Jordan frees earn draw

FERNS ST. AIDAN’S BANNOW-B’MITTY 1-13 1-13

TWO LATE, late frees from Gary Jordan earned Bannow-Ballymitty a share of the spoils in a tit-fortat battle with Ferns St. Aidan’s in round two of the Permanent TSB Junior hurling championship Group A in Oylegate on Saturday.

This was a close affair with both sides exchanging scores evenly before Ferns edged two points clear on the 60-minute mark.

However, while there had been a number of stoppages, a lengthy period of added time was imminent and one expected Bannow-Ballymitty to have a chance to rescue something from the game.

It was the amount of time added that could not have been foreseen, with Jordan converting his second free in the 68th minute, after missing an opportunity to level matters three minutes earlier, leaving the Ferns faithful more than a little aggrieved.

There was a relatively slow start to the game, with both sides hitting three points apiece in the opening quarter before Alan Barden found the net after the Ferns defence failed to cope with a high delivery into the square.

The lead was shortlived however, as Ferns gave the perfect reply thanks to a great finish to the net by Ben Cowman.

Ferns went in at the break with their noses in front thanks to points from P.J. O’Neill, Peter O’Toole and Lee Quigley, outdoing scores from Pádraig McCormack and Gary Jordan.

The second-half was a ferocious affair with both sides upping the tempo and both scores and tackles being traded evenly.

Seán Walsh was peerless at centre-back for Ferns, and Ben Cowman and Lee Quigley were proving too hot to handle for the opposition defence.

But, with Bannow-Ballymitty well served by Art Sweetman, Niall Harney, Micheál Murphy and Gary Jordan, they were relentless in their pursuits when they found themselves two behind going into added time.

Then, Jordan held his nerve to convert two frees deep into added time, giving the south county side their first point of the campaign and Ferns their third.

Ferns St. Aidan’s: Niall Byrne; Brian O’Neill (Clone), Peter Nolan, Patrick O’Hagan; Brian O’Neill (St. Aidan’s), Seán Walsh, Christopher Davitt (0-1); Peter O’Toole (0-4, 3 frees), P.J. O’Neill (0-1); Ben Cowman (1-2), Pádraig Walsh (0-1), Derek Thorpe (0-1); Anthony Dwyer, Jamie Whelan, Lee Quigley (0-2). Subs. - Jeff Tobin (0-1) for Whelan, Paddy O’Leary for Dwyer.

Bannow-Ballymitty: Kevin Doyle; Jaydee Cahill, John O’Leary, David White; Mark Colfer, Art Sweetman, Pádraig McCormack (0-1); Niall Harney (0-2), Micheál Murphy (0-2); Nicky Doyle, Robbie Mageean (0-1), Gary Morton (0-2); Alan Barden (1-0), David Currid, Gary Jordan (0-5, 4 frees).

Referee: Martin Armstrong (Rapparees).