GOH build on good start
GER. O’HANRAHANS 2-14 CLOUGHBAWN 0-15
TWO GOALS inside the opening quarter proved decisive as Geraldine O’Hanrahans stormed on to a deserved five-point victory over Cloughbawn in this Greenstar Under-20 hurling championship Division 3A game in Castleboro on Wednesday.
The New Ross town side move on into the knockout stages with the kind of form that shows they are capable of an upset or two.
Solid in defence where Gerry Cash, Pádraig Bailey, Enda Kelly and Michael Cleere were outstanding, they dominated midfield through the fine hurling of Diarmuid Kehoe, while in attack they had real match-winners in Barry Roche and Ned Connors, who caused all types of problems for the home defence.
Cloughbawn were unable to find any real rhythm to their play and were largely reliant on individual efforts, with Jack Wickham and James Flood impressing in defence, while Eanna Doyle had a fine hour in midfield. However, the attack filed to produce a much-needed goal despite the best efforts of Jack Fleming and Conor Flood.
While Liam Flood and Jack Fleming (two) pointed the home side three clear inside the opening five minutes, the New Ross team stormed into the game once Tom Connors had opened their account with a sixth-minute point.
Four minutes later, Barry Roche capitalised on a fine move to finish with a low shot to the net. Ned Connors and county Minor Eanna Doyle (free) exchanged points, before Tom Connors got himself forward to shoot low to the net, giving his side an 18th-minute 2-2 to 0-4 lead.
The homeside managed to respond with points from Eanna Doyle and Jack Fleming (free), but they still trailed by 2-4 to 0-9 at the interval.
After Jack Fleming and Pádraig Bailey exchanged long-range frees, Geraldine O’Hanrahans took the initiative with Barry Roche and Ned Connors firing over excellent points to keep them at arm’s length of the opposition.
And the Geraldines finished off the game with excellent late points from Roche (free and play) to gain a deserved victory.
Geraldine O’Hanrahans: Ben Walsh; Ciarán St. Ledger, Gerry Cash, Paddy Somers; Michael Cleere, Pádraig Bailey (0-1 free), Enda Kelly; Diarmuid Kehoe (0-1), Tom Connors (1-1); Adam Fenlon (0-1), Barry Roche (1-6, 0-5 frees), Patrick O’Connor; Ned Connors (0-3), Martin Doran, Andy Cash. Sub. - Jake Byrne (0-1) for Doran.
Cloughbawn: Seán Keating (0-2 frees); Michael Kavanagh, Jack Wickham, Fionn Codd; Stephen Casserly, James Dempsey, James Flood; Kyle Murphy, Eanna Doyle (0-5, 1 free); Gary Kehoe, Dan Dempsey (0-1), Liam Flood (0-1); Conor Flood, Jack Fleming (0-6, 2 frees), Jack Feeney. Sub. - Mikey Fleming for C. Flood.
Referee: Roly Buckley (Ballyhogue).