Bann lay down strong marker
Point-taking of highest order
BANN GAELS MACAMORE GAELS 4-18 1-15
THE CRAANFORD contingent on the Bann Gaels Under-20 hurling team are intent on building on last year’s championship success.
After winning the 2017 Under-21 Roinn 1 crown in a replay with Cloughbawn, they are now joined with neighbouring St. Patrick’s and delivered a strong statement of intent with a high-scoring Greenstar Division 3B victory over Macamore Gaels in Monamolin on Wednesday.
Just five players contributed to an impressive winning tally of 4-18, and a significant feature of the game was the outstanding point-taking from long range by James Smyth in particular, Paul McDonald and Eoin Doyle.
Bann Gaels started as they intended to continue with three points inside three minutes, although their momentum stalled briefly when Killian Doyle goaled to give the Buffers Alley/Ballygarrett crew a shortlived lead (1-1 to 0-3).
The response came in the form of three quick points, including a brace from the prolific Smyth who finished with a superb total of seven from play.
Stephen Greene was left unmarked to dispatch an Eoin Doyle delivery to the net in the eleventh minute, and the creator turned finisher for goal number two after Paul McDonald won a puck-out and fed him with a handpass.
It was 3-8 to 1-6 by half-time, with full-forward Paddy Doyle sending a low shot to the corner of the net in the 19th minute.
Andrew Doyle and James Smyth combined to pick out the big number 14 for his second goal 70 seconds after the re-start, and Macamore Gaels were too far adrift although Ciarán Murphy, Jamie Dempsey-Doyle, John Furlong and Killian Doyle never stopped trying.
The quality of Bann Gaels’ point-scoring continued to impress, and they will enter the knockout stages as table-toppers and with every chance of matching that Craanford win in the old Under-21 grade.
Bann Gaels: Thomas Furlong; Michael Doyle, Jack Keogh, Dillon Kavanagh; Conor Morris, Jim Kenny, Glen Carton; Eoin Doyle (1-2), Martin Doyle (joint capt.); Andrew Doyle, James Smyth (0-7), Paul McDonald (joint capt., 0-8, 6 frees); Fergal Maguire, Paddy Doyle (2-0), Stephen Greene (1-1). Sub. - Cian Byrne for Maguire (45).
Macamore Gaels: Myles O’Connor; Jack Butler, Barry Doyle, Ciarán Doyle; John Sinnott, Ciarán Murphy (capt., 0-4, 2 frees, 1 ’65), Gearóid Redmond; Adam Fleming (0-1), Jamie Dempsey-Doyle (0-5, 4 frees); Brendan Corcoran, John Furlong (0-2), Killian Doyle (1-2); Tom Hobbs, Jordan Goff (0-1), Cian Fortune. Subs. - Seán Wafer for Butler (19), Liam Og Walsh for Corcoran (HT), Billy Dunne for C. Doyle (HT), Seán Newens for Fortune (37), Brian Lee for Hobbs (43).
Referee: Paul Browne (Clonee).