Stafford on a scoring spree Horeswood enjoy edge
Martin’s in a different class
ST. MARTIN’S D’TOWN-C’CUDDY 4-27 1-13
THERE WAS no room for sentiment in Killurin on Saturday when the son of a former Davidstown-Courtnacuddy stalwart led the charge as St. Martin’s romped to a runaway 23-point win in this one-sided Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship Group B mis-match.
John Stafford gave dedicated service to the Enniscorthy District club over many years, but on this occasion the main man was Seán, the victors’ captain, who finished with a magnificent 2-16 to his name.
The grand total of 2-6 of that haul came from play, and he had 1-2 on the board before Davidstown-Courtnacuddy realised the game had started.
The goal was flicked home from a long delivery in the third minute, and it set the tone for a half of total Martin’s dominance as they established a runaway 3-16 to 0-4 interval lead.
Stafford contributed 2-10, including 2-5 from play, with his second goal coming in the 23rd minute after Kyle Firman had finished superbly earlier with a clever flick to the corner of the net at the end of a solo run down the middle.
The touch, pace and movement of St. Martin’s was simply too much for Davidstown-Courtnacuddy to deal with.
Their impressive brand of hurling wouldn’t have looked out of place two grades higher, and they must be rated strong favourites for the county title if they don’t lose any more players to their Senior team.
The losers may take a small bit of consolation from the fact that they were at least competitive in the second-half, with James Kelly, David Dunne and Johnny Delaney contributing some good scores. The latter goaled from close range in the 35th minute after Dunne teed him up.
There was probably another gear in St. Martin’s that they didn’t need to use however, although Philip Waters did add goal number four after Nicky Greene caught an opposition puck-out and fed him in the 39th minute (4-20 to 1-5).
St. Martin’s: Dylan Byrne; Jack Whelan, Philip Dempsey, Sam Audsley (0-1); Michael Codd (0-1), Adrian Ryan, Johnny Hamilton; Eoin O’Leary, Ben Stafford; Adam Cantwell (0-1), Philip Waters (1-3), Nicky Greene (0-2); Liam O Lionáin, Seán Stafford (capt., 2-16, 0-9 frees, 0-1 ’65), Kyle Firman (1-3). Subs. - Diarmuid Barry for Codd (42), Pádraig Rossiter for Dempsey (42), Callum Quirke for Byrne (45).
Davidstown-Courtnacuddy: Stephen Dunbar; Ger Martin (capt.), Michael Murphy, Kevin Keane; Daniel Delaney, Mark Byrne (0-3, 2 frees), Daryl Freeman; Mark Murphy (0-1), David Dunne (0-2); James Kelly (0-3), David O’Dwyer, James Doyle; Alan Hickey, Johnny Delaney (1-4, 0-1 free), Stephen Kennedy. Subs. - Kieron McCabe for Kennedy (43), Mick Power for Delaney (45), Brian Ormonde for Hickey (52).
Referee: Stephen Burke (Volunteers).
HORESWOOD BUFFERS ALLEY
TWO GOALS in the space of a minute gave Horeswood the advantage they needed to see off a game Buffers Alley side in this entertaining Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship Group A tie in Oylegate on Saturday.
While the eventual winners looked the stronger side throughout, they were made work for their victory by a typically stubborn Buffers Alley side who, after trailing for most of the game, managed to fight their way back to take the lead going into the final quarter.
But all their good work was undone in a flash when Horeswood replied with two quick majors, giving them the heart to finish off the game and, at the same time, taking the wind from the Alley’s sails.
In the early exchanges, Jim Hughes traded scores with Jamie Myler and Michael O’Hanlon before a profitable four-minute spell for Horeswood, midway through the half, saw them outscore their opponents by five points to one, with O’Hanlon and Seán Nolan looking deadly accurate.
Buffers Alley responded well however, largely thanks to the accuracy of Jim Hughes who hit three before the break, leaving Horeswood three in front at halftime after scores from Myler and Nolan.
Nolan, Myler and O’Hanlon resumed their form on the re-start, but then the Alley men began to turn things around.
Jim Hughes placed a penalty in the top corner before converting two frees, and when Paul Doyle rifled a shot to the net it looked like it would be the turning point.
However, the real turning point would actually come minutes later as Horeswood killed off their opponents with two swift blows from O’Hanlon and Eddie Breen, allowing them to drive on for their first win of the campaign.
Horeswood: Wayne Power; Brian Kehoe, Shane O’Hanlon, Eamonn O’Sullivan; Danny Byrne, Barry Hearn (0-1), David Murphy; Seán Stafford, Jamie Myler (0-3, 1 free); Eddie Breen (1-0), Eoin Murphy, Seán Nolan (0-5); John Bradley (0-1), Michael O’Hanlon (1-6, 0-4 frees), Gavin Murphy. Subs. - Dale Flynn for G. Murphy, Leigh O’Brien for E. Murphy, Damien Hearn for Kehoe, Mossy Kent for Byrne, Dylan Whitty for Bradley.
Buffers Alley: Tony Doran; Paudie Kinsella, Alan Doyle, Paul Furlong; Domhnall McArdle, Thomas Dempsey, Colm Óg Doran; Jim Hughes (1-7, 0-4 frees, 1-0 pen., 0-1 ’65), Jamie Dempsey-Doyle (0-3); Tom O’Leary, Darragh Butler, Darragh Hammel; Paul Doyle (1-0), Keith Burke, Paul Doran. Subs. - Gavin O’Donovan for Furlong, Walter Gahan for O’Leary.
Referee: Brendan Holohan (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown).