Cloughbawn cruise
Relegated side intent on quick return
CLOUGHBAWN BLACKWATER 1-19 0-7
CLOUGHBAWN MADE light work of a tepid Blackwater challenge in Group A of The Courtyard Ferns Intermediate hurling championship in St. Patrick’s Park on Saturday.
Relegated from Senior but intent on making an immediate step back up, Cloughbawn raced into a seven-point lead after twelve minutes and never looked back.
The Castleboro side were a little disappointing in the league semi-final loss to an admittedly talented Glynn-Barntown.
However, Colm Kehoe was back in the side for this encounter and his presence gave them a far more balanced look. His quality helped the victors dominate the middle third of the field, with only the occasional brilliance of Darren Byrne a shining light for Blackwater.
It is good to see the Over The Water side blooding some of the young, talented players that they are developing, and it will take them time to fully settle into this higher level.
However, if they can consolidate this season, and maybe next, they could push on in the years to come.
Kehoe and Paul Foley both had two early points as Cloughbawn opened that lead. Blackwater ended the first-half with just three Jake Nobbs frees on their tally, and that proved particularly costly when Kehoe collected Alan Carton’s pass on the run and tumped his shot past Peter O’Brien.
After Carton made it 1-11 to 0-3 with the first score of the second-half, Darren Byrne registered a fantastic point from the right wing. He would go on to add two more scores, grabbing the only three his side managed from play.
Cloughbawn were able to manage the second-half against the light breeze without undue worry. They introduced Joey Lawlor from the bench and the experienced attacker proceeded to notched a sublime quartet of points.
Páidí Cullen ended the scoring with a classy point from the right in the last minute of normal time as Cloughbawn racked up their second consecutive win.
They should advance safely into the last eight with a victory over St. James’ next time out, while Blackwater will be looking for improvement against Fethard.
Cloughbawn: Noel Carton; Gavin Murphy, Tomás Furlong, James Dempsey; Barry Kehoe, Conor Harrington, Johnny Cullen; Colm Kehoe (1-3), Páidí Cullen (0-2); Harry Kehoe (0-1), Alan Carton (0-2), Barry Carton (capt.); Bob Whitty (0-3, 1 free), Paul Foley (0-4, 1 free, 1 ‘65), M.J. Furlong. Subs. - Joey Lawlor (0-4) for M.J. Furlong (31), Colin Doyle for Foley (50), Thomas Foley for B. Carton (52), David Doyle-Murphy for A. Carton (54), Paul Foley for Harrington, inj. (60).
Blackwater: Peter O’Brien (capt.); Anthony Roche, Eoin O’Neill, Ennae Carroll; Ben Redmond, Denis Carroll, Aaron Culleton; Kieran Roche, Paul O’Leary; Kevin Corrigan (0-1 free), Darren Byrne (0-3), Diarmuid Murphy; Jake Nobbs (0-3 frees), Shane O’Leary, Paul Murphy. Subs. - Dean Whelan for S. O’Leary (45), Richard Blake for A. Roche (50), Roche for Redmond, inj. (55).
Referee: John O’Loughlin (Monageer-Boolavogue).