could only muster one more score - a goal from Kelly’s 58th-minute 20-metre free.
It wasn’t enough, and points from Doyle, Dunne and four by Kelly ensured HWH-Bunclody booked a final spot opposite Oulart-The Ballagh.
HWH-Bunclody: Arthur O’Neill; J.J. Murphy, Conor Crean, Davy Reck; Joe Kavanagh, Seán Kenny, Enda Slevin; John Dunne, Billy Kelly (0-10, 3 frees, 1 ‘65); Colm Farrell (0-1), Eoin Kelly (1-0), Eddie Black; Cathal Doyle (0-2), Kevin Dunne (1-1), Jack Kelly. Subs. - Jason Cowman for Black (37), John Atkinson for Dunne (46), Peter Atkinson for Slevin (52), Matty Byrne for Kavanagh (52), Conor Hendrick for Murphy (56).
Crossabeg-Ballymurn: Mark Dempsey; Bill Eviston (0-1), Paul Larrissy, Alan Byrne; Conor Devereux (0-1), Davy Kehoe, Declan Byrne (0-1); Niall Murphy (0-3, 2 frees), Oisín Foley (0-1); Barry Murphy, Eoghan Kehoe, Shane O’Rourke (1-0); David Jackman, Billy Roche, Martin Redmond. Subs. - Paddy Devereux for D. Kehoe (30), Tony Murphy for Roche (37), Sam Kelly (1-3, 1-0 free) for B. Murphy (37), Paul Walsh for Redmond (54).
Referee: Shane Quinn (Ballygarrett). DILLON REDMOND jumped back off the bench in the second-half of extra-time to push Starlights past the stern test posed by hosts Rathgarogueon Tuesday.
The speedy wing-back was re-introduced in a more attacking role with the game tied, and he proceeded to score two vital points and set up Willie Hudson for the other score to finally put the gutsy home outfit to bed.
The idiosyncrasies of the All-County Football League can throw up some fascinating ties and this Division 2 semi-final fell into that bracket. Senior champions and Junior runners-up seldom meet, and certainly not in as interesting a situation as this.
Rathgarogue-Cushinstown are more talented than your average fourth tier team, while on the other side of the field Starlights started with just six of the 15 that began their last Senior championship outing against Glynn-Barntown. The ingredients were all there for a belter and these sides didn’t disappoint.
Nicky Sinnott kicked Rathgarogue-Cushinstown ahead in the opening minute but the wind-aided Starlights hit back to lead by 1-4 to 0-1 at the end of the first quarter. Willie Hudson netted powerfully from Tommy Foley’s pass after Eamonn Furlong started the move with an excellent mark.
The Bellefield side were ahead by 1-7 to 0-2 after James Carty popped over the crossbar but four late Rathgarogue-Cushinstown points, including scores from roving defenders Patrick Murphy and Brian O’Neill, left just four between the sides at the interval.
It was all change in the second-half, as Starlights moved 1-9 to 0-8 ahead after a closely-contested third quarter but Rathgarogue-Cushinstown started to dominate.
Sinnott got his side within one in the 51st minute but the home club didn’t equalise (1-9 to 0-12) until Eoin Porter scored his sixth point, from a ‘45, in the first minute of added time.
Porter and Pa Doyle, now playing outfield, cancelled each other with raised white flags in the firsthalf of extra-time. Redmond and Hudson put Starlights two ahead before Porter crashed a shot inches wide with five minutes to go.
A Peadar Cody point was countered by Redmond with two minutes of overtime remaining and, despite late pressure on their goal, Starlights held on to book a final place opposite Shelmaliers.
That game is down for decision in St. Patrick’s Park this coming Friday at 7.45 p.m., while the Division 1 final between Castletown and Glynn-Barntown is a provisional fixture for the same time and night in Innovate Wexford Park.
If the Wexford District side beat Cloughbawn in the hurling semi-final last night (Monday), they will meet Oulart-The Ballagh instead on Friday in the Division 1 decider in Bellefield.
Five more All-County League finals are set to be played over the weekend, with another two next Monday.
Starlights: Pa Doyle (0-1); Ronan Kirwan, Anthony Roche, Dale Galway, Dillon Redmond (0-2, 1 free), Richie Farrell (capt.), James Peare (0-1); James Carty (0-2), Eamonn Furlong; Lenny Connolly, Jason Russell, Willie Hudson (1-2); Darragh Pepper (0-3, 2 frees), Tommy Foley (0-2, 1 free), Tomás Mahon. Subs. - Tom Ryan for Connolly (36), Ryan Mahon for Carty (44), Damien Tobin for Doyle (44), Jack Doyle for Redmond (57), Pa Doyle for Ryan (61), Redmond for Russell (71).
Rathgarogue-Cushinstown: Jonathan Kelly; Patrick Murphy (0-1), Bryan Cody, Paudie McGrath; Brian O’Neill (0-2), Robert Murphy, Ollie Bolger; Ian Kennedy, Peadar Cody (0-1); Daire Bolger, Eoin Porter (0-7, 5 frees, 1 ‘45), Tadhg Cody; Jason Dunne, Bernard Furlong (capt., 0-1), Nicky Sinnott (0-2). Subs. - Ricky McGrath for O. Bolger (37), Aaron Ryan for D. Bolger (45), Mark Carroll for T. Cody (52), Cody for Sinnott (64), Daire Bolger for Dunne (71), Patrick Barron for Ryan (76).
Referee: David Jenkins (Gusserane).